Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Because of her stupid brother and his stupid, apparently reasonably handsome face, Frankie had to wait until the evening to finally have a chance to speak to Sally alone.
But she knew as soon as she saw her there was little point asking her anything other than about Bobby.
Sally had already fallen and fallen hard.
It was written all over her little elfin face.
Poor Jake was clearly back off the menu.
Frankie cornered her in the hotel reception, where she knew army boys weren’t allowed to linger, during her evening shift.
‘Tell me everything,’ she said, leaning on the counter. ‘But not actually everything. I’m his sister, remember.’
Sally’s smile was as wide as Frankie had ever seen, her face flushed, eyes bright.
‘Oh my God, Franks. It’s so good to see him again. He’s a man now, you know, and I cannot tell you how much he’s grown up. He’s really mature, you know, and he even showed me his uniform, you know, he looks so gorgeous, and he’s a great kisser, I’d forgotten that, you know, and…’
Frankie let her chunter on, gushing about this and that about Bobby until she finally ran out of stream twenty minutes later.
‘Better?’ said Frankie.
‘Much. Thanks,’ said Sally. ‘I’m just so happy.’
Frankie hopped up on the counter next to Sally and swung her legs. ‘I’m very pleased for you, Sal. But seriously…’
‘Seriously what?’
‘Seriously, he’s leaving in a week. He’s going to break your heart all over again.’
‘No, he won’t. I’m much tougher this time,’ said Sally, shaking her head. ‘I’ll be fine. Besides, you never know, he might want to see me again.’
Frankie’s jaw dropped. ‘Is that as good as you can hope for, that he’ll want to see you again sometime? Aren’t you afraid…?’
‘Afraid of what?’
‘That he’s got a girl in every port.’
‘I wasn’t,’ said Sally, leaning back in her chair. ‘Now I am.’ Her forehead crinkled.
‘Now you know how I feel about Dylan,’ said Frankie. Saying that, it turned out, was a mistake.
Sally bristled. ‘It’s nothing like you and Dylan. Dylan’s never going to be able to commit to anything proper. Come on, Frankie.’
‘Is that what you really think?’
‘Course it is. Bobby is real. He loves me. He’s always loved me. He doesn’t have groupies; he’s been saving himself for me. Waiting for me. He told me he only came back to the island for me.’ She clamped her hand over her mouth. ‘Oops, did I say that out loud?’
‘Did he, now?’ said Frankie, the anger rising in her throat.
‘He told me not to tell you that,’ said Sally, shaking her head.
‘That is typical of him, to be honest. And if you think he’s not had any visitors to the barracks since he left the island, if you honestly think he’s been keeping himself for you, you’re stupider than I thought.’
‘Hey!’ said Sally.
‘Sorry. But honestly, Sal, wake up and smell the roses. Speaking of which, have a listen to this.’ She scrolled to her Instagram to find the track Dylan had sent.
But it was gone. Unsent. She panicked, ice dripping down her spine as she scrolled up and down through her messages to find it, but no. It was gone.
‘Strange, he must have deleted it,’ she muttered. Maybe he’d had second thoughts. Who could blame him?
‘What, did he write you a song or something?’ scoffed Sally.
‘Yes. Actually, he did.’
‘Pah. If you think he’d actually pitch that to his bandmates, you’re even stupider than me. What is it, like, here we are on a lovely island in the sun, fa la la. “Mysterious Girl”, Peter Andre, something like that?’
‘It was really good, actually.’
‘Sure it was.’
‘I guess we’re both idiots, then,’ said Frankie, lips pressed together as she tried to control her anger.
‘That’s for sure,’ said Sally a little wryly.
There was a long pause. Then they both burst out laughing.
Frankie got herself together first. ‘I’m so sorry, Sal. I’m sorry about smashing your phone. I’m sorry for being such an arse.’
‘Me too,’ said Sally, throwing her arms around her. ‘You and I, we don’t fall out, right?’
‘We can’t because I’ve got something to tell you. Something juicy,’ said Frankie.
‘Is it about you kissing Jake last night, you little hussy?’ said Sally, her eyes flashing fire.
‘What? How do you know about that?’ Frankie goggled at her friend.
Sally shrugged. ‘Saw him this morning. He was walking on air.’
‘Was he?’
‘Be careful there,’ said Sally. ‘Don’t break that lovely man’s heart, will you?’
Something twisted in Frankie’s chest. ‘I would never. And I’m sorry, I know you like him.’
Sally shrugged. ‘You might, you know. Break his heart, I mean. He’s got it bad. I couldn’t even get him to agree to go out for coffee with me, and well, just look at me.’
Frankie giggled.
‘Seriously,’ Sally continued. ‘If you don’t want him – and if what you told me about Dylan is true then you definitely don’t – you should end it fast.’
Frankie swallowed. What had she been thinking, kissing him? What a bitch she was. ‘I know. I’ll be careful.’
‘Is he a good kisser, then? I’ve always wondered.’ Sally’s left eyebrow lifted.
‘Yes. I mean, no. I mean, yes he is, a really good kisser but I’m sorry. I know you were hoping something might happen between you.’
‘I’ve got Bobby now. Don’t worry about me,’ said Sally. ‘I’ve never been so happy.’
‘If you’re sure you know what you’re doing,’ said Frankie.
‘Course I do,’ said Sally. ‘The question is, do you?’
Did she?
That night she sent Dylan a message.
Frankie: Hey, Dylan, thanks for your lovely message yesterday, and for the song, wow I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, it seems to have disappeared from my inbox, I’m so sorry, could you resend? Hope you have a great weekend. XXX
Three kisses. Three kisses should do it.