Page 66 of A Cornish Love Story
When we finally left Tyller Klos behind, I imagined the Rosevar family watching us from the windows, their brows pinched as we made slow work of the undergrowth in our finery. The sky was a rich, royal blue dusted with stars, as if it hadn’t wanted to get completely dark, as if it was enjoying the summer too much.
I’d heard nothing more from Ethan since that one message, and I’d given up playing it cool. I’d sent him a handful of replies, and I’d called him, but it had gone to voicemail every time.
Kira slid her arm through mine as we walked down the hill. ‘He’ll be OK,’ she slurred, giving me a wide grin.
‘Of course he will be.’ I aimed for confident. ‘He’s had to stay at home because Sarah’s managed to ground them both, that’s all. I bet he’s annoyed he missed the prom.’
‘You in that mermaid dress most of all.’
We said goodbye at my front door, the gentle rasp of the sea our early morning soundtrack, and I crept up to my room, wondering if Mum was listening to me get home, confused at why there weren’t two sets of footsteps climbing the stairs.
My sleep was light and disturbed, so I sat bolt upright the moment my phone pinged. I looked at the clock on my bedside table: it was just after six a.m.
Are you awake? Can I come round?
I replied immediately:Yes and yes.
I’ll be there in 15.
I put a thin cardigan on over my sleep shorts and T-shirt, and went downstairs to put the kettle on.
Twenty minutes later Ethan messaged that he was outside, and I hurried down the hall, relief shooting through me when I could see his tall silhouette in the wavy glass of our front door. I pulled it open, not sure what I wanted to say to him, but every opening line was knocked out of me when I saw him.
He was in his white shirt, black jacket and trousers, the bare bones of the tux I had expected to see him in last night, but his tie was long gone, and what remained was in tatters, the shirt stained with something dark and ripped at the hem. Ethan’s eyes were red-rimmed, his cheeks hollowed out with exhaustion, and his thick hair was a disaster. The way he looked at me sent a shiver running over my skin.
I pulled him inside and wrapped my arms around him. He was rigid to begin with, and only softened slightly when I tightened my hold. ‘What happened?’ I leaned back and looked up at him.
‘Can we go to your room?’ His voice was rough, unused.
‘Of course. You go up, I’m going to make us tea.’
He nodded and trudged up the stairs, using the handrail to haul himself up. My mind was racing as I re-boiled the kettle, got the teabags and milk ready.
I took the tea up to my room and found Ethan sitting on my bed, his elbows on his knees. He was right on the edge, as if he was already preparing to leave.
‘Hey.’ I held the mug out to him.
‘Thanks.’ He stared at it for a moment, then put iton the floor, turning to face me when I sat on the bed, leaning against the pillows.
‘You can come up here, you know.’
He rubbed a hand over his face, then crawled over the duvet to sit beside me, angling his body towards mine.
‘What happened?’ I asked again.
He held my gaze for a moment, then looked down at the covers. ‘Sarah stole Mum’s car.’
My mind went blank. Sarah, Ethan’s little sister, who was only just sixteen. I knew she was reckless, but this sounded crazy. ‘What?’
‘She got in a huge fight with Mum after school – I don’t know what about – and she stormed out, which wasn’t unusual, so I just … I thought she would blow off steam, then come home. She called me just as I was about to leave to meet you.’
‘Is she OK?’ It had taken me too long to ask, I realized.
‘She’s OK,’ Ethan said, and my shoulders slumped with relief.
‘Why did she call you?’
‘Because she didn’t know what to do. She’s too young to drive, but she’d taken Mum’s car, swiped the keys and driven off into the countryside, and then she crashed it.’
