beats per minute by Alex Mae Read Free Book Online Page B

there next to your grandda. Lunch
won’t be a moment. Would you like some fizzy stuff? We were going to mix it
with orange juice…’ She took in the greenness of Raegan’s complexion and for
the first time her smile wavered. ‘Maybe not just yet, eh? How about a nice coffee instead?’
    Raegan nodded gratefully.
    After pouring both Raegan and Con a huge cup of
freshly-brewed coffee, Bridey bustled off to finish her final preparations.
Raegan took a sip of the hot, bitter liquid and avoided her grandfather’s eye,
all the while trying not to throw up. What had she been drinking? She
felt awful. Getting out of bed had not been easy; in fact she’d nearly given up
completely when faced with the steep, rickety staircase, which seemed to go in
and out of focus as she crawled down it. She’d slept for ages but didn’t even
remember getting into bed. She knew she had dreamed, though; sweaty night-time
terrors full of people with hoods and timepieces held in the air. Typical – the
first dream she could remember in months and it was a random, wine-soaked
nightmare!
    In fact the dream was less hazy than the end of the evening
itself. She remembered meeting Philip and Christian, the four of them dancing,
and then… nothing. Blackness, until that final conversation
in the booth, Christian’s arm tightly around her shoulder. She flushed
when she remembered admitting that she was underage and how he had suddenly
lost interest.  She must’ve looked like a stupid little girl to him.
    Marie obviously hadn’t had that problem with Philip or she
wouldn’t have left. Raegan frowned. It stung that Marie had ditched her; why
didn’t she even say goodbye? Raegan wouldn’t have tried to tag along. And if
she had known Marie was leaving she could’ve at least got a key from her and
stayed the night at the Vallences’ as planned. Instead she had staggered around
the unfamiliar streets for ages trying to find a phone box so she could call
her grandfather. And then…inwardly, she quailed. She didn’t want to remember
what happened next. She was sure Con had been furious by the time he came to
fetch her.
    If only she hadn’t had to call him! If only she had been
able to find her phone and call Marie instead. But without her phone she was
buggered: Ramsey Island was the only number she knew off by heart. Oh, that
bloody phone, she was always putting it down without thinking! If it turned out
to be lost for good it would be the final cherry on top of an awful night.
    Her head was pounding.
    ‘Cards for you,’ Bridey trilled, setting a pitcher of orange
juice on the table. Raegan gulped a glass down straight away; her throat felt
like someone had stuck a hoover down it and sucked the last drop of moisture
out. The cool sweetness was heaven. Feeling a bit better, pleased to be
distracted from her confusing thoughts, she reached
for the pastel coloured envelopes.
    ‘Happy birthday from everyone at the Woodstead,’ Raegan
read. ‘Ah, how cute! It’s a card from my old school,
gran.’ She held it up so that Bridey could see all the signatures; even Con
craned his head for a quick look. Instantly cheered, she
turned the gaudy purple object over and over in her hands, grinning widely. ‘What time did you say lunch was? I’m starving.’
    ‘Not long now. But first…’ Bridey wiped her hands on her
apron before pulling up a seat beside Con. She and her husband exchanged a
quick glance. ‘Here’s a little something. For your
sixteenth.’ From under the table came a small red parcel. ‘Happy Birthday.’ Two mugs were raised in a shaky toast.
    Raegan was touched. ‘Oh, Grandma... you really didn’t have
to –‘
    ‘It’s not just from me.’ Bridey’s voice was tight and high,
as if stuck in her throat. ‘It’s from both of us. Actually, it’s been in your
Grandda’s family for years. Go on, open it!’
    Raegan handled the package with great care. Her grandparents
were watching her nervously, almost as if holding their