Page 126 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘Where are we going?’ Duncan asks.

I’ve already briefed Dad on where to take us. He drives us south in the late afternoon sunshine until Duncan spots a sign for Saratoga.

‘Ach, Lex, no, come on,’ he says sourly in the back seat.

‘What? I told her to message you and she told me you never reply.’

‘Just because everything is messed up in your love life, doesn’t mean you get to mess with mine.’

‘Have you forgiven her yet?’

‘Has Aidan forgivenyou?’

‘This isn’t about me and Aidan. Why haven’t you replied to her?’

He crosses his arms. ‘Just. ’Cause. She’s in California. I’m in London. I don’t need any other reason.’

‘Fine, can you at least forgive her?’

‘Does she know we’re coming?’

We’re entering a residential area with well-kept roads and neatly trimmed grass verges. ‘I might have said I’d drop by. I didn’t mention you were coming too. If you really don’t want to see her, we can drop you at a coffee shop.’

He looks out of the window and sulks. ‘Fine.’

‘Which is it? Coffee shop or Meredith?’

He glowers at me. ‘Meredith,’ he says quietly.

Dad pulls up outside the house and kills the engine. It’s a beige and white property, set back from the road, with a covered porch.

‘She deserves someone better than me, like,’ Duncan mumbles.

‘That’s not true.’

‘What do I say?’

‘You could start by forgiving her.’

His eyes are already on the house. I see his throat working. When he gets out, he wipes his palms on his jeans. He’s wearing a fitted black polo shirt.

Meredith comes out of the house before he’s even reached the steps up to the porch. Her expression registers surprise before she breaks into a smile. She stops on the top step. Duncan walks towards her, walking up the first three steps until their faces are level. Their actual height difference is adorable.

I witness a split second of trepidation, Duncan first clutching the back of his head with his hand. Meredith seems to wipe tears away before Duncan reaches up and wipes them for her. He says something, holding her cheek, before sweeping her into an embrace. She clings to him, and my heart swells.

‘Are we going in too?’ Dad asks.

‘Yes,’ I murmur, happy with the results of my efforts, yet there’s a sadness still inside me. ‘Just give them a minute.’

Two days later, Duncan and I fly back from California on a night fight. By the time I make it back to my empty flat, my body clock is haywire.

I try hard not to feel dejected. I anticipated that there would be requests to alter the final version of the documentary, only not as significant as the changes the management and record companies have proposed. The list is long, and I don’t relish the idea of returning to the editing suite with Rocky.

Lawyers are involved. Vaughn Herrera and Rebel Heart’s management are butting heads. Simone instructs me not to do anything yet. So, I sit tight.

We’ve been back in the UK less than twenty-four hours when Duncan sends me a message:Rebel Heart appearing on Fierce Females tomorrow. You should watch. I’ll be filming them :)

The following day, at lunch, I curl up on my sofa with a hearty bowl of pasta, switching on the TV, to my surprise only seeing three members of Rebel Heart introduced on the chat show: J.B., Cal and Ravi.

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