‘Amazing, thanks! Aw, tell Joe I love him more than I love you.’
‘He knows,’ he writes.
I am only half joking. I really do love Joe a lot. He’s just genuinely one of the nicest peopleever. He’s one of those overly enthusiastic people you can’t help smiling around. You spend ten minutes in his company and leave feeling like you’ve taken speed. He’s a walking energy drink and I adore him. I’m so glad Joe’s gone with my brother to Australia; I know he will look after Mark, he always does. Even when we were kids, I remember Joe coming over to ours after school with a black eye andMark whispering that Joe had stepped in front of a fist meant for him. That happened more and more as Mark got older and camper. Sometimes I get jealous of how close they are, but mostly I’m just happy to have Joe around.
I am about to put my phone away when another message from Mark pops up. ‘Are you about to get on the plane? I was hoping we could maybe have a chat on the phone? Do you havea few minutes?’
Shit. I know what this is. He wants to talk about Steven. He’s been trying a lot these last few weeks. He’ll try to persuade me to come to Oz.
‘Sorry dude, I’m going to stock up on supplies then I have to make a run for the gate,’ I lie, because I have hours yet.
‘OK, Alice. Have a nice flight, we can speak another time. Go eat everything. Except the hot towels, don’teat any hot towels.’
I slip my phone in my pocket and regard the buffet. Triangle sandwiches, salad, pastas, crisps, cake, chocolate – all free. I feel like Princess Markle. Anything I want, I can take. And I want it all. It’s a lot but I can do this. I believe in me. I am going to be so loaded down with food for this flight. And if I still can’t find a tampon, I’ll just use sandwiches inmy pants. It’ll be almost as good as anight-towel and probably more comfortable.
This is going to be the best flight ever.
