Part 26 (2/2)

I nod quickly. I don't want Wexler to be Stu that's kind of the point.

”Come on,” he murmurs, slipping his hand in mine, guiding me back inside the bus towards a door I a.s.sumed was a toilet.

It is not a toilet.

I shut the door behind me and lean against it, my legs a little wobbly at the sight of what's inside. A bed. And Adam Wexler: the man I've dreamed about, whose lyrics I've cried to, whose voice I've sung along to, whose eyes have looked out at me from a thousand different pictures in magazines and online.

I am not entirely sure how I got here, but Past Ruby would totally be high-fiving Present Ruby right about now.

Hooking a finger in the belt he signed, Wexler pulls me gently towards him, then he leans forward and kisses my cheek, murmuring in my ear, ”If I sang you a song ...”

It's the start of ”Tonight Too Soon” my favourite song.

”... filled with loving and longing ...”

This feels like a line, but the way he's kissing my neck and ...

”... you would give yourself over ...”

... pus.h.i.+ng aside the strap of my vest and my bra to kiss my shoulder.

”... to want and belonging ...”

He pulls off my vest to kiss my collarbone and reaches down.

”... I want what you've got ...”

And unclicks the clasp.

”... and I get what I want ...”

To kiss the bare skin of my b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

”... so give in to me now ...”

I take a step back, falling onto the mattress of the bed behind and pulling him down on top of me. I am in this.

”... because I want ...” A kiss. ”... want ...” Nip. ”... want...” Bite.

And as I part my lips for another kiss, I do not let myself consider that this might not be what I want, want, want.

Because I do want this.

Don't I?

29 * YOU ARE

KAZ.

It almost comes as a shock to find Roly back at the camp with Stella and her friends. I was starting to think he'd left completely. There's no sign of Tom and Naj, which is a relief.

I make Roly promise to stay near in case Lauren needs help and I give her a hug goodbye, aware that Roly's surprise at seeing us together has risen an octave into shock.

He had every chance to tell me the truth yesterday and he didn't.

I don't like Roly. I don't like Naj.

I don't even know whether I like Tom any more.

I like Lauren though.

And I like Sebastian, who is nothing like Tom in any way shape or form, but I don't want him to be. Every word he's said to me has been kind, and as we amble back along the path, after we pa.s.s a man sitting in the middle of the path wearing a T-s.h.i.+rt on his head, Sebastian pulls me to a stop.

I think that he's going to kiss me, but what he actually does is a thousand times more romantic than that.

”Do you want to try looking for your friend?” Sebastian asks.

It makes me want to wrap my arms around him and never let him go.

Whilst I try Ruby again, Sebastian calls his friends, but Ferris, who's backstage packing up, says he's not seen her and when we get to our camp it's empty, tents zipped up tight, fire cold. I go in and check for Ruby in the tent anyway, just in case.

When I come back out, Sebastian's talking to someone Owen.

”Have you seen Ruby?” I ask right away, but he shakes his head.

”Your friend already asked.”

”Do you think she's with Lee and the others?”

”What makes you think I know where Lee is?” Owen's voice is sharp.

”You're his-” But the look he gives me strangles the meaning out of my sentence. ”I'll call him.”

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