‘That phrase is my worst pet peeve,’ she says, rolling her eyes. ‘If I wasactuallymaking myself at home I’d go get in your mum’s bed and dribble Mars ice cream across her pillows.’
I’m not really listening; I’m staring at the door after my mum. ‘It’s nice she’s found happiness with someone again, isn’t it? Angela seems like a good person, doesn’t she?’
‘She’s mad as a box of frogs,’ Salma comments, ‘but so is your mum. And they’re adorable together.’
‘Hmm,’ I ponder. ‘I think a lot of finding the right person is locating the right person or frog to share your mad frog box with.’ I turn to Salma decisively. ‘OK, you’re right.’ She regards me quizzically. ‘I need a name, I need to face reality. I’m going to write E a note telling him my name and asking him who he is. I want to know the truth.’ I sigh deeply. ‘Even if the truth ruins everything.’
Chapter Twenty-ThreeCLARA
I’m sitting on the ground, staring up at Milo Samuels for a full ten seconds as he gabbles an apology.
‘I’m so sorry,sosorry, are you OK? I didn’t see you,’ he’s saying in that oh-so familiar London accent. His brow creases with concern as he takes me in on the ground. ‘Are you hurt, love? Can I help you?’
Love. He called me love!
He offers a hand and I stare at that now, too. It looks soft, but a little weathered. Just enough to prove he’s a man. There’s a sprinkling of hair on his knuckles, but that’s fine. It just makes him all the morereal.
‘Should I call someone? Or an ambulance?’ He’s starting to sound really worried and I hastily grab for his waiting hand and stand up. It’s warm and rough and I don’t let go.
‘I think I’m OK!’ I squeak and he laughs a little.
‘That’s good, because I imagine the ambulance probablywouldn’t turn up until at least tomorrow afternoon and I’m afraid I do actually have an appointment later today.’
Damn, I should’ve let him call me an ambulance.
‘Good one!’ I laugh hard. Too hard.
This isactuallyMilo Samuels. Right here, in front of me. The man I’ve been falling for on the TV every week for seven gorgeous, long episodes. He’s here, in the flesh. And I’m still holding onto his hand.
‘Er…’ He nods at the hand now, smiling that winning TV star smile again. I allow him to extricate himself from my grip. My hand feels all cold now and I fight an urge to take it back, entwining my fingers with his.
‘Sorry again for knocking you over!’ he says. ‘You sure you’re OK?’ He’s looking at me with concern.
I can’t remember any of the things I was going to say. I’ve spent entire evenings planning for this very moment. I’d got it all planned out; the perfect opener. I was going to be witty and clever and fun. I was going to make him fall for me instantly.
‘I’ve got anaemia!’ The words fall out of my stupid mouth before I can stop them.
He frowns. ‘You’ve got… anaemia?’
I nod a lot. ‘Yeah, I think I bumped my head when I fell over and now I’ve got anaemia. I can’t remember my name or anything about my life.’
I mean, it’skindatrue. I can’t remember much right now, looking at his beautiful face.
His expression clears a little. ‘Oh, do you mean, er, amnesia?’
It’s my turn to frown. ‘What did I say?’
‘Anaemia,’ he explains. ‘I thought you’d been trying to donate blood and they wouldn’t let you.’
‘I can’t remember if I’ve tried to donate blood,’ I tell him. ‘Maybe I’ve got anaemiaandamnesia.’ I pause. ‘Wait, what’s Ambrosia then?’
The concerned look is back. ‘Right, goodness, well, we’d better find you a place to sit down.’ He looks around anxiously and spots a group of sofas set back from the hubbub. He encircles a supportive arm around me and we cross the room together.
A young woman approaches, looking worriedly between us. ‘Milo? They’re waiting for us in the office.’ I start as I realize it’sher. It’s the brunette I’ve seen in pictures; the one constantly with Milo. Is she…? Is this his girlfriend?
Fuck, she’s gorgeous. Though a bit stern-looking in all black.
Milo nods reassuringly at her. ‘Just give me a few minutes, Katies, this woman can’t remember her own name.’
