was one thing.’ Ellie rested her elbows on the windowsill. ‘Why isn’t this the happiest time of your life?’
Roo had been on her way across the street. She stopped in the middle of the road.
‘What?’
‘You heard. Except we both know the answer. It’s because you’re still crazy about Todd.’
Roo’s stomach scrunched itself into a tight knot. This wasn’t fair; she wasn’t up to another lecture, not now, not tonight.
‘Don’t look at me like that.’ Ellie’s voice softened when Roo didn’t say anything. ‘Oh, Roo, haven’t you punished yourself enough now?’
Roo’s eyes began to prickle. She bit her lip.
‘Listen, you did some bad things,’ Ellie went on. ‘But now you’ve done good. More than enough good. I promise.’
A single tear slid down Roo’s cheek and dripped off her chin. More than enough good; had the scales tipped in her favor, had she actually redressed the balance at last? She gazed up at Ellie and said hopefully, ‘Do you really think I have?’
‘Yes.’ Ellie nodded. ‘I do.’
For the first time Roo found herself able to acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, Ellie was right. She shifted from one foot to the other. But there was still the matter of Todd’s girlfriend; it wasn’t as if she could just change her mind.
‘OK, this is crazy, why am I standing out here like an idiot?’ She continued across the street. ‘Open the door, I’m coming up.’
‘No, you can’t.’ Ellie’s voice stopped her in her tracks. ‘Sorry, but I’m so shattered, and Zack’s making me go in extra-early tomorrow. I just have to go to bed.’
‘Oh.’ Stung by the unexpected rejection, Roo said, ‘OK.’ Five minutes wouldn’t hurt, surely?
‘Hang on, though.’ Ellie was straightening up. ‘I’ve got something for you.’
‘What is it?’
‘Wait a sec.’ She disappeared from view. Still feeling put out, Roo guessed she’d been making cupcakes again. A few seconds later, Ellie’s front door opened.
And there was Todd. Standing there, watching her. With something like determination in his eyes.
Oh God…
Roo was unable to move. She was having trouble staying upright. Now he was closing the short distance between them and she was mouthing helplessly like a goldfish, which probably wasn’t attractive.
‘Sshh.’ Todd shook his head. ‘Don’t say anything. Stop it,’ he warned as a kind of strangled croak found its way out. ‘Not a word.’
But Roo managed it. She had to. ‘Wh-where’s Lisa?’
‘Lisa.’ Another shake. ‘Don’t worry. She’s gone.’
Gone, yes, thank you…
The next moment Todd reached her and seamlessly drew her into his arms. His face, the face she hadn’t been able to put out of her mind for so long, was now inches from hers. In the glow from the street lamp she could see the amber flecks in his gray eyes, the way his eyelashes curled at the corners, the tiny scar below his left eyebrow. And then there was his mouth… oh God, would it really be all right?
‘Come here,’ Todd murmured, sliding one hand behind her neck. And then she was there. Their mouths met at last and she gave a tiny uncontrollable shiver, because this… this was the kiss she’d spent so long waiting for. Except now she was messing it up, making a complete hash of it, because the emotion was too much and she was about to burst into tears, and if there were two things you really couldn’t do simultaneously, it was kiss and cry…
Roo drew back in the nick of time as a great braying sob broke out. Anyone listening would think there was a donkey loose in the street.
‘Hey, hey.’ Half-laughing, Todd held on to her. ‘I’m not that bad.’
‘S-sorry. I’m just so h-h-happy.’ Months of pent-up tension had to escape somehow. She clung to him, overwhelmed and overcome with emotion. ‘I can’t believe you’re here…’
‘Me neither.’ He was gently rubbing her arms as if she was an accident victim in shock. ‘This wasn’t planned, you know. Ellie called and invited me over. You weren’t supposed to find out I was upstairs.’
Roo kissed him quickly on the mouth then smiled and kissed him again. It was OK, the explosive crying jag had passed. She turned to look up at the window. It was closed now, Ellie having beaten a diplomatic retreat.
‘I love that girl,’ she said.
Todd grinned. ‘So do I.’
‘What happened with Lisa?’ She needed to know; had there been a huge falling out or had the relationship simply run its course? Had Lisa ended it, or Todd?
‘Ah yes, Lisa. The math teacher,’ said Todd. ‘The one with the unreliable car.’