Chapter 13
‘Are you sure you’re okay to get yourself back to Paris on a train?’ I ask my sister for the thousandth time since we woke up as we stand away from a Terrific Tours coach. The driver is tossing bags underneath as their owners stumble on board, ready for their drive to Florence.
‘There’s bound to be a chapter in my bible about how to get over falling in love with a rock star who you didn’t know was a rock star. That’s a common relationship problem, I bet,’ I smile ruefully.
‘Och for sure, it happens all the time,’ Isla responds before pulling me into a hug so tight it feels like she’s trying to hold me together, and maybe she is. ‘Brain will look after you, won’t you, Brain?’
Brain, who has been standing a respectful distance away as I farewell my sister, tunes in when he hears Isla call his name. ‘Huh?’ he asks, moving towards us.
‘I said, you’ll look after my sister, won’t you?’ she scolds him, playfully punching him on the arm.
‘Of course I will,’ he replies. ‘I’ll drive her safely. Keep her company if she wants it.’
‘And give her space if she doesn’t,’ Isla directs him.
The locker doors are slammed shut, then the coach engine springs to life, indicating its departure is imminent.
‘I’ll just do a head count, Isla, then we’re off.’ Tour manager Shaz says as she hops onto the coach and disappears down its aisle.
‘Righto then, one last hug sis,’ Isla says before squeezing the breath out of me again.
When she lets me go, she turns her affection to Brain, wrapping him just as tightly.
He returns her hug and plants an affectionate kiss on top of her head.
‘See you at the end of season party Brian.’ She blows us both kisses as she skips up the steps and onto her ride to Nice.