Chapter 24 #2
“Why does Malik have a record player? It seems a lot easier to play music over a phone.”
“It is. People used to say music sounded better on vinyl but I don’t think that’s true these days. It’s probably that Malik likes to collect the albums and look after them.”
“A…hobby.”
“Yes.”
“Like swimming and bowling and stand-up.”
“Yes.”
“No one is following us.”
Kaden missed a step and gaped at him. “I didn’t even notice you look round.”
Joe was looking forward to swimming, even if there wasn’t a wave machine or a lazy river. He and Kaden changed, put their clothes in a locker and made their way outside with their towels. They both shivered as they stepped through the doors.
“The pool’s heated,” Kaden said. “We’ll jump in the deep end.”
People were swimming in lanes and kids were splashing around at the other end having fun, but the pool wasn’t busy.
“I’m freezing,” Kaden said, then ran, whooped and jumped in. He came up, shaking water from his hair. “Now I’m not. The water’s lovely.”
Joe jumped, and the moment the water closed around him, his breath hitched, his limbs tensed and sound vanished as he dropped. For a fraction of a second, he didn’t understand what was happening, only that he was no longer in control of where his body was. Then instinct kicked in and he thrashed.
Not swimming. Oh no! Why had he assumed he’d be able to swim? His chest tightened. He didn’t need to breathe yet, but his body didn’t seem to know that. Panic made him thrash harder. The surface shimmered above him but he didn’t seem to be getting any closer.
Then a hand grabbed his arm, pulled him up and his head broke the surface. He gulped air, still half-fighting, until Kaden’s grip tightened.
“Joe—hey—hey, I’ve got you!”
Joe stilled, but only because Kaden was there. His legs were still desperately jerking around. Kaden towed him to the side of the pool and Joe held onto the ridge just above the water line. Only then did his legs stop moving.
“I’m sorry. I’m so stupid,” Kaden said.
“I thought I could swim.”
“I should have thought about it more carefully. Make your way down the side of the pool hanging onto the side until you can put your feet on the bottom. I’ll teach you how not to drown.”
Joe’s heart calmed when his feet were on the bottom and his head was above the surface.
“Right,” Kaden said. “First you learn how to float. Look at me.”
He spread his arms and legs and hung like a star in the water, then came upright again.
“You need to relax, keep your lungs inflated and tip your head back until your ears are submerged. Lifting your head will make your legs sink. I’ll stay next to you. I won’t let you go under.”
By the time they headed home, Joe was feeling downhearted. He could float. He could go under the water without panicking, but he couldn’t swim.
“You’ll get it,” Kaden said. “We’ll keep going until you do. I’d like to take you in the sea but you need to be a good swimmer first.”
“Will you teach me how to drive?”
“We don’t have a car.”
“We could buy one.”
“You could.”
Joe stopped walking so Kaden did too. “My money is yours too,” Joe said.
Kaden smiled. “A car’s not much use to us in London. We’d have to pay for every day it was in the city. Parking can be impossible and it’s much quicker to use public transport. But if we moved out of London, yes, we could get a car.”
“I want to see everything, do everything.”
Kaden chuckled. “Not sure that’s possible.” He carried on walking.
“I’ll make a list.”
“What’s going on that list?”
“Climb a mountain. Make a snowman. Swim in the sea. Drive a car. Explore a castle. Cuddle a cat. Learn to dance.” He could have gone on but he bit his lip.
“The world’s there waiting for you, Joe.”
“I’m not sure I’m used to wanting and not having. I didn’t used to want anything because that always led to disappointment. Now, anything seems possible. I don’t just want to see everything, I want to know everything too, experience everything.”
“That really is impossible.”
Joe glanced at him.
“Seriously,” Kaden went on. “I understand the desire. It’s a mix of your natural curiosity, bearing in mind what you once were, along with a fear of missing out.
But nobody knows everything. Not everyone can swim or drive or climb mountains.
You learn to be selective and realistic about what you can achieve.
I’m always learning and you will be too. ”
Joe looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if checking they still belonged to him.
“I didn’t like not being in control. My body not doing what I wanted it to.
When I came out of you, I couldn’t even put clothes on, let alone stand up.
In the water, I couldn’t save myself. If people can’t swim, why do they ever go near water? ”
They walked on, slower now. The evening air had cooled, the faint smell of chlorine from the lido still clinging to their skin.
“I really thought I was going to drown,” Joe said.
“I wouldn’t have let that happen.”
“I know that now,” Joe replied. “But down there…” He shook his head. “It felt like my body decided something without asking me.”
Kaden let out a quiet breath. “Bodies do that. Panic isn’t something you can stop easily.”
Joe huffed a small laugh at that. “You weren’t scared.”
“I was,” Kaden said immediately.
Joe looked at him again, surprised.
“I jumped in thinking we’d have fun,” Kaden continued. “Next thing I know, you’re under too long and not coming up right.” He scrubbed a hand through his damp hair. “I was scared.”
“You got me to safety.”
Kaden gave a small shrug, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Course I did.”
They reached a crossing and stopped.
“I’ll learn,” Joe said. “Swimming. Driving. Everything I need to be able to do.”
“I know you will.”
“And then we can go to the sea.”
Kaden smiled, a real one this time. “We’ll go somewhere with proper waves. When you get a passport, we’ll visit a place where the sea is warm.”
“And I won’t drown.”
“Strong plan.” Kaden chuckled. “Big fan of that one.”
The light changed and they crossed together.
Joe spoke again as they reached the other side, more certain now. “Climb a mountain. Make a snowman.” He glanced sideways. “What would you add?”
“Stay somewhere stupidly luxurious like a villa on the sea. Eat something we can’t pronounce. Get lost on purpose. Do something unexpected every day. And do it all with you.”
Joe nodded, committing each one to memory. He looked ahead again. Now life didn’t seem overwhelming. It looked possible.
Although they were waiting for news from Alistair, the next few days were peaceful.
Kaden had sent off his article on Blake to his editor, written several thousand words of his fantasy novel, spoken to his dad, promised to go for lunch on Sunday, and agreed to go back to Hoopers for a paid gig in a couple of weeks.
Joe had smiled when Kaden had freaked out the moment that call ended.
The hunt for the meteorite had ended. Nothing had been found but a hole in the ground. Everything was settled and calm.
Until Joe said he was going out on his own and Kaden panicked.
“Wait—I’ll come with you.”
“I have a phone,” Joe said. “I can call you if I have a problem. I managed to get to your dad’s from the hospital. I’ll be okay. I got you the Mars bar, didn’t I? Just don’t let anyone in!”
Kaden opened his mouth as if there was a lot more he wanted to say, but he pressed his lips together.
“Don’t worry,” Joe said.
“Don’t forget to look both ways when you cross the road. Keep an eye out for electric bikes. Don’t—”
Joe kissed him.
That derailed things entirely. Neither of them wanted him to leave after that.
Thirty minutes later, slightly breathless and very distracted, Joe finally made it down the stairs and out onto the street. He’d barely taken three steps along the pavement when his phone rang.
“Hi,” Joe said.
“Have you tripped over yet?”
Joe laughed. “What should I do if I see a snake?”
“You’ve seen a snake? What the hell?”
“No,” Joe said, grinning. “I just wanted to know what to do if I did.”
“Fuck off.” Kaden laughed as he hung up.
Two hours later, Joe returned with the bits he needed to mend the record player, the ingredients for dinner and a Mars bar for Kaden. The door clicked shut behind him and Kaden looked up instantly.
“I didn’t get mugged, I caught a bus going the right way, I managed to walk along the pavement without bumping into anyone. Isn’t that amazing? I did have a near miss with a cyclist, but otherwise…” Joe shrugged.
Kaden was across the room in seconds, pulling him into a tight hug. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m joking.” Sort of. “I bought you something.” He offered Kaden the Mars bar.
“Thank you!”
“I got dinner too and the bits to mend the record player.”
Kaden unwrapped the chocolate bar, took a bite and sighed. “Do you even need me anymore?”
Joe pretended to think about it.
Kaden growled. “That sense of humour is developing nicely.”
Joe laughed and headed for the kitchen, putting things away before settling cross-legged on the floor with the dismantled record player.
It didn’t take long. A few adjustments, a careful tightening of screws, and the machine was whole again. Joe scanned the records, then chose one at random.
The Drifters.
He set it on the turntable and, with great care, lowered the needle. The crackle made him flinch, but then music filled the room. When he turned, Kaden was already beside him.
“Save the Last Dance for Me,” Kaden said softly. “Perfect.”
He took Joe’s hand and pulled him to his feet, then slid his other arm around Joe’s back.
“This,” Kaden said softly, “is dancing.”
He guided Joe slowly across the small space, their steps brushing against furniture, their rhythm more instinct than skill but Joe’s heart thumped hard.
He followed as best he could, focusing on Kaden’s movements, the warmth of his hand, the quiet certainty in the way he led.
Then Kaden drew him closer. And closer. Until there was no space left between them.
Joe’s breath caught as their bodies aligned, Kaden’s chest warm against his, his hand firm at Joe’s back.
“Don’t think about it,” Kaden whispered. “Just feel it.”
Joe let himself do exactly that.
The music, so soft and aching, wrapped around them.
The world narrowed to the slow sway of their bodies, the quiet creak of the floor, the faint brush of fabric, while Kaden’s thumb traced small, random patterns on Joe’s back.
Joe rested his forehead briefly against Kaden’s shoulder, then lifted his head, just enough to look at him.
Kaden was already looking. Not joking now. Not teasing. Just…there.
“You’re staring,” Joe said quietly.
“I know. I like to stare at you. I love you.”
Joe didn’t look away.
The record crackled on.