Page 55 of Crashing Into You

My head snaps up. The doctor, a slim Black woman with her hair in braids, is standing there.

“Is she all right?” This is Mum.

“She will be.”

My whole body expands with relief. I realise I’m shaking.

I can’t wait to tell Claire.

Claire

Despite setting an alarm, my body just refuses to wake up. I guess Bryce and I spent a lot of energy yesterday. I finally manage to get out of bed, showering and dressing quickly, grabbing a piece of toast before making the drive to Lorne. My hair is still damp, as I didn’t have time to dry it, and I race into the coffee shop, desperate for caffeine, hoping there won’t be a massive queue.

It’s not too bad and, happily, Kylie is behind the till. Shegrins and waves when she spots me. “Chai latte?” she yells, over the hiss and clatter of the coffee machine and kitchen.

I nod “Thanks!” I take my place in the line and wait, eyeing the pile of luscious buttery pastries in the display case.

“Good night?” Kylie says, when I get to the till. Her eyes are twinkling, a grin playing around her lips.

I blush. “Yeah.”

She hands me the coffee and a bag with something in it.

“What’s this?” I open the bag. It’s one of the pastries.

“On the house,” Kylie says, with a wink. “You look like you need it.”

“Uh, thanks,” I say. “You’re probably right.”

“He told us.”

“Told you?” I look up.

“That you two are giving it a proper go.” There is softness in her gaze. “He seems to really like you, too. I’ve never seen him like this with any other girl.”

Tears prickle at my eyes. I really am a mess this morning. “That’s good,” I manage to say. “I really like him too.” I blush again. But Kylie is so nice, and it’s good to be able to talk to her. She isn’t Bryce, but she knows him; it makes me feel closer to him.

“You working today?”

“Yes. Oh my god!” I notice the time. “I have to run! Thanks, Kylie.”

“Anytime,” she calls after me, as I race out of the shop and down the street towards Anna’s. There’s no one waiting outside, thank goodness. I unlock the door and head inside.

And there’s Bryce, in all his completely fuckable glory, surfing an endless blue wave on the poster behind the till. I stare at it for a moment, unable to believe he’s mine. I think he is, anyway. I desperately want him to be. I don’t think we have a deal anymore; the events of the last twenty-four hours have changed that.

The only thing is, I don’t know what we do have now.

Once I’ve opened up the shop properly, I check my phone. I realise I’ve missed a message from him. I click on it.

Miss you already.

I miss him, too.

Today is going to be a really long day.

A couple of hours later, it’s official. This is absolutely the longest day of my entire life. The shop isn’t busy, so I spend time cleaning, dusting off all the fixtures, polishing the glass and chrome, making sure all the clothes are hung in size order.

And it’s not even lunch time yet.