Free Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell Page A

should stop panicking and relax.’
    ‘Unless he’s unconscious in hospital and his phone flew out of his pocket and got run over on the motorway by a ten-ton truck.’
    There was silence for a moment as Joe considered this possibility. At last he said, ‘Hey. I’m sure he’ll be in touch when he can.’
    ‘Are you laughing at me?’
    ‘Just a little bit.’
    And really, who could blame him?
    ‘I’m not usually like this, I promise.’
    ‘If you say so.’ He definitely sounded as if he were smiling. ‘OK, can I go now? Only I’ve left a patient with a drill hanging out of his mouth.’
    Whoops
. ‘Sorry,’ said Tasha. ‘Bye.’
    An hour later, her doorbell rang. As she went to answer it, Tasha pictured Joe on the doorstep, grave-faced and accompanied by two here-to-break-the-bad-news policemen, one of whom was holding the remains of Rory’s smashed-up phone . . .
    She took a deep breath and opened the door.
    ‘Hey!’ Rory was wearing his leathers and holding his bike helmet under one arm. He was beaming from ear to ear. ‘What an amazing trip that was.
Amazing
. Give me a kiss.’ He moved forward to embrace her. ‘How was your day?’
    Tasha had reached the stage where she’d actually hoped he
had
been in an accident – just a minor one – because then at least he’d have a valid excuse for having put her through all those hours of torment. Now that she knew he was alive, she could yell at him.
    OK, not yell. But make him understand.
    ‘Where’s your phone?’
    ‘Can you believe it? Forgot to take it with me . . . just didn’t remember to pick it up. I haven’t been home yet . . . it’s still lying on the bed in my flat. Why, did you try to call me?’
    He was telling the truth, Tasha knew. He actually didn’t have a clue what he’d put her through.
    ‘Yes, I called.’ Only about three hundred and fifty times. ‘You said you’d call me.’
    ‘I know I did, but I couldn’t, could I? Not without my phone.’ Rory shrugged. Genuinely no clue.
    ‘I was worried.’ Tasha forced herself to stay calm. ‘I’ve been worried sick. Motorbikes are
dangerous
.’
    They were in the hallway now, and he was still looking bemused. ‘Look, I’ve never once come off a motorbike. You don’t have to worry about me.’
    ‘Don’t I? Am I allowed to worry about all the other idiots on the road who could crash their cars into you? I’ve been picturing it all day,’ Tasha blurted out. ‘And I’m sorry if this sounds crazy, but I’ve only just found you.’ Her voice cracked as she struggled to explain. ‘I’m terrified something’s going to happen to take you away.’
    ‘Oh God, I’m sorry.’ Rory wrapped his arms around her. ‘Nothing’s going to happen to me, I promise.’
    Did he think she was a complete madwoman? Had she managed to scare him off completely? ‘I’m sorry too. I can’t help being like this. I hate it.’ Tasha held him tightly, inhaling the mingled smells of leather, engine oil and warm skin. ‘I worry too much and I have too much imagination.’ She didn’t say it, but she’d even envisaged his funeral; if he knew that, he’d definitely dump her.
    Oh, but when all the old feelings came rushing back, it was hard to ignore them. She was going to have to explain. Helplessly she said, ‘You know I told you my mum and dad split up when I was six? Well the thing is, my mum didn’t know how to tell me he’d gone, so she pretended he was working abroad. And I kept waiting for him to come back but it just didn’t happen . . . I had
months
of feeling all knotted up inside, wondering if I’d done something wrong or if he was even still alive . . .’ She trailed off, embarrassed by the admission. ‘Of course he
was
still alive. He was just far too busy being besotted with his new girlfriend to bother with his old family.’
    ‘What a bastard. Jesus. Now listen to me.’ Rory exhaled. ‘I’m selfish and I don’t stop to think things through. It honestly