Page 55 of The Time of My Afterlife

‘We don’t have much time, Florence,’ I remind her. ‘I will sort this task myself.’

Looking directly at Jane, I say, ‘Bring Jack, and I’ll lend you my microphone, and we can record your first episode.’

‘Oh, Clark, that would be amazing. Thank you,’ Jane says. ‘I already have two emails to read out from potential listeners.’

Excitement courses through my veins. ‘Wow – I’m looking forward to listening to this.’

Florence is scowling. I return the victorious smile to her, and she swaps her scowl for an angry glare.

21

FLORENCE

The second we step out of Jane’s house, I march ahead. He annoyed me as we’re supposed to be a team and do things together. This is all because I was giving Jane tips on her social media, and he didn’t like it. I don’t know why I even suggested working as a team with Clark because he doesn’t listen.

‘Florence, wait,’ he says, running after me.

I don’t turn around. ‘See you later, Clark.’

‘You were the one who said we don’t have much time,’ he says, which makes my irritation levels rocket. ‘I was simply following your lead.’

‘Liar,’ I shout and carry on.

He’s behind me. ‘Are we not going to talk about this?’

‘I have nothing to say to you,’ I growl and turn around. ‘That wasn’t teamwork in there with Jane.’

His piercing green eyes lock onto mine. ‘You started it.’

‘I was giving Jane some helpful advice on social media.’

He sighs and says, ‘You were, and that was annoying. Then you smiled at me in a particular way, and it fired me up.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ It’s a lie. I do know the smile of mine he’s referring to, and over the years, it has given me so much pleasure because it annoys the hell out of him. It started at school when he kissed one of my friends. I was so annoyed with her because she knew I disliked Clark that I snogged her ex-boyfriend, who happened to be one of Clark’s friends. The look of horror on Clark’s face was unforgettable, so I cast him my special victorious smile. From then on, I used it whenever I felt like I’d won an imaginary battle.

‘If you’ll excuse me, I have a business to manage.’

‘Fine. See you later,’ he snaps.

On my journey to the café, I curse him and wish my whiteboard were there instead of at home, so I could let out some of my frustration.

I hold open the café door for two customers, one of which says, ‘The start of the heatwave today. Going to be a hot one.’

‘You don’t look happy,’ remarks Laura as I stride into the café. ‘Who has annoyed you? Don’t tell me – Clark?’

There’s a low rumble of a passing train at the nearby station.

The urge to get everything off my chest is strong. ‘I can’t go into details, but last night Clark and I went through something very stressful,’ I explain to her. She arches her eyebrows in shock.

‘It worked out okay in the end. No panic. We were both so relieved and overcome with joy. I then got carried away and…’

‘Jumped into bed with him?’ Laura asks, with a serious expression.

I stare in horror at her. ‘No, why would you think that?’

She shrugs. ‘You both give off an enemies-to-lovers trope vibe.’

‘Not you as well? That’s what my friend Ruth says. It’s nonsense.’