Page 17 of Going Solo

“Can I walk you home, maybe? Is it far?”

“I’ll probably get an Uber.”

Cole rolled his bottom lip between his teeth and ran his hand through his swooshy hair.

“You know, it’s a shame because I didn’t give you your surprise yet.”

I’d forgotten he’d promised one, and I’m not going to lie, I was intrigued.

“I worked hard on it. And I have, like, at least three more hours to kill before Mum and Fi will be ready. I should get this vinyl out of the sun, anyway. And, frankly, I wouldn’t mind some air con either.”

I laughed. “OK then.”

“There we go. There’s that cute smile.” Cole put one hand lightly on my shoulder. “Come here, you saucy minx,” he said, pulling me into a hug. My breath caught in my throat. My heart pounded. This was our first proper hug. It felt so real. So right. So romantic. It felt… so incredibly sweaty.

“Plus, I want to see those Strawberry Shortcake pyjamas in the flesh,” he said.

* * *

Everything in my bedroom was embarrassing. The dresser covered in bottles of hair product, make-up, scent, and spray tan. The old Jonas Brothers posters on the wall. The Lady GagaARTPOPduvet cover. This was my inner sanctum. This was who I was—the stuff that made me happy. But, to my mind, it wasn’t cool enough for Cole.

Cole leaned his guitar against the wall, put his precious vinyl down on my desk, and headed straight for a picture frame containing the historical record of one of the best nights of my life.

“Is this you?”

“Thatis Girls Aloud,” I said, digging through my wardrobe for fresh clothes.

Cole tapped on the glass.

“And yes,” I said, “the fat little kid clinging to Nadine Coyle’s neck like he plans to make a souvenir trophy of her head is me.”

“When was this?”

“When they played the Millennium Dome. Maybe five years ago. Mum got me tickets to the meet-and-greet. I’m going for a quick shower. Donotsnoop while I’m gone.”

Cole put up his hand like he was swearing on a Bible.

“Scout’s honour.”

When I came back ten minutes later, dirty clothes rolled up in my arms, Cole was sitting on the edge of my bed, plucking away at his guitar. His eyes lit up.

“Strawberry Shortcake!”

I curtsied. “As requested.”

Cole put his guitar behind him on the bed.

“You look super cute,” he said, smiling, and I felt a blush that started at my toes and roasted its way up through my whole body to my face like I was being burnt at the stake.

Cole stood. He stepped towards me, looking sexy, sweet, determined. This was it.Thiswas the moment. I closed my eyes, waiting for the soft touch of Cole’s lips on mine. Instead, I felt him grab the dirty clothes from my hands.

“We should put that T-shirt in to soak,” he said.

Instinctively, I reached for them. “I can do it later.”

“Mum always says the earlier the better when it comes to stains.”

Now we were having this weird tussle, both grappling for my pile of clothes.

---