Something More (Girlfriend Fiction 11) by Mo Johnson Page B

so. Is it okay with him?’
    I nodded. ‘Can we take a few minutes to dry off first?’
    â€˜Sure,’ he agreed and I was thrilled. Now I could raise the issue of the secret photos. We stretched out on a rocky ledge, our togs steaming in the sun.
    â€˜So, what’s Scotland like?’ he asked.
    I was instantly diverted. ‘It’s cold and wet most of the time, but when it isn’t grey, it’s purple and green, with the most amazing light. It’s a beautiful place. I miss it.’ I choked up. Wham! Just like that, I’d become misty-eyed again. I pretended to be squinting at the sun.
    â€˜Must be hard. I’d totally hate to have to leave all my friends behind.’
    I gulped. ‘It wasn’t easy. I email my best friend, Fi, all the time, but it’s just not the same.’
    â€˜You’ve made heaps of new friends here though, haven’t you?’
    â€˜I suppose.’ But I couldn’t think of anyone who I was particularly close to.
    â€˜How come you came here?’
    â€˜My parents wanted to change their lives, and they changed mine by default.’ I held my hand in the air to block out the sun’s glare.
    â€˜Do you have any other brothers or sisters apart from the one who hangs around with Molly’s brother? Terry? Is that her name?’
    I stiffened. Where was he taking this?
    â€˜No. Have you got brothers or sisters?’ I asked quickly.
    He took a long time to respond. So long that I flipped onto my right side to face him.
    â€˜I had a brother,’ he said eventually. ‘A twin. But he died.’
    â€˜Oh, I’m sorry. That must have been awful,’ I added lamely, trying not to listen to the new little voice in my head saying, What if Terry has twins?
    When someone tells me about a person dying, I always want to discover more. Is that just me? Just as I was resisting the urge to ask what had happened to his twin, he told me anyway.
    â€˜It was cot death. I don’t remember him.’
    â€˜Just because you don’t remember him doesn’t mean you can’t be affected.’
    He squinted at the sun. ‘I think I feel him around sometimes. Does that sound stupid?’
    I shook my head. ‘It sounds logical to me. It could be the bond thing that twins are supposed to have. Have you read all the stuff on that?’
    â€˜A bit, but I can’t be sure if it’s true or not, because me and Tim never got the chance to find out.’
    â€˜I think you probably had a connection before you were born, and you probably still do.’
    â€˜You reckon? I often get this weird feeling that he’s here, sharing my thoughts.’ He tapped his head.
    â€˜That’s not weird at all.’
    â€˜Maybe not.’
    He fixed me with an intense stare, which I tried to avoid but couldn’t. I watched transfixed as his smile did its thing: his nostrils widened slightly, lines deepened under his cheeks, and his eyes brightened and crinkled. When it reached full beam it was crooked and gorgeous.
    â€˜What?’ I asked.
    â€˜What?’ he echoed.
    A seagull screeched nearby.
    â€˜I bet your parents spoil you.’ I broke the spell.
    â€˜Hey, how could they not?’ He was still watching me closely.
    â€˜Do you always get what you want?’
    â€˜Most of the time.’
    â€˜Interesting.’
    â€˜It is, isn’t it?’
    â€˜And if you don’t?’ I asked.
    â€˜Unheard of.’
    â€˜I don’t believe you.’
    He leapt up and held out his hand. ‘I’m serious.’
    I wanted to take it but my legs had gone all rubbery. If I let him pull me to my feet, I’d probably bounce into the stratosphere. I pretended to tie my laces while I got myself under control.
    â€˜Come on, let’s get some lunch,’ he said putting on his sunnies. I was relieved. Perhaps now that I couldn’t see him properly I would stop wobbling.
    We grabbed a burger and