Chapter Twenty-Three Clara
Chapter Twenty-Three CLARA
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, so sorry, 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 more real .
‘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 probably wouldn’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 is actually Milo 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’s kinda true. 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 anaemia and amnesia.’ 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’s her . 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.’
‘Ambrosia,’ I tell her sombrely and she glares, then shuffles off, speaking into a phone.
‘Sorry about Katies, she’s my publicist,’ he tells me as we sit down carefully.
Publicist!! OMG!! I internally high-five myself. No girlfriend, just a stunning and terrifying female co-worker. I knew he was single, I knew — Wait… I frown. ‘Um, are you saying Katies, like, Katiezzz ?’
He laughs. ‘I am actually.’
I shake my head, starting to believe in my own fake head injury. ‘Wait, is her name Kate Teas? Or Kay Tease? Or like multiple Katies?’
He laughs again, his whole head thrown back. I’m making Milo Samuels laugh. It’s happening, we’re falling in love. It’s really happening.
‘It’s Katies, like multiple Katies,’ he confirms, his lovely eyes looking deeply into mine.
‘What do you do with your possessive apostrophes?’ I ask anxiously, suddenly feeling a lot like Jemma.
He shrugs. ‘Same as the Jameses, I guess?’
‘Blimey.’ I breathe out heavily. ‘That must be hell. Her parents must have hated her. I bet she has to explain it constantly. I bet she has to have a conversation every day about it.’
‘Almost certainly,’ he nods. ‘I’ve just started having them on her behalf.’
I laugh at this. God, he really is perfect! Jemma was totally wrong about this all being a fantasy. Milo Samuels is actually here in the flesh and he’s genuinely perfect. He’s funny, he’s sexy, he’s cool, he’s… going to be mine.
‘So,’ he begins. ‘Is there someone I can call? Do you need to go to the hospital? Because I could get Katies to call a car…’
‘Er—’ Crap. I really don’t want to go sit in A&E for the next ten hours, even if Milo were to come with me. It’s not exactly the most romantic of places and I really don’t want it to be our first date. Plus, I’m thinking there’s no chance Katiezzz would allow him to take off with me.
I glance over at her now, still on the phone but glowering across the room at us.
‘I don’t think I need to go to the hospital,’ I tell him confidently.
‘I think I just need to sit here for a few minutes.’ I try to look noble.
‘I just need to recover from my fall , but if you need to go, I guess I can do that here, all on my own.’ I duck my head sadly, trying to subtly watch for his reaction. He looks outraged.
‘I’m not leaving you while you can’t remember anything!’ he says loudly. He glances worriedly over at Katiezzz. ‘It’s just that I’m technically here for work. I’m contracted to, er, do a thing and they’re expecting me.’
I want to shout at him that I know. Of course I know!! What mad people out there haven’t been watching Book Boyfriend ? Who isn’t in love with this man?
I squint at him. ‘You know, you do look familiar,’ I say very convincingly. ‘Do we already know each other?’ I grab his hand dramatically. ‘Are you my boyfriend?!’ He laughs and bites his lip, carefully removing his hand from mine.
‘Um, no. We’re not – I’m not – your, er, boyfriend.’ He pauses, and I can tell he’s debating whether to tell me who he is.
‘Clara?’ Milo and I both jump at the sound, glancing up at a perplexed-looking Harry standing over the pair of us. He looks much more sober than the last time I saw him. When he was smeared with my lipstick.
I cringe at the thought.
‘Um, do I know you?’ I ask, feeling a surge of fury at Harry for interrupting this moment. Things were going so well! Milo was totally about to ask me out.
‘Huh?’ Harry’s brow creases and I can see he’s still not that sober.
Beside me, Milo bounces up and out of the seat. ‘Do you know this woman?’ he sounds excited. ‘She’s lost her memory and doesn’t know who she is.’
Harry glances between us, his gaze landing on Milo. ‘Holy fuck, you’re— you’re him !’ He looks at me, eyes enormous, and I make a face that I hope conveys shut the fuck up right now .
‘Oh, er, yes.’ Milo looks bashful and Harry steps closer, excitedly offering a hand.
‘Mate, you’re brilliant!’ he’s saying too loudly.
‘We all love you in my house. We’ve been watching Book Boyfriend religiously every week!
I never want it to end!’ His eyes are adoring and it’s clear Harry is almost as in love with Milo as me.
He swallows, getting too close. ‘Honestly, you’re the coolest!
That outfit you wore in the fourth episode was…
I found the shirt on Asos but it wasn’t the right colour and the sleeves were all wrong and I—’ He swallows again, trying to regain some composure.
‘Anyway, yeah mate, we love Book Boyfriend . My friend Jemma is the biggest fan of the novel version, Too Good to Be True , and Cla—’ He starts to wave in my direction and then sees my murderous expression, immediately shutting up.
‘That’s really kind,’ Milo says, still looking embarrassed. He glances down at me and then back at Harry. ‘So this is your… friend? Did you say her name is Clara?’
‘Er, yeah,’ Harry confirms, amusement plain on his face. ‘Yeah, this is Clara.’ He turns to me, saying in a slow, baby voice, ‘Have you had a little accident, Clara? Did you bump your head?’
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 would love to interview you. It’s just local but she has a huge following. Loads of Book Boyfriend fans!’
‘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?’