Baby Be Mine

stares ahead at the flickering flames.
    ‘Are you alright?’ I feel compelled to ask.
    He says nothing for a minute, then: ‘I’m going to miss him.’
    I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. ‘It’s good that you’re spending this time with him.’
    ‘I want to spend more time with him. I don’t want him to forget me.’
    I fold my arms and focus on the heat. It’s a little overbearing, but I don’t want to move away.
    ‘We’ve still got a few more days,’ I say, turning to face him. ‘Will you come back to France soon?’
    ‘Of course. If that’s where you’re going to be.’
    ‘You think I should move out of my parents’?’
    He looks at me, his eyes even more intense in this light. ‘Don’t you?’
    He still hasn’t shaved. My gaze wanders to his jaw, to the stubble gracing it, and then back up to his luminous green eyes. ‘I guess so.’ I know I should look away, but I’m finding it impossible. Abruptly, he turns his head towards the flames. It snaps me out of whatever strange mood I was entering into. I quickly stand up.
    ‘I’m going to bed.’
    ‘Already?’ He looks up at me with surprise, then glances at his watch. ‘It’s only eight o’clock.’
    ‘I know. I’m knackered,’ I stutter.
    ‘You had a lie-in,’ he points out.
    ‘I want to read my book. It’s a really good one,’ I lie.
    I couldn’t tell you if it was good or bad; I’ve barely been able to take in one sentence since I’ve been here.
    ‘Fair enough.’ He turns back to the fire.
    ‘Night,’ I say.
    ‘Night.’
    One foot in front of the other, Meg, one foot in front of the other.
    I reach the bathroom and go inside, closing the door and leaning up against it. I should leave. I should get out of here. This is wrong, so wrong. I can’t go down this path again. I don’t know if my head would survive it, and my heart clearly still hasn’t recovered from last time. What is it about him?
    I need to meet Dana. That’s what I need to do. I need a short, sharp, reality check. Meet his girlfriend and let it sink in that he’s off-limits. He’s obviously into her. This relationship is different for him, I think. I instantly feel jealous and hate myself for it.

 
  Chapter 26  
    I wake up at six o’clock the following morning, despite the fact that I’ve tossed and turned all night. I feel jittery. I want to see him.
    I need to meet his girlfriend.
    I sigh and climb out of bed. Johnny won’t be up for hours. I can’t bear it. Yes, I can! I pull on my dressing gown and head to the bathroom, then suddenly halt in my tracks. My song . . .
    I step quietly down the stairs and walk into the living room to see Johnny sitting on the sofa, quietly strumming his guitar. He has an unlit cigarette hanging from his lips. I clear my throat and his head whips around.
    ‘You’re up early,’ he says, leaning his guitar against the sofa.
    ‘I could say the same thing about you,’ I say. Should I comment on the fact that he was playing my song? He doesn’t look guilty.
    He sighs and leans his head back against the sofa, taking the cigarette from his mouth and tapping the filter end on his thigh. ‘I’ve gotta go back to LA, babe.’
    ‘Why?’ I sink down onto the sofa next to him.
    ‘Dana’s freaking out.’
    ‘About Barney?’
    He shakes his head. ‘Nah, I don’t think so. Danger of relapse. She needs me.’
    ‘Oh.’ A lump forms in my throat and I try to swallow it. He is serious about her. Scarily serious. ‘When will you leave?’
    ‘As soon as Lena can organise a car and ticket. Today.’
    ‘We’ve got a car,’ I say, confused. It’s sitting out there on the driveway, a nice little BMW lent to us by a dealer.
    ‘I’m not going to take that from you,’ he says, frowning.
    ‘I don’t want to stay here without you,’ I reply automatically.
    His brow furrows. ‘Really?’ He’s surprised and I wish I hadn’t revealed that.
    ‘We’ll go back to France,’ I say.
    He regards me for a moment before speaking. ‘Okay. I’ll ask Lena to sort it.’
    ‘Thanks.’ I go to get up, but he grabs my wrist and pulls me back down again.
    ‘Meg . . .’ he says.
    ‘Yes?’
    He pauses for a moment, as if an idea has just struck him and he’s unsure about whether or not to go on.
    ‘Tell me,’ I press him, curious now.
    His words come out in a rush. ‘Come back to LA with me.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘You and Barney. Come back to LA with me.’ He sits up with excitement, running with the idea