harriet (6)

chapter sixteen

Shane spotted Lucy by herself for once, and went across to her. He grabbed her by the arm.

‘Shane! What are you doing?!’

‘What’s going on with Alec?’

‘I don’t know what you mean! Let go of me!’ She wriggled free of his grip. ‘If you want to talk like a normal person, then I’ll talk too, but not if you’re going to be like this.’

He relented. ‘I’m sorry. Can you come through to our dressing room? There should be anyone there.’ She nodded and followed him. Once they were inside, they sat down. ‘Is it true Lucy?’

‘Is what true?’

‘Is Alec pregnant?’

‘That’s not for me to tell you.’ Lucy looked down at the ground.

‘It’s true then.’ She nodded quietly. ‘Shit. Why hasn’t she told me?’

‘She was going to tell you when you went for dinner, but something else happened!’ Lucy’s blue eyes flashed with anger.

‘I didn’t know! How could I have known? How far gone is she?’

‘Nearly four months. Too late to have an abortion if that’s what you mean!’

Shane was shocked. ‘I can’t believe you just said that! How could you think...how could you think that?’

‘I’m sorry. That was out of line.’

‘Too damn right it was. Look, just leave. You’ve told me what I need to know.’

Lucy got up to leave. ‘I’m really sorry Shane.’ She barely whispered the words. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.

Kian was just about ready to leave the hotel for the sound check when his phone rang.

‘Hello?’

‘Kian, it’s me.’

‘Karina! What’s going on?’

‘I can’t tell you over the phone. But I promise, I’ll tell you as soon as I get back.’

‘And when’s that going to be?’

‘I’m meeting you in Glasgow on Tuesday. I’ll see you there.’

‘Just tell me you’re okay.’

‘I’m fine. I promise. Good luck for tonight. You’ll be great.’

‘Thanks.’

‘And send my love to everyone else, and tell them I’ll see them soon.’

‘Okay. And take care, yeah?’

‘You too. I’ll see you on Tuesday.’

Kian hung up and headed downstairs to where everyone was waiting. He tried to concentrate on their opening night ahead of him, but all he could think about was Karina.

Nicky sat up in bed on Sunday morning, and immediately rested his head back against the pillow. His head was thumping. Last night’s after show party had given him an excuse to drown his sorrows, but he was paying for it now. His phone rang and he groaned.

‘Hullo?’ He picked up the phone.

‘It’s Laura. How you doing?’

‘Don’t ask. You?’

‘I’m fine. D’you want me to come and bring you some breakfast.’ Nicky nodded, forgetting he was on the phone. ‘Well?’

‘Huh? What? Yeah, whatever.’

‘You are in a bad state aren’t you? I’ll be round in 15 minutes or so. See you soon.’

When Laura appeared 20 minutes later, Nicky was still in bed. She stood in the doorway and watched him breathe in and out. How could Georgina have broken up with him? If only she had the opportunity Georgina had had. She would never have let Nicky go...

Bryan’s hangover was even worse than Nicky’s. He’d stumbled into bed in the early hours of the morning. He turned over in bed, to try and get some more sleep, but he woke up suddenly. Lying next to him was Sandra.

‘Oh my God.’ Bryan sat up, temporarily forgetting his headache. ‘I’m dreaming. I’ve got to be dreaming.’ He pinched himself, and flinched. ‘Shit. I’m not dreaming. Oh God, what have I done?’

Sandra stirred, and opened her eyes. She reached out her hand, and let it rest on Bryan’s chest. ‘Morning.’ She smiled, sleepily.

‘Did we...? We didn’t...? Do you remember?’ Bryan was trying to piece together the night before.

‘Oh yeah, I remember. And yes, we did.’ She smiled cheekily at him, and rolled over to go back to sleep.

Bryan got out of bed, and staggered about, trying to dress himself, so he could get out of his room. He was fumbling around in the dark for his suitcase, but then he realised he wasn’t in his room. ‘I don’t believe this.’ He picked up his clothes from the night before, climbed back into them, and snuck out into the corridor, hoping no one would see him. He ran back along to his room, and crashed onto the bed. ‘Oh my God. What have I done?’

Mark was up bright and early on Monday morning, swimming lengths in the hotel pool. They had a long drive up to Glasgow later that morning, and he wanted to stretch out before he got cooped up on the coach.

For him, the two opening shows in Newcastle had gone really well. He’d put everything into them, in the hope of keeping his mind off Patricia. It had almost worked, apart from the few songs when they had to dance together.

As he turned round to swim another lap, he saw her come out of the changing room, with Martine. He paused, and he could feel his heart pounding. But he shook himself, and dove back under the water. At the far end, he climbed out of the pool, barely nodding to acknowledge the two girls. He promised himself he wouldn’t turn back to watch her. And he didn’t.

He had to get her out of his mind. Maybe he should ask Sandra to go for a drink with him when they got to Glasgow. She wasn’t a bad girl, and she was absolutely gorgeous. Mark smiled as he showered. Maybe he would ask her...

chapter twenty one to twenty five