Three Amazing Things About You(23)

Only because you practically told me he had. Tasha resisted the urge to bop Moira on the head with the powder brush.

‘Ah, don’t panic, love, he’ll be all right.’ The photographer picked up his camera and winked at Tasha. ‘If he’s too busy to call you, it’s probably because he’s in bed with another woman.’

‘Great, thanks, that makes me feel so much better.’ Tasha marvelled at his lack of subtlety; luckily, she wasn’t the jealous type.

He grinned. ‘Or another man.’

Which had been, to give him his due, quite funny.

By five o’clock, Tasha had long stopped laughing. This was ridiculous. In the last few hours, she’d used up a week’s worth of heartbeats. Convinced that Rory must be dead, she tracked down the number of Joe’s dental practice and insisted on being put through to him.

‘Look, have you heard from Rory? He said he’d call me, but he hasn’t. And I know it’s ridiculous, but I can’t stop wondering if he’s had an accident.’

‘Let me try his phone.’ Evidently taking out his mobile, Joe pressed buttons. ‘No,’ he said a few seconds later, ‘it’s gone straight to answerphone. Maybe his battery’s flat.’

‘Do you think I’m being neurotic?’

‘Honestly? A bit,’ said Joe. But in a kind way.

‘I’m worried.’ Tasha took a deep breath; was it just her? ‘Really worried. What if he’s in hospital on life support?’

‘OK, just a thought,’ said Joe, ‘but don’t hospitals go through phones and contact the next of kin?’

‘But I’m not next of kin! They wouldn’t call me!’

‘Whoa, calm down. They’d call his next of kin and then they’d call me. But nobody has. So I think you should stop panicking and relax.’

‘Unless he’s unconscious in hospital and his phone flew out of his pocket and got run over on the motorway by a ten-ton truck.’

There was silence for a moment as Joe considered this possibility. At last he said, ‘Hey. I’m sure he’ll be in touch when he can.’

‘Are you laughing at me?’

‘Just a little bit.’

And really, who could blame him?

‘I’m not usually like this, I promise.’

‘If you say so.’ He definitely sounded as if he were smiling. ‘OK, can I go now? Only I’ve left a patient with a drill hanging out of his mouth.’

Whoops. ‘Sorry,’ said Tasha. ‘Bye.’

An hour later, her doorbell rang. As she went to answer it, Tasha pictured Joe on the doorstep, grave-faced and accompanied by two here-to-break-the-bad-news policemen, one of whom was holding the remains of Rory’s smashed-up phone . . .

She took a deep breath and opened the door.

‘Hey!’ Rory was wearing his leathers and holding his bike helmet under one arm. He was beaming from ear to ear. ‘What an amazing trip that was. Amazing. Give me a kiss.’ He moved forward to embrace her. ‘How was your day?’

Tasha had reached the stage where she’d actually hoped he had been in an accident – just a minor one – because then at least he’d have a valid excuse for having put her through all those hours of torment. Now that she knew he was alive, she could yell at him.

OK, not yell. But make him understand.

‘Where’s your phone?’

‘Can you believe it? Forgot to take it with me . . . just didn’t remember to pick it up. I haven’t been home yet . . . it’s still lying on the bed in my flat. Why, did you try to call me?’

He was telling the truth, Tasha knew. He actually didn’t have a clue what he’d put her through.

‘Yes, I called.’ Only about three hundred and fifty times. ‘You said you’d call me.’

‘I know I did, but I couldn’t, could I? Not without my phone.’ Rory shrugged. Genuinely no clue.

‘I was worried.’ Tasha forced herself to stay calm. ‘I’ve been worried sick. Motorbikes are dangerous.’

They were in the hallway now, and he was still looking bemused. ‘Look, I’ve never once come off a motorbike. You don’t have to worry about me.’

‘Don’t I? Am I allowed to worry about all the other idiots on the road who could crash their cars into you? I’ve been picturing it all day,’ Tasha blurted out. ‘And I’m sorry if this sounds crazy, but I’ve only just found you.’ Her voice cracked as she struggled to explain. ‘I’m terrified something’s going to happen to take you away.’

‘Oh God, I’m sorry.’ Rory wrapped his arms around her. ‘Nothing’s going to happen to me, I promise.’