I glare at him. ‘Yes, actually. I’m anaemic and you should probably take me to the hospital immediately.’
I catch Milo muttering, ‘Amnesia,’ to Harry, who nods, understanding. ‘Well,’ Milo says after a moment, ‘I’d better get back to my… thing then. If you’re being looked after?’ He stops and smiles kindly at me. ‘It was really nice to meet you, Clara. I hope you feel better soon.’
Fuck, he’s going to leave. This is my last chance. I need something –anything. ‘Um, Milo, you know, I was thinking, my friend Salma is a radio host – she works for the BBC – and she wouldloveto interview you. It’s just local but she has a huge following. Loads ofBook Boyfriendfans!’
‘Oh?’ He smiles with genuine warmth. ‘I thought you couldn’t remember anything?’
‘Hmm?’ Shit. ‘Oh right, well, things seem to be coming back a little bit actually.’ I squint into the distance and nod slowly. His dark eyes crinkle with amusement.
‘That’s very good news. And well, that’s a lovely offer. Here…’ He fishes around in his jeans pocket and my eyes linger on the bulge down there. I let out a strangled noise and he looks up sharply. ‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ I nod and he hands me a business card. ‘Here are my agent’s details, she can talk to your friend Salma about an interview.’ He glances across the room. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t make you deal with Katies!’
I jump up and pull him in for a hug. He tenses with surprise and then gently pats me on the back. I know this is a signal to release, but I don’t. I just want to hold him a bit longer.
‘Come on, Clara,’ Harry says impatiently. ‘We’d better get you to the hospital for your anaemia.’
Milo extracts himself and waves a goodbye, hurrying across to his impatient PR. Harry and I watch him go, both entranced by his TV star dazzle. And his hot butt.
After a moment, Harry turns to me. ‘Did he say Katies?’ He frowns as I nod. ‘Like plural Katie?’
Chapter Twenty-FourJEMMA
Salma is in my bedroom doorway. ‘I’m on a wild, no-holds-barred, bloodthirsty, vengeance-y quest for chocolate. Got any?’
I turn away from the envelope in my hands. ‘Period?’
She gasps dramatically. ‘How dare you be so misogynistic! Am I not allowed to crave chocolate at other times of the month?’
I shrug. ‘I guess you are.’
‘Fuck you, yes, it’s my period.’
I laugh. ‘I don’t have any, sorry. If I keep any chocolate in here, I will eat the chocolate, and then we begin the cycle again of having no chocolate in here.’
‘That’s fair. Want to come to the shop with me then?’
I stand up, the envelope burning in my hands. ‘I’ll come with you part of the way. I’m actually heading to the library to drop this off inToo Good to Be True.’
‘Ooh!’ Salma comes further into the room, staring at theenvelope. ‘So this is the one where you finally ask him who he is?’
I nod, feeling shivery. This could be the last note I write to him. It could all be over after this.
Or it could all be starting after this.
We leave the house together, almost colliding with Clara on our way out. Things are a bit better than they were between us, what with all the enforced hangouts at Mum and Angela’s, talking wedding plans. But I’m still livid with jealousy when Salma grabs her and says warmly, ‘Babe, we still on for tonight? You better dressup!’
Clara nods excitedly. ‘Tonight is the night, I just know it.’ She looks at me and then away quickly.
‘What are you guys doing?’ I ask, trying to sound laid-back. Of course it comes off needy as hell. I’ve never been good at hiding my feelings.
‘There’s a big PR launch thingy at a hotel in West London later. I got invited through work and Clara’s coming as my plus one.’
My sister bounces on the spot a little. ‘Andguesswho’s on the guestlist? Milo Samuels! I cannot wait to see him. I’ve got the perfectinnow. I can just go right up to him and be like, “Oh hello, Milo, remember when we met at that food and drink festival thingy last week and you gave me amnesia? I remember my name now!” And he’ll be like, “Oh wow! Let’s get married and have babies!”’
I shake my head. How is she not mortified about that first meeting? When she and Harry told us about it, Salma and Ilaughed our arses off, and assumed she would be too embarrassed to continue pursuing this silly crush.
‘It’s going to be great,’ Salma agrees, as I stare down at my feet. My twin sister and my best friend hanging out without me. At some swanky party. Without me. It’s outrageous, I can’t believe they’d do this to me.
I glance up and Salma is staring at me hard. ‘Oi!’ she says sternly. ‘Stop looking so left out, youneverwant to come to these things. In fact, you’ve told me over and over to stop asking you. You said there was never going to be a chance in hell you would ever come along to one of my showbiz work parties. You said they sounded exhausting.’
