Page 30 of Ask Another Day

‘Yes, Seb. I’m a big girl who can kiss a nice, single man if she wants to.’

She refused to be embarrassed by her actions with Owen. She was a grown woman, who could decide who she kissed.

‘Is he a nice guy if he’s stringing you along and leaving the Bay next week?’

Seb’s words hit their mark hard. But Holly refused to let them take hold. He was wrong. Owen was leaving in a couple of months for the summer and then he’d likely be back. She’d come to terms with that prospect. There was no way he would be leaving in a few days and not have said anything to her.

‘I’ve got two more lessons, so he’s not leaving next week,’ she parried back. It sounded petty, she knew that, but she didn’t care.

‘Is that what he’s told you?’

‘God, Seb. It’s got nothing to do with you. I don’t get why you even care. You made your views on me pretty damn clear twelve years ago.’

‘Holly–’

Lucy’s cheerful tone reached them before she stepped into the kitchen.

‘Oh - sorry. Am I interrupting?’ she asked, taking in the obvious tension in the room.

‘No,’ Holly said firmly at the same time that Seb said, ‘Yes.’

Lucy looked between them, then focussed on Holly.

‘I was just going to let you know that when the delivery arrived this morning, I noticed a couple of barrels were missing.’

‘Thanks, Lucy.’ Holly was about to ask her which barrels, but Lucy had left the room as if it were on fire. Holly didn’t blame her, she wanted to do the same.

‘Holly–’ Seb started as soon as the kitchen door swung shut.

‘Save it, Seb,’ and because she couldn’t bear to see that hurt look in his eyes at her outburst, she doubled down, ‘I think you should take that time in lieu you’re due. Now I’ve got Lucy here, I can cover the kitchen. Spend some more quality time with Danny.’

‘Holly, that’s not what I–’

‘Please, Seb. Take some time. Leave me alone,’ she breathed out the last words like a prayer.

And so he did.

*

Later that night, Holly sat at the window of her bedroom looking down at the cobbled street below as she tossed the Fortune Cube between her hands. It was as though it were calling the question from her when she finally asked it, ‘Was I out of order with Seb earlier?’ She pressed the button, and closed her eyes not sure whether she wanted to know the answer. When she was brave enough to look, she found she was disappointed to see the words The Answer is Unclear staring back at her. It would seem even the fortunes couldn’t work out her and Seb.

Chapter 10

27th March 2007

The Day Before the Party

With her birthday so close now, Holly couldn’t fight the excitement that had been bubbling away all week. It was like she was seven again and excited for the Rollerblade Barbie she’d been desperate for since she’d seen it in the Argos catalogue. She found herself scrunching her eyes to squish her anticipation in. What made this feel all the more important though, was that this wasn’t about the birthday presents she’d be getting - although if someone gave her that Barbie she’d still be pretty happy. No, she knew this was because of Seb. He’d arrived back yesterday, she’d heard him chatting to her dad in the pub whilst she’d hidden on the stairs. She hadn’t been able to sleep last night.

Every time she closed her eyes, visions of him filled her mind - playing out all kinds of versions of the conversation he’d be having with Sloane tomorrow. In the end she’d given up and watched The Lake House again, followed by Just Like Heaven. She adored that culminating scene in films when the main characters kissed for the first time, after she’d been willing it to happen. It made her heart flutter and she was overcome with a warmth that made her smile with excitement for the possibility their happily ever after was within their grasp. She must have fallen asleep at some point during the night though because she had woken up to a blank TV screen and a sore neck.

Today, she’d be heading to The Dolphin to drop off some decorations her mum had got for her. She knew she could do it tomorrow, but she needed something to keep her occupied. Her phone buzzed in the back pocket of her acid wash jeans as she pulled her hair into a high ponytail.

Seb:

Hey Stranger

Her heart leapt at Seb’s message.