Page 86 of The Final Beat

I couldn’t even discuss it with him any longer. He was an idiot at times, and I had more important things to think about.

Redial.

“Well, I hope it’s a big fuck off thing,” I muttered.

“It is. Is she answering or not?”

I held up my phone. “Does it look like she’s answering?”

He held his hands up in surrender and backed up out of my way.

I hit redial another two times and then snapped at Ronnie, “We need to go round there on the way to the airport.”

“Joey, mate, we’re cutting it fine as it is.”

“If I miss it I’ll charter the plane. I’ll call Ali and get her to sort it for me.”

Ronnie rolled his eyes and fished his keys from his pocket. “Right, come on then. I’ve left Amber at Beau’s and if he needs to deliver my twins I’ll cut your fucking bollocks off.”

“Daisy. Open up.”

I banged on her front door, but knew it was pointless. Her car wasn’t there. I just hoped that she hadn’t caught a flight already.

“Not here?” Ronnie called through the car window.

I peered through the lounge window but everything in there was tidy. The black cushions were plumped on the white leather sofa. The remotes were in a neat line on the coffee table and the view into the dining room showed me she wasn’t hiding in there either.

“I think she’s gone, Ron.” I dropped my hands to my knees and doubled over, the adrenalin that had flooded my veins making it hard to breathe. I inhaled, my chest heaving, and desperately trying not to scream the bloody street down. I felt Ron’s hand on my shoulder and straightened up.

“Come on, mate, let’s get you to the airfield. Ali texted to say she’s got the plane ready for you.”

I looked at him and saw the sympathy in his eyes. “I don’t want to go until I’ve spoken to her, though.”

“Joey, you start shooting the day after tomorrow. If you don’t leave today you’re going to be in no fit state to work.”

“I can cope with a bit of jet lag.”

Ronnie’s eyes shadowed. “Maybe, Joe, but I don’t want you to have to.”

“I wouldn’t take drugs to get me through the day, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I’m not.” He scratched his head. “I just worry about you. I don’t want you to be ill just because you’ve missed a flight.”

I rounded on him. “If I’m ill it’ll be because I’ve lost the fucking love of my life, Ronnie. Not because I’ve missed a flight.”

“Okay, okay, but seriously, Joey, the best thing you can do is get on the plane and try to call Destiny from Florida.” He pulled me into a hug. “Please, mate, just let me take you to the airfield.”

Taking one last look at the empty house, I nodded and let Ronnie lead me to the car.

“What if she carries on ignoring my calls, Ron?” I asked as I put my belt on. “What if I never get to speak to her for another eight months? What if she meets someone else on tour?”

Ronnie started the car and patted my knee. “It’ll be fine. She’ll speak to you at some point, and you’ll sort it out.”

“What would you do if it was Amber? What if Amber had gone off and wouldn’t answer your calls? How would you feel?”

He sighed heavily. “I’d be devastated, Joey, absolutely fucking devastated.”

I nodded and stared at the road ahead knowing exactly what he meant.

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