Seeing Other People (41 page)

‘So, what’s the alternative?’ I replied. ‘That I sneaked away from you guys while you weren’t looking, ran all the way up here, drew the heart and talked Van into making the suggestion that we should all go for a walk?’

‘He’s right,’ said Van. ‘The walk was my and Suzuki’s idea, your dad didn’t say a word.’

Rosie wasn’t convinced. ‘He did it,’ she said. ‘I don’t know how, but he was definitely behind it.’

I was about make a joke about how kids love a good conspiracy theory but stopped suddenly as the unmistakable scent of Poison filled the air. I turned to my friends. ‘Can you smell that?’

Van took a deep breath. ‘You mean the sea air? You should smell the stuff back in New Zealand. It’d knock your socks off.’

‘No,’ I replied, ‘the perfume. It’s really intense, you can’t miss it.’

Comically everyone, kids included, started sniffing but no one could smell a thing.

‘Must be just you,’ said Penny, patting my shoulder in a patronising fashion. ‘You’ve not been right since the day you were mugged.’

I looked up and down the beach for any sign of Fiona but there was none; yet mad as it seemed, I had a feeling that she’d been here, that she’d drawn the heart as her way of telling me that I was finally back on track.

‘Maybe you’re right,’ I replied as I took Penny’s hand, led her to the point of the heart and stared at the inscription again. ‘But I don’t think I’ve ever felt better than I do right now.’

Also by Mike Gayle

My Legendary Girlfriend

Mr Commitment

Turning Thirty

Dinner for Two

His ’n’ Hers

Brand New Friend

Wish You Were Here

Life and Soul of the Party

The Importance of Being a Bachelor

Men at Work (Quick Read)

The Stag and Hen Weekend

Turning Forty

Non-fiction

The To-Do List