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I was gripping the edge of the mattress so tightly, my fingers were starting to hurt but I couldn’t let go.
Nash had never been a master of subtlety. If he wanted something, he went after it. There had been no subtlety at all in the way he’d pursued me at the beginning, wining and dining me, and presenting me with gifts and flowers in a charm offensive that had been almost guaranteed to win me over. Hiding silently in the garden to scare me wasn’t Nash’s style...
But what if he was angry because he knew I was avoiding him? What if he was frustrated because he wanted to get back with me, but was unable to reach me?
That didn’t make sense either. If he wanted me back, knowing I was in now – with the lights on in the flat – he would surely come straight to the door and try to talk to me... endeavour to tempt me back with his smooth flattery, protestations of love and the funny one-liners that used to work miracles in that first year we were together...
The sudden ping of my phone in the silence sent my heart rate flying into orbit.
A message!
What if it was from Nash, threatening that if I didn’t open the door and let him in, he’d –
Snatching up the phone, I blinked at the name that had flashed up.
King Kong.
Laughing with relief, I pounced on it.
Sorry I’m late. Are you still up? To chat?
With trembling fingers, I phoned him, and at the sound of his warm familiar voice, relief flooded through me. I could hear the echo of his feet on the pavement, which threw me a little. He was walking really fast.
‘Hi, Rori. Thanks for phoning. I’ve had a weird day. Loads of meetings. I’m just arriving home now. I didn’t want to phone you if you were already asleep.’
‘No, it’s fine.’ The words sounded like a gasp. I forced myself to take a breath. ‘I wasn’t asleep. I’ve just got back in myself.’
‘Right. Well... are we still on for that fairground date tomorrow night?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Great!’
I could hear in his voice that he was smiling broadly, and that made me smile, too. Kurt might not be here with me, but just talking to him was making me feel safer.
All the same, I’dratherhe was here with me.
Standing up on wobbly legs, I went to the window. ‘Actually, Kurt, I... I’m in a bit of a situation.’
‘What’s that?’
‘There’s – um – someone in my back garden.’ My heart racing, I braced myself to pull back the curtain.
‘What? Are you okay?’
‘A bit scared.’
‘Do you know who it is?’
‘No, it was too dark to make out their face.’
There was a beat of silence. Then Kurt said, ‘Right, I’m coming round. I’m back at the house now, so I can be there in a minute or so?’
‘Okay,’ I said faintly. ‘Thank you.’
Emboldened by the thought of Kurt on his way, I forced myself to pull open the curtains and look out.
I focused on the tree.
