Chapter 42
Ahuge team of workers in high-vis jackets are already taking the Tower Stage apart. The beams hanging from the ceiling with light fixtures attached are carefully lowered down, while decorations adorned across the front of the stage are plucked away.
We stand in front of it alone, as the last remnants of the summer sun flicker behind the wooden beams of the stage.
‘Why are they taking it down?’ I frown. ‘The festival isn’t over yet.’
‘It’s something to do with a sound curfew.’ He stands close next to me. ‘On the last night, a lot of the stages close early to avoid so much noise pollution. I remember Ham mentioning it… all the other stages get rammed.’
‘Hmm,’ I say with mild interest. ‘Love that. Perfect timing to be at the Firecrest Stage.’
His laugh lights up the field around us, and for a second I’m transported to the last time we were in this spot.
‘It feels like we were here watching Queen Ego only ten minutes ago,’ I murmur. ‘But somehow we did a whole treasure hunt and explored the whole festival and got into Ransom and everything.’
‘And I got in the lake,’ he adds, his voice low and serious.
I do my best to shoot him a withering look but it’s not long before it transforms into a grin.
‘We should probably talk,’ I suggest.
‘Probably.’
I kick a tin can away from underneath my shoe awkwardly, avoiding his stare. ‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘For making you claw your way out of the Firecrest crowd.’
‘It’s okay.’ He shrugs, like it was nothing. ‘No need to apologise. I’m glad I found you.’
I wring my hands together, unsure on where or how to start.
Damn it. I knew those stupid blue eyes would be my undoing. I stare dumbfounded into them for another moment, and go to break the silence by clearing my throat. This is mortifying.
‘Um,’ I start. No more words leave my mouth, to my horror.
‘I’m glad you got in touch actually,’ he says lightly, taking my hand in his. ‘I’ve been working on something you might be interested in.’
What? This isn’t supposed to be happening. He’s not following my nonsensical script. He pulls his phone out of his back pocket and thumbs through his screen.
‘I thought it might be worth a try to message Teddy about our drumstick situation. So, I told him about this weekend, with plenty of sufficient photographic evidence, thanks to Owen. And basically asked if there might be any way he could send us another stick as we both obviously wanted it so badly. Or a signed set or something.’ He is practically glowing.
‘And as it turns out… he’d already seen us all over Twitter.
He was tagged in a bunch of photos of us right after it happened.
So he said yes pretty much immediately. He’s going to send a signed set over as soon as he can. ’
My jaw drops.
‘Oh my God? I – Elliot–’
I know I should say something else, but I cannot find any words.
‘I was thinking my brother could get the signed set and you could hold on to the original. As that specific show obviously means so much to you. I thought I’d post this back to you,’ he says, letting go of my hand and tugging our original drumstick out of his pocket.
Tears begin to sting behind my eyelids. Not because I can keep the drumstick after all, but because of how clear it is that Elliot knows what it means to me. It would have been so easy for him to take the stick and walk away. But he immediately found a way for me to get what I needed too.
‘So… with that in mind,’ he says, his lips curling into a smile. ‘This belongs to you.’
And without another word, he offers it to me.
I regard it in his hand for a second, absorbing the offer.
The original worn out drumstick in all its glory that has become so strangely familiar beckons to me.
A breathy laugh falls out of me as I throw my arms around his shoulders.
Almost immediately I feel his strong, sure embrace as his arms wrap around my waist.
I let him go to take him in. To memorise exactly how the last light of the day clashes against his misty eyes and how the breeze plays with the locks falling across his forehead.
I know I’m staring, but I can’t help it at this point.
He is so unbelievably fucking pretty and I have denied myself the pleasure all weekend.
‘So, do you want it or not?’ he asks, wriggling the drumstick between us.
‘Yeah, I want it,’ I reply, snatching it from his grasp with a grin.
‘Thought so.’
‘Thank you,’ I murmur. ‘Really. You didn’t have to do this but you did anyway and now look! We both win!’
‘It’s okay,’ he says, his voice like velvet. ‘I wanted to.’
I struggle to remember why I even asked him to meet me here in the first place as his eyes bore into mine.
Elliot-induced brain fog is not going anywhere, apparently. Oh no. Shall I do a jig?
‘I wanted to ask–’ I start, but our voices clash as he says, ‘I’m sorry about last night.’
I falter.
‘Sorry?’ I stammer, my eyes wide.
‘Last night,’ he continues. ‘At Neptune’s Lounge. I owe you an apology. I just… I wasn’t clear at all.’
‘Why did you kiss me in the first place? If you were going to take it back?’ I ask, hurt creeping into my voice.
He winces and turns his gaze away from me for a moment. ‘That was stupid,’ he mutters.
‘Why did you say it?’
A scalding fire suddenly lights in his eyes. ‘Because I’m the one who bought you consecutive drinks and then shoved us both in a telephone box and then threw myself at you. They’re not exactly events I’d like to be remembered by.’
‘Oh.’ I blink several times. ‘That’s why you said that? It was a – what? A consent thing?’
‘Well, yeah,’ he says, pushing his hands into his pockets. ‘And you’d just told me you didn’t think I was attractive. Not my finest moment, honestly. Pretty horrendous behaviour.’
‘Oh… that makes sense.’ I soften. ‘Please don’t beat yourself up or anything, that’s not why I was upset.’
He tilts his head curiously. ‘Did you think I just… didn’t mean to kiss you?’
‘I don’t know,’ I reply honestly. ‘I assumed that you thought it was a horrible kiss and you immediately regretted it.’
He gives me a look. ‘That wasn’t a horrible kiss. We both know that.’
Goosebumps skitter across my skin at his words.
‘So you did want to kiss me,’ I press. I can’t help myself, I just want to hear him say it again.
‘Of course I did,’ he says with a bemused smile.
‘Right.’ I nod, letting the information settle in my brain. ‘Okay.’
‘You didn’t catch my question earlier, I’m guessing?’ he asks mildly.
‘I didn’t,’ I admit with a nervous smile. ‘I’m sorry, it might have been a little subtle for me. I thought you just meant… you know, the group. It’s not really in my DNA to assume someone has romantic intentions.’
He starts to say something, but I can’t stop the words that are tumbling out of my mouth.
‘I just – I couldn’t really believe that you would actually like me. With you being you. You’re so kind. You’re considerate and funny. I think you’re one of the best guys I’ve ever met. And you know. You look… like that.’
He huffs out a laugh. ‘I don’t know what that means, but I’ll take it. Thank you.’
I can’t do anything but beam at him.
‘And I do,’ he adds without humour. ‘Like you.’
I resist the urge to fall to the floor but thankfully he doesn’t seem to expect any further explanation.
‘Well, in that case… I’m going to try one more time. And I can’t emphasise enough that this is not my forte. Generally, I mean, I’m not very good at this.’
He stops to look at my face, which must be a true picture of horror. Oh no. This is what I was meant to be doing!
‘Can I take you out? You know – we could, um…’ He gestures awkwardly with his hands between the two of us.
‘We could,’ I agree politely. ‘Yes.’
‘Could I take you out for dinner or a drink or something? Sometime?’ he finishes in a rush.
I am fascinated by the reality that someone so painfully beautiful also happens to not be very smooth.
Not quite as bad as me, but still. The whole thing is stilted and it makes my affection for him instantly triple.
And underneath it all his eyes pierce through mine and something inside me feels like it’s taking flight.
‘Yeah.’ I grin so hard my cheeks hurt. ‘I’d love that.’
His lovely awkwardness continues as he smiles and rubs the back of his neck, trying to find the right words to say. ‘Alright, well. Let’s maybe do something this week, if you’re free.’
‘How about now?’ The words leave my mouth before I really think about it.
‘Now?’
‘Sure.’ I gesture around us. ‘It’s just us. We’re surrounded by endless bars and entertainment. Seems like the perfect opportunity.’
He nods as his smile widens. ‘Sounds like a good idea.’
‘How about The Lakes? I was just there, it’s pretty amazing at this time of day.’ And if I’m honest, I’m done with pounding music and stages and crowds for now.
‘Sounds perfect,’ he says, turning to leave without further discussion. And as he does, he threads his fingers through mine.