Page 20 of Sleep

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I assure you, I will make it stop.”

She rushed off, and I looked around the room. Every table was occupied, and there was Milliee giving me a little wave, and here was Kurt.

My least-favourite waiter.

“Bit of drama today,” he said curtly, pouring me a glass of water. Then he repeated the sentence in a loud voice. “Bit of drama today, Mr Templar.”

“I can hear that,” I replied, trying to look around the back of him as a door slammed again.

“I think…our restaurant manager may have been an absolute dick.”

“Okay.” I had to smile. I loved this place, the absolute lack of professionalism mixed with the perfect silver service as Kurt neatly rearranged my table into a perfectly aligned single set-up. A polished glass…and a crash from the back of the restaurant. Kurt didn’t even react.

“Another day in paradise. Now, I doubt I can get Mabel out here at the moment, but I’m going to get you a bottle of red and something to eat and perhaps…can I offer you some earplugs?”

I had to laugh at that, joining Kurt in staring at the ruckus now taking place right here in the restaurant. Another waiter ran towards the lobby with a radio in their hand.

Kurt casually turned to the next table to take their order, and…here was Donovan.

I stood up because this was not the Donovan I knew, and… Hell. They were crying, their arms wrapped around their chest, clutching a coat and heading for the lobby, where, before I could even react, they disappeared out the double doors into the crowd. A second later, Mark ran out after them, while I seemed to be frozen in place.

Not my business.

Absolutely not my business.

Kurt turned back and stared out the window. Looking out, I could see Donovan’s back, moving east along the river, the crowds seeming to part to let them through. No sign of Mark, though, and it soon became clear why, as he arrived back in the hotel, his face distorted in fury, and banged his fist on the pulpit.

Madness. What on earth was going on here?

Wrong question, Jonathan. Because yes, this was me, on my feet and almost taking out poor Tabitha carrying a tray of glasses in my haste, heading straight out of the building.

I was wearing trainers. Hence, I ran, taking long, perfect strides, like the world was my treadmill. I didn’t stand out, just another evening jogger alongside the Thames riverside in central London, but I was focused on the crowd, searching for that exact shade of blonde. I couldn’t even remember what they were wearing. Green? Red? A black coat?

I felt like a villain in a Hollywood movie. Perhaps I was. Perhaps this was entirely the wrong thing to do, but my heart was beating steadily, and my mind was surprisingly clear.

There. Good. A human form sat on a bench, bent over with their head in their hands. I’d been right. Black coat, with vibrant shade of green underneath. All that beautiful hair.

I couldn’t bear it. Couldn’t face the thought of them…

I wasn’t a creep. I wasn’t after anything.

The need for them to be okay was all I could think of. The awful reality of someone being upset. Or maybe I was being foolishly selfish here, going after someone who clearly wanted to be left alone.

I hated when people were intrusive.

God knows what had been going on back there. I’d heard things. Never this bad, though. Working in an office, I’d had to call the police on some staff members fighting once. Well, not me personally, shielded from reality by Jenny, as always.

My thoughts were swirling around in my head, making me dizzy.

I’m sharp. Composed. Clean cut. In control. Breathe.

What the hell was I playing at?

I’d slowed to a stop, treading carefully towards where they were sitting. Someone shouted and shoved me as I cut them off right there on the pavement. I wanted to apologise but I couldn’t find the words. My whole sense of being was stuck in some kind of frozen state as I leaned down and sat on the bench next to them.

Tried to breathe.

They were safe. I was fine. The crowds moved along, a carnival of sorts. People paused to take selfies, landmarks and buildings creating the perfect backdrop to their perfect smiles.

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