Page 86 of It Was Always You

He scrunched his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

He was not amused. ‘Very funny, Lil. I’m telling you, she was scary. I’m talking major bunny boiler material. I feared for my life for a wee while there.’

Lily held up her hands. ‘I’m sorry, Adders, I’m sorry, seriously… Did you… did you have to repeat things to her parrot-fashion for her to listen?’ She slapped her thigh as her voice reached a kind of strangled, high-pitched squeak, and she was unable to contain her mirth.

Other diners were beginning to look at them.

He leaned across the table and spoke in a low voice. ‘Lily Macrae, will you bloody calm yourself down and get a grip?’

She pursed her lips and it was clear that she was trying to hold back her laughter. ‘Sorry… sorry… you’re right, though… she did sound seedy! Ha ha! Seedy! I’m so good at this.’ She dabbed at her eyes. ‘And when you think about it, she does work at Nutty As, so you should have known she was a few oats short of a granola bar.’

His face finally broke into a wide grin. Shaking his head, he raised his glass at his watery-eyed best friend. ‘Okay… I give up. I’m glad I made your day. Happy birthday, Cheesy.’

TRACK 35

‘WINGS’ (BIRDY)

August 2025

Adam was in a huff again about Lily’s latest trip to the United States. ‘Are you the only bloody reporter they’ve got, Lil?’

‘Obviously not, you numpty, but they think I’m good at what I do. And believe it or not I actually like the travelling.’

‘You hate flying though.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Yeah, but it’s a bit tricky to get to the States on a train, dufus.’

The pair sat on his sofa eating pizza and drinking a nice bottle of Shiraz while Monty waited for the crusts. They’d been having an eighties movie marathon, which had lasted from Friday night through to lunchtime Saturday. Lunchtime drinking was never a good idea, and Lily had said she felt sure she would regret it when she had to get to the airport later that night. Luckily a car was being sent for her and so the alcohol didn’t worry her too much.

‘You’re never here,’ he grumbled.

She nudged his shoulder. ‘Oh, stop your bloody moaning. You should be relieved I’m going. At least when I’m away I’m not trying to set you up on dates.’

He grinned. ‘Yeah, you’ve got a point.’ He munched on his slice of pepperoni pizza thoughtfully. ‘So where are they sending you this time? And what’s it about?’

‘I’m heading off for sunny Vero Beach in Florida to do a piece on beachfront businesses.’

He huffed. ‘Do they just make stuff up to send you on holiday?’

She laughed. ‘Don’t care if they do. I’ll go and do my job and bloody well enjoy myself. Might even catch some rays on Daytona Beach.’

‘Yeah, well, no more tattoos, okay?’

‘Ha! You haven’t even seen my tattoo! So you can’t judge. You’re just too chicken to get one.’

‘Ahh, that’s where you’re wrong!’ he slurred, sloshing his drink as he pointed his finger at her. ‘I have seen it… a few times in fact, when you’ve been crouching! I haven’t a clue what it says though, and anyway, the word you’re looking for is sensible, Lil.’ He pursed his lips at her. ‘I don’t like needles, so why would I want someone sticking one in me repeatedly for hours at a time?’

‘Yeah… true… you’d probably just pee your pants anyway.’ She burst into fits of laughter while he sat open-mouthed, no doubt searching his alcohol-addled brain for a witty retort, but none came.

‘Oh, sod off, cheese head.’

His response made her laugh harder until tears were streaming down her face. ‘Sorry… but… you’re so immature… I can’t… breathe.’ Her voice came out as a strangled squeak.

He gaped at her incredulously. ‘I’m immature?’

The heat was intense as Lily sat on the terrace of the hotel eating breakfast. She had chosen a spot under a large umbrella and was watching the waves rolling onto the sand. She had been at the hotel for two days by herself as the film crew had been delayed but would be arriving later that afternoon and she was keen to get started.

It was always fun working with Mack and Kyle. Mack was the best camera operative she’d had the pleasure of working with. He was Glaswegian with a wicked sense of humour and was known for filling them in on his latest practical joke or drunken weekend exploits. Kyle, the only American on the team, and Mack’s best friend in spite of the distance that often sat between them, was in charge of sound. He would control the boom and mix at the same time, which was awe-inspiring in itself. He was incredibly handsome for an older guy. Lily guessed he was in his late forties but had never asked his actual age. Usually unshaven, with shaggy, sandy brown hair, he had a look of Kevin Bacon and sounded a little like him, too.