Page 22 of The Love Position

Taking out his phone, he fiddled with it, then passed it to her. ‘We need to record this.’

Sophia held it up and pressed the button. ‘I’m filming.’

Marcus stood straighter, his expression earnest. ‘I’m Professor Marcus Thwaites, head of the archaeology department at Salisbury University, and I’ve just made the archaeological find of the decade.’

The phone jolted in Sophia’s hand. ‘What do you mean “I’ve”?’ she asked, anxiety rising.

‘Hold the phone still.’

She stopped filming. ‘Marcus. This is my proposal, my dig, my find!’

His expression hardened. ‘There’s no “I” in “team”, Sophia. The University of Salisbury is paying for this excavation and your salary. It’s a group effort. Stop being so childish and selfish. If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t be standing here now. Would you?’

Her throat was too tight to reply.

‘Now start filming again, or I’m taking the entire dig off your hands.’

She lifted the phone and pressed record.

‘That’s my girl.’ Marcus tilted his head and raised his hands as he looked down the lens, as if he was a politician auditioning for a role as a TV presenter. ‘Picture the scene. Ancient Britain nearly two thousand years ago…’

Sophia zoned out as he continued talking. She knew how much Marcus wanted to be on television. He’d pitched archaeology show ideas to TV networks with him as the star over the last few years, but nothing had ever come of it.

Focus on what’s important. You’ve found something. That’s all that matters.

5

JUNE

‘Sophia?’

The voice was comforting, but very far away. She was stuck in treacly fog, trying to find her way out.

‘Sophia?’

Her eyes snapped open, and she pushed up to sit, glancing around the Scout hut. Everyone else in the class had gone, and Isaac was sitting on the floor a few feet away.

‘I fell asleep again.’

He smiled. ‘You must have needed it.’

‘I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I keep doing this. Usually Estelle wakes me up, but…’

‘She’s too busy organising the festival.’

Sophia nodded. ‘I’m so embarrassed.’

‘Don’t be. It’s all good.’

‘Your voice just seems to send me to sleep.’ She clapped a hand to her mouth. ‘Oh my god, I didn’t mean it like that.’

Isaac laughed. ‘I’ve spent years perfecting a delivery this boring—’

‘You’re not boring.’

‘When you teach yoga nidra, it’s important to keep the pitch, volume, and speed of your voice level and even, so students can focus on the words and not be distracted by how you say them.’

‘I feel very safe with you. I think that’s also why I keep dropping off.’

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