Page 26 of Wish You Once More
“Got caught up with Darla and Bryan sorting out some lost property.” The lie slipped easily off my tongue and was so uninteresting Callie wouldn’t pursue it any further.
“Ugh, dull. I don’t know why you volunteer to help out with this festival anyway, Surely you’ve got better things to be doing.”
I twisted a strand of blue hair around my finger. My parents had always been involved, right up until they decided to take early retirement and live in Spain. I think I ended up helping out because of some sort of responsibility to them.
My stomach let out a loud gurgle. Callie passed the cereal box to me and on autopilot, I shoved some into my mouth.
It was like chewing on sawdust, which sometimes happened when I was being too over-enthusiastic with an electric sander on one of my work projects.
“Ugh, this tastes horrific. I’ll go and get some milk.”
I went back to my room and pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie, then grabbed my phone. My Converse were in the living room, and I slipped my feet into them.
“Do we need anything else?” I twirled my keys around my finger.
Callie shook the cereal box at me. “More of these? And if the bakery is open, a croissant. One of the ones with cheese and bacon. Oh, and if they’ve got some almond milk, can you get a carton of that too? I really should try it again.”
“Shall I do the weekly shop while I’m there?” I rolled my eyes.
“Are we eating out later?”
“If by eating out, you mean getting something from a burger van, then yes.” I checked the time. It was only an hour before I had to be back at the information point and I still needed to eat, shower and get over to the park. “I’ll need to go now, Callie, otherwise I’ll never be ready in time.” The last thing I needed was for Darla to get stroppy because I was late again.
She sighed. “Okay. See you soon.”
The warmth of the sun hit me the moment I walked out of the flat. Another glorious day for the festival beckoned. A white van passed me and tooted its horn, then a hand waved at me from the window. In a small town, it happened fairly frequently, and it never bothered me. Until I thought I recognised the van as belonging to one of Jonny’s bandmates, which meant there was every likelihood the hand belonged to Mat.
Would I get to see him again today? Obviously, I’d get to see him when he played this afternoon. But would he come and find me?
Then I remembered Scott Lincoln was here, with his girlfriend and someone who I thought was Mat’s girlfriend.
Whatever had happened between us last night was destined to stay in the past, a moment frozen in time with no consequences.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn’t see Harry as I walked into the supermarket.
“Watch where you’re going, Bree.”
My head snapped up to look at him. “Sorry, Harry, didn’t see you there.” I yawned.
“Clearly. Late night, was it?” He winked.
Immediately, I wondered whether he’d seen Mat and me. Harry was aware of my complicated relationship history with Mat, perhaps understanding it was part of the reason why I found it so difficult to get closer to him.
“I, um, didn’t sleep much.” I stumbled to find an explanation. “Too hyped up from the success of yesterday.”
“And now you’ve got to do it all over again today.”
“Are you coming?”
He gestured to the sky. “It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the beer will be cheap, the music will be loud. What’s not to like?” He grinned. “Do you want to get a drink later with me and my buddies from London?”
I figured I’d definitely need something to get me through the day. “You could bring me one?” I fluttered my eyelashes at him. “I’ll be at the information point all afternoon.”
“Then I shall keep you fed and watered.”
Impulsively, I kissed his cheek. “You’re an angel.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “You think?”
