Page 18 of The Ex Factor

‘Why?’

‘Because I need to call her. I don’t want her thinking this fuckery was my brainchild.’

‘You’re going to call her?’

‘Yes, and you will have nothing to do with the contents of the call.’

Simon sighed, disappointed. ‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’

They hung up, and Ashley found Molly’s number in her phone. She looked at it. She didn’t hit call.

Ashley did not intend to end up at the guitar. But she suddenly had more of the song she’d started after the party.

I almost called you

Just to hear the line go dead

Like maybe if I don’t reach you

It’s safer inside my head

She was procrastinating. That was all. She wasn’t writing any more songs about Molly Sullivan. There was nothing more to be said.

And yet…

I’m on the edge of ringing

Like it’s something I should do

But the thought of hearing your answer message

Feels worse than never knowing you

Hmm, rhyming scheme a bit dodgy on that one.

‘This is probably shit,’ she said, very softly.

She lifted her hands away from the strings. But the silence felt worse. So she put them back.

And if I called and I’m still blocked

I’d pretend it didn’t land

But I’d hear it echo for hours

Like it’s still holding my hand

How was she still writing this? She really was the ultimate procrastinator. Maybe if she spent another week not calling Molly, she’d end up with a whole album.

She stood and wedged her guitar on the stand, a bit too hard. ‘She’s only a bloody person,’ she told herself angrily, picking up the phone and hitting Molly’s name before she could think further about it.

And it rang.

Five Years Ago

Ashley pressed her palms into her eyes and tried to breathe like a normal person would, which was already where things had started going wrong.

In. Out. In.