Page 91 of It Was Always You

Lily nodded. ‘I’m fine, which is more than can be said for you.’

He glanced at his cast. ‘This? It’s nothing. I’m grateful the trash can hit my arm, not my head.’

Mack joined them. ‘Hey, your brain cell might have split and then it would have had a friend.’

Kyle nudged him with his good shoulder. ‘Jackass.’

‘Aye, you love me though, eh, pal?’

Kyle chuckled and shook his head.

TRACK 37

‘FIX YOU’ (COLDPLAY)

Lily arrived back in the UK four days after the devastating hurricane had wreaked its havoc and left her with mental scars rather than physical ones. She had called her mum as soon as she had landed and her mum had sobbed down the phone.

‘Creí haberte perdido, mi dulce niña.’

‘You haven’t lost me, Mamá. I’m fine. Just tired. I’m going to go home tonight and sleep and I’ll come and visit you tomorrow.’

‘Of course, my precious. Of course.’

Adam picked her up from the airport and clung to her in the arrivals lounge while she sobbed into his chest. She felt his body vibrating as he cried too. Relief flooded her like a tidal wave and weakened her legs.

Adam held her up. ‘I’ve got you, Lily. I’ve got you.’ His voice broke as he mumbled into her hair. He grabbed her suitcase and helped her outside to his car and once they were both seated, she glanced over to him. His head was back and his eyes were closed.

He gulped and opened his red-rimmed eyes, wiping them both in turn. ‘I thought I’d lost you, Lil,’ he croaked as he reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘I don’t know what I would’ve done.’

She forced a smile as she squeezed his hand in return. ‘Shh, it’s okay. I’m here. You can’t get rid of me that easily.’

‘You’re so important to me, Lil. You do know that, don’t you? I can’t lose you, too. I can’t.’

She sniffed. ‘Stop it or you’ll make me cry again.’

His eyes were intense as they pleaded with her. ‘No, I mean it. I hope you know how much you mean to me.’

She desperately searched for something hidden in his expression. A tiny shred of hope that maybe something good would come of all this. That he had realised he loved her as more than just a friend.

He inhaled deeply. ‘You’re my family, Lil… you’re my family. Me and you against the world.’ Her heart sank. Family. ‘I’m so glad you’re back and that you’re okay.’ Squeezing her hand one last time, he smiled and then turned to start the engine.

Was she okay? She wasn’t so sure. She’d had nightmares and had woken crying out every night since the storm and her emotions were precariously balanced on what felt like a knife edge. ‘Do you think… do you think you might need counselling after what happened?’ Adam asked as if reading her mind.

She shook her head. ‘No… no, I’ll be fine. I have to be.’

He reached and took her hand. ‘Well, if you need to talk about any of it… I’m not promising I can fix you, but I can certainly try, like you did for me.’ Her chin trembled at his words and the sincerity in his eyes. She had to turn to look out of the window for a moment to try and compose herself, otherwise she was likely to blurt out how much she loved him and that thinking of him had kept her focused on getting back home.

‘Shall I take you to your mum’s? Or you can come to mine? I know Monty would be so happy to see you. I didn’t bring him as he’s not allowed in the airport and it’s quite warm out so… I can cook. Or I can get us a take-away. Whatever you want. Just say it and it’s yours.’

Lily smiled. He was still in panic mode. ‘I’ve spoken to my mum and told her I’ll see her tomorrow. I’d really like to go home. I’m exhausted and just need to sleep. I hope you don’t mind.’

Once she was deposited back in her own home, Adam rushed around making tea and took her case upstairs. He seemed unwilling to leave until he eventually worked off his nervous energy and sat at the opposite end of the sofa, holding his steaming mug.

She cleared her throat. ‘So… what have you been up to while I’ve been away?’

He scratched his chin. ‘Erm… well, I went on a date the second night you were away, but I don’t think it went too well.’

She frowned. ‘A date? Really?’ Her heart plummeted. ‘Who with? You never said anything before I left. I thought you were giving up on the dating sites.’