I press the phone tightly to my ear to block out the sound of the rain peppering the treehouse roof. Jason, when he answers, sounds distracted at first but as soon as I mention I can’t move from the treehouse, he gets it instantly.
‘Oh God, Twi. The thunderstorm. Poor you. Look, I’ll be over in five minutes, okay?’
‘Okay,’ I repeat, not wanting to lose contact with him but knowing I have to. He ends the call. But he’ll be here soon.
I listen to the storm rushing relentlessly through the trees. It almost seems to be calling my name, but I’m obviously imagining it, desperate for Jason to be here already.
I lift my head and really listen. Someone is calling my name.
I shout back, as loudly as I can, ‘I’m up here!’
The wind carries my voice away, so I shout again. And again. I don’t know how Jason got here so fast and I don’t care. He’s here and that’s all that matters.
‘I’m coming up,’ he calls, and I hear him scaling the ladder fast, paying little heed to how slippery it must be in the rain. This surprises me. Jason is usually far more cautious than that. He must be just desperate to get to me! A lump fills my throat just thinking of this.
I turn my head with a rueful smile, feeling embarrassed he’s had to come out in the storm, but knowing he understands me of old …
‘Twilight. Christ, are you okay?’
Theo Steel is standing in the doorway, staring down at me.
I gulp. ‘Yes. No. What are you doing here?’ I feel exposed. Vulnerable. And humiliated.
‘Is it the thunderstorm?’ He comes and crouches down beside me. ‘I was halfway back home when I realised I still had your bag in my backpack, so I turned around. I saw the house was in darkness and I remembered you said you hated thunderstorms, so I came round the back and found the door was still open from earlier.’ He lays his hand on my back. ‘Come on. I’ll help you get back to the house.’
I shake my head. ‘I’ll just stay here.’
He thinks for a second. Then he nods and sits down next to me, folding his long legs in the same way I have, arms casually round his knees, sitting close enough for our arms to be touching. It feels so blissfully good after being alone with my fear that my heart gives a little lurch of something approaching happiness, which feels unbelievable in itself.
Instinctively, I lean against him, taking comfort from the solid weight of him next to me. We stay like that for a while and gradually, a feeling of calm settles over me. I have the strangest feeling that as long as Theo Steel is by my side, nothing bad will happen.
When he finally murmurs, close to my ear, ‘I make a mean hot chocolate. Just so you know,’ I realise he’s gently suggesting we make a move indoors, but I don’t want to. I know I could get down the ladder and into the house with Theo’s help, but I’d rather stay here, right where I am, leaning against him like this, feeling his solid, reassuring presence.
But I know it’s silly. The storm has passed over and there’s no longer any reason to stay here.
Getting up, my legs feel stiff from sitting in a cramped position for so long. Theo holds out a hand and pulls me the rest of the way, then guides me onto the deck, closing the treehouse door firmly behind us. Then he descends the ladder first, staying just below me as I climb gingerly down the slippery rungs. If I miss my footing in the dark, he will catch me.
As we go in through the back door, I hear a car draw up outside.
Jason!
I go straight out through the front door to meet him as he gets out of the car.
‘God, sorry it took me so long,’ he says, taking my arms, concern written all over his face. ‘I couldn’t find my bloody door keys and I couldn’t leave the house unlocked.’
I smile. ‘Of course you couldn’t.’ I’d have run out of the house and left the door on the latch and to hell with it. But everyone is different. I’m just touched he got here.
‘Are you okay?’ He starts leading me back to the house. ‘I hated to think of you here alone, knowing how much you hate storms. But I’m here now. You’re not on your own any more.’ He looks over at the house and his expression changes. ‘But I see you’re not actually alone at all.’
When I glance over, I see Theo standing in the doorway, watching us.
I start talking, far too fast, feeling the need to explain to Jason. ‘Oh, yes. Well, I was on my own. When I called you. But then Theo – Theo Steel, that’s his name – well, he arrived and he sort of got me down from the treehouse.’ I give a little nervous laugh. ‘Thankfully. Otherwise I’d still be up there, a quivering wreck.’
‘Who’s Theo Steel?’ asks Jason lightly.
‘He’s – erm – a personal trainer.’ I laugh awkwardly. ‘I know. Imagine. Me working out! So basically, Theo’s getting me all hot and sweaty in return for as much cake as he can eat!’ Damn, that sounded terrible!
‘Right.’ Jason smiles and takes a step back. ‘Well, I can see you’re all right, so I’ll – um – leave you to it.’
‘Come in for a drink!’ I feel really bad now. Flustered at what Jason must think. ‘Oh, you’re driving. Well, a coffee, at least?’
Theo starts walking over. ‘Hi, I’m Theo. I take it you came to the rescue as well?’ He grins and the two shake hands rather stiffly.
‘This is Jason,’ I say quickly, and when Theo looks expectantly at me, I add, ‘My childhood sweetheart, you might say!’
Jason laughs, a little too heartily. ‘If you were acting
