Page 4 of Wild Tonic
Luckily, Clem was spared having to find an immediate answer as the train manager came through with the refreshments trolley.
“Can I get you anything from the buffet car? We’ve got hot and cold sandwiches and I can offer you tea, coffee, wine or beer from here?” he asked.
Clem hoped that a bacon sandwich, strong coffee and a can of full-fat Coca Cola would help her, although the urge to drink something cold and alcoholic was suddenly extremely tempting.
Leona ordered the same and they both sat there, blowing on their drinks while they waited for their food to arrive. “So, are you?” she pushed. “I totally would. I mean, not only is he gorgeous, but imagine what it must be like being in a band.”
The sandwich turned to cardboard in Clem’s mouth.
Nate McKenna was about as far away from her usual type as could be.
She briefly thought of her family, her colleagues at the fashion label and the show. Seeing Nate again would be the worst idea.
Then why was it the only thing she could think about?
Chapter Three
Breakfast was the last thing on Nate’s mind as he sat in the Wetherspoon’s at Leeds station. He had around an hour to kill before his train and thought that getting out early to clear his head was a good plan. The crisp morning air had hit him the moment he left the B&B and with his hangover intensifying instead of improving, he’d headed to the station instead.
Mixing tequila and Guinness had seemed such a good idea the previous night. Now, not so much.
He nursed the lager in front of him. Hair of the dog wasn’t helping either. As he watched the people coming and going, he thought he saw a flash of blonde hair that he recognised as the girl he’d met at The Met Hotel. She was running, hair flying behind her, trying to keep up with a brunette, who also looked a little familiar. He shook his head. It couldn’t be her. Why was he even thinking about her in the first place?
He’d arrived in Leeds with a sense of impending doom. Spending a few pleasant hours in the company of a cute blonde had lifted it somewhat.
Now it was time to go back to North Ridge with a new sense of purpose as a single man.
If only his mind wasn’t full of oranges and lemons.
Or rather a certain Clementine in a yellow dress.
He flicked through the Sunday paper someone had left behind on the table, scanning the stories, then moved on to one of the glossy supplements usually full of gossip and tittle-tattle. There was a spread of pictures of various celebrities and hangers-on at parties. Usually, he would flick straight past with nothing more than an eye roll. When his gaze fell on a picture of a blonde who definitely looked like the woman he had met last night, he stopped, his hand hovering as he went to turn the page. Before he had chance to read on further, the station announcer told him that his train was arriving. Nate grabbed his holdall and dashed to the platform, which was, of course, the furthest one away from the bar.
As he settled into his seat, he wished he’d picked up the magazine so he could continue reading. Instead, he fished in his bag for his charger and plugged in his phone in preparation for the long journey ahead. When it burst back into life, he spotted a couple of missed calls from Alik. There was also one message from Poppy and a slew from Rach. He deleted the ones from Rach without bothering to read them, scanned Poppy’s and tapped in a reply. He placed the phone on the table and stared out the window.
The man opposite him tutted and shook his head as Nate’s phone beeped loudly.
It was another message from Alik, asking Nate to call him. Deliberately, Nate dialled Alik’s number and began talking in a raised voice as he smiled at the other man. “Hey, mate, what’s up? Checking up to make sure I’ve done the deed?”
“Something like that. How did she take it?”
“I think she was expecting it, to be honest. I didn’t bullshit this time and told it like it was. She slapped me and cried, but I think we’re done now.”
“Good to hear.” There was a pause at Alik’s end while he spoke to someone in the background. “I wanted to make sure you were going to be back to start discussing the plans for the new stuff.”
“Are we still heading down to Newcomen Farm?”
“Not sure. Parker’s been trying to sort out a couple of things with them, otherwise it might be the Lighthouse Studios again.”
“I think the Farm would be better if we’re trying out new stuff. You know, get away from everything, all the distractions of everyday life.”
“Yeah, you’re right. We might have left it late to book in though, so we’ll have to settle for whatever’s available.”
“Fair point. When we will know?”
“Couple of days, probably. You want to come over when you’re back? Bring a guitar and some beers? I’ve been playing with a few things.”
Nate was happy to hear that. A creative Alik meant new ideas were flowing, and the band were in need of new material for the next album.
