going to collect her from the airport. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell from his eyes how shocked he was when I showed him the picture of Jessica. He probably would have
recognised her without it.
Phoenix is asleep and Barney is watching TV in the living room, so I leave him to it and walk out to the garage to see Johnny off. I’ve always thought he looks hot in his biker jacket. He
climbs onto the big, black Ducati and pushes his dirty blond hair off his face before pulling the helmet over his head. My heart unexpectedly flips.
‘What are you smiling at?’ he asks me, and I wish I’d kissed him before he’d covered his face. I shake my head and shrug, but he must be a mind-reader because he takes
his helmet off again.
‘Come here,’ he mutters with a grin. I step forward and tilt my face up towards him. He kisses me gently on my lips, but I want more.
‘Jeez,’ he murmurs under his breath. ‘You’re making me want to take you on the grass again.’
‘Mmm…’
We kiss each other, long and languidly, before I finally pull away. ‘I’d better get back inside to Barney,’ I say with regret. He’s staring at my lips.
‘Just wait until I get you on that island,’ he says in a low voice, before kissing me again.
‘Can’t wait,’ I say. We’ve just got to get through this week.
He pulls on his helmet again, flipping up his visor. His eyes look even more green when they’re all I can see of his face.
‘Don’t be late,’ I warn.
‘I won’t.’
I take a step backwards and he fires up the ignition. He flips down his visor and I watch with a heart full of love as he roars out of the garage and down the driveway, leaving a dust cloud in
his wake.
Two hours later, my earlier warm and fuzzy feeling has been replaced with nervous anxiety. Davey has called me to say he’s en route from the airport and Johnny is still
not back. Where the bloody hell is he?
Phoenix is awake and the three of us are in the living room, playing with Barney’s collection of cars. I’m so distracted, so on edge. I just want Johnny here. I try calling his
mobile, but he doesn’t answer.
And then he rings me back. ‘Is she there yet?’
‘Almost! Get your arse back here right now!’
‘I’m on my way,’ he promises, ending the call.
Argh! Still living in his own little world…
I’m pacing the living room when the buzzer goes to let me know that the gates have opened. Is it Davey or Johnny? Please, please, please let it be Johnny.
I hurry to the front door and open it in time to see Davey’s limo pull up in front of the house.
Oh God, she’s here. I try to compose myself. What will she be like? Please let her be a nice, friendly, easy-going teenager. No, those words surely don’t go together in the same
sentence. Oh, just please don’t let her give us too much grief.
Davey gets out of the car and cocks his chauffer’s hat at me, but I can barely smile back at him, because then he’s opening the car door and one chunky, black boot is stepping out,
followed by a slim, tanned leg, and a short silver swing dress which would be more at home in a nightclub. I stare with shock at the stunning girl with surfer-style, platinum blonde hair and eyes
hidden by dark sunglasses. She looks like a wannabe rock star. She looks like trouble. She’s Johnny’s daughter and she’s here to stay.
Holy shit, what the hell have we got ourselves in for?
‘Jessie!
Jessica!
Open the door.’
Not likely. I take another drag of my cigarette and lazily flick the ash out of the open window. I’m not going to waste a perfectly good fag for the sake of my stupid stepdad.
‘Jessie, I mean it. If you don’t open the door right now, I will break it down.’
Oh, for God’s sake. Get a grip, Stu.
‘I’m getting dressed. I’ll be out in minute!’ I call.
‘No, you’re not. You’re on your windowsill smoking and drinking my good cider. It’s gone from the fridge.’
He shouldn’t have left it in
recognised her without it.
Phoenix is asleep and Barney is watching TV in the living room, so I leave him to it and walk out to the garage to see Johnny off. I’ve always thought he looks hot in his biker jacket. He
climbs onto the big, black Ducati and pushes his dirty blond hair off his face before pulling the helmet over his head. My heart unexpectedly flips.
‘What are you smiling at?’ he asks me, and I wish I’d kissed him before he’d covered his face. I shake my head and shrug, but he must be a mind-reader because he takes
his helmet off again.
‘Come here,’ he mutters with a grin. I step forward and tilt my face up towards him. He kisses me gently on my lips, but I want more.
‘Jeez,’ he murmurs under his breath. ‘You’re making me want to take you on the grass again.’
‘Mmm…’
We kiss each other, long and languidly, before I finally pull away. ‘I’d better get back inside to Barney,’ I say with regret. He’s staring at my lips.
‘Just wait until I get you on that island,’ he says in a low voice, before kissing me again.
‘Can’t wait,’ I say. We’ve just got to get through this week.
He pulls on his helmet again, flipping up his visor. His eyes look even more green when they’re all I can see of his face.
‘Don’t be late,’ I warn.
‘I won’t.’
I take a step backwards and he fires up the ignition. He flips down his visor and I watch with a heart full of love as he roars out of the garage and down the driveway, leaving a dust cloud in
his wake.
Two hours later, my earlier warm and fuzzy feeling has been replaced with nervous anxiety. Davey has called me to say he’s en route from the airport and Johnny is still
not back. Where the bloody hell is he?
Phoenix is awake and the three of us are in the living room, playing with Barney’s collection of cars. I’m so distracted, so on edge. I just want Johnny here. I try calling his
mobile, but he doesn’t answer.
And then he rings me back. ‘Is she there yet?’
‘Almost! Get your arse back here right now!’
‘I’m on my way,’ he promises, ending the call.
Argh! Still living in his own little world…
I’m pacing the living room when the buzzer goes to let me know that the gates have opened. Is it Davey or Johnny? Please, please, please let it be Johnny.
I hurry to the front door and open it in time to see Davey’s limo pull up in front of the house.
Oh God, she’s here. I try to compose myself. What will she be like? Please let her be a nice, friendly, easy-going teenager. No, those words surely don’t go together in the same
sentence. Oh, just please don’t let her give us too much grief.
Davey gets out of the car and cocks his chauffer’s hat at me, but I can barely smile back at him, because then he’s opening the car door and one chunky, black boot is stepping out,
followed by a slim, tanned leg, and a short silver swing dress which would be more at home in a nightclub. I stare with shock at the stunning girl with surfer-style, platinum blonde hair and eyes
hidden by dark sunglasses. She looks like a wannabe rock star. She looks like trouble. She’s Johnny’s daughter and she’s here to stay.
Holy shit, what the hell have we got ourselves in for?
‘Jessie!
Jessica!
Open the door.’
Not likely. I take another drag of my cigarette and lazily flick the ash out of the open window. I’m not going to waste a perfectly good fag for the sake of my stupid stepdad.
‘Jessie, I mean it. If you don’t open the door right now, I will break it down.’
Oh, for God’s sake. Get a grip, Stu.
‘I’m getting dressed. I’ll be out in minute!’ I call.
‘No, you’re not. You’re on your windowsill smoking and drinking my good cider. It’s gone from the fridge.’
He shouldn’t have left it in
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