The Summer We All Ran Away Read Online Free

expectantly. “Thisis the moment when you say
Alan, you’re a fucking wonder and I’m a lucky bastard, how often would you like your shoes polished and how many dates do you reckon you can sell?”
    â€œSorry,” said Jack. “No.”
    Evie showed people around and offered drinks, smile glued bravely on, chin held high, wearing her status as Jack Laker’s girl like bright armour that deflected the mystified stares of the guests.
    â€œMake yourselves at home,” she said, elaborately casual. “Beer in the red fridge, white wine in the white fridge, red wine on the table. Food in the kitchen.”
    â€œAnd Evie the Nobody from Basingstoke in Jack Laker’s bed,” murmured a girl in a red jersey dress. She looked Evie up and down, taking in the long brown hair, the clear skin, the fresh, wholesome face. “What the hell does he see in her?”
    Her companion laid his mouth against her ear. “I heard,” he whispered, “they met professionally.”
    â€œShe’s in the industry?”
    â€œNope. The
other
kind of professional.”
    The girl’s eyes widened. “You mean she’s a prostitute?”
    The boy snorted with laughter. “For God’s sake! She’s a
nurse
, you fool.”
    â€œA nurse?” She considered this for a minute. “Actually, that’s almost worse.”
    â€œMusician’s madness. Can’t keep their hands off even when they’re a few hours from death. I heard he did a groupie a night while he was out on the road.” The boy glanced around. “Where is he, anyway?”
    â€œNo idea.” She sighed. “And the house isn’t even finished, half of it’s still derelict. I only came here to get a look at him. He must know that’s why we’re all here.”
    The girl in green cheesecloth glared at the front door. She felt a deep distaste for this party, and for the man who’d sent her here (a
chance to make useful contacts
, he’d insisted, his eyessliding sideways when she demanded,
Who? Why do I have to go to a party to meet them?
and the unsatisfactory answer
Just people, okay? Up-and-coming people. Like you)
. The porch was like a room in itself. If she lived in this house, she would put a bench here so she could sit and stare down the driveway, and enjoy the sight of nobody coming to disturb her.
    Try and meet Jack Laker
, her agent had told her.
He’s been off the scene for a while but he could still do you some good if he wanted to
. The memory made her grimace.
    At last, she knocked on the half-open door. Nobody answered, but coils of cigarette smoke wrapped welcoming tendrils around her.
    â€œRight then,” she said, and stepped over the threshold.
    â€œWhat did you just say to me?” Alan demanded. “Did you just tell me no?”
    â€œI said
sorry
first.”
    â€œI think we both know what the important word was in that sentence.”
    â€œI’m not doing another tour, Alan. The album’ll have to sell itself.”
    Alan looked at him in disbelief. “I can’t be hearing this. I can’t actually be hearing those words, in that order, coming out of your mouth. This just does not happen, Jack. Are you even listening to me?”
    â€œOf
course
I’m bloody well - ” He took a deep breath. “ - Sorry. Yes, I’m listening. It just doesn’t change the answer.”
    â€œYou know this is what some people dream of, right?” Alan was trying hard to hold onto his temper. “You know right now there’s kids years younger than you lying awake and praying for five minutes of my time? Just five minutes! And I’m here in your garden offering you the moon on a stick and you’re bloody hesitating.”
    â€œBut I’m not hesitating,” said Jack, almost to himself.
    â€œSo,” said Diane, sliding onto the sofa beside Evie.
    â€œSo,” said Evie. They looked at each other