“Are you excited for tonight?” He squeezes my hand and I realize I’ve been staring at him in awe, like a complete weirdo.
“Oh . . . Yes! I can’t believe it. You’re opening for a band so big that even I’ve heard of them!” Noah’s face goes a bit white, and I realize I must not be helping his nerves. “You’re going to be amazing, I know it. Are you nervous?”
“I’d be lying if I said no, but I’m mostly just pumped. This has been my dream since I was twelve, and now I get to do it all, and with the best girlfriend on the planet.” He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it, and I blush a deep red. “I guess my only wish is that my parents were here to see it, you know?” Noah turns to look out of the rain-streaked window as we pass the seafront, dark and grey under the thick clouds, and I feel a deep pang of sadness for him.
His parents died in a tragic skiing accident only a few years ago, and I knew the pain was still fresh for Noah. He and his younger sister, Bella, went to live with their grandmother, the wonderful Sadie Lee, but I knew there would always be a hole in his heart big enough to hold the ocean, a hole that only his music could help to fill.
“They are incredibly proud of you, Noah, I’m sure of it.” I squeeze his hand back and he turns to look at me with a smile. “How are Sadie Lee and Bella?” I ask.
“Oh, they’re great. Bella’s starting first grade this September, and G-ma has her hands full with her catering business. G-ma also gave me a box of chocolate-chip cookies for you that should have just survived the flight over—but you’ll have to eat them quick! I’ve got them in my dressing room.”
“She’s so sweet!” I feel like drooling at simply the thought of Sadie Lee’s cookies—they are seriously the best I’ve ever tasted—then I quickly lift my hand to my mouth in case I actually am drooling. That’s just what Noah needs to see: his girlfriend as a drooling, unsexy mess. But Noah laughs. Then he reaches up and cups my chin, pulling me forward gently, and we kiss for the first time in three months. Oh my gosh, I have missed this boy so much that it almost kills me.
“I’ve really missed you, my gorgeous, goofy autumn girl,” he says, as if he’s reading my mind.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve missed you more. In fact, I’m willing to bet on it.”
“You don’t strike me as a betting girl, Penny. I mean, three hours at those 2p machines you told me about is pushing it . . .” He raises his eyebrows and winks at me, then leans back in his seat and gives me an appreciative look up and down. “I really love that dress on you, by the way.”
“Thanks, I really like those dimples on you . . .”
“Well, you’re going to be seeing these dimples a lot more while we’re away on tour together. I’m so happy that you decided to do this with me, Pen. It’s going to be the greatest adventure.”
“Well, adventures are my favourite . . . once we get past the flying part!” I laugh, although it doesn’t quite cover up the nerves I feel at the thought of all the planes we’ll have to take on the tour. Noah recognizes this in my eyes almost immediately.
“I promise you that I will look after you. We’re going to have the best time.”
His reassuring words bring a smile to my face. I can’t believe I was so worried that things wouldn’t be the same between us. In fact, I have a feeling things are going to be even better than before. “Hey, Larry—are we close?” Noah asks, craning his neck to see out of the front windscreen, the fast-moving wipers and thick drops of rain doing their best to obscure the view.
“Just round the corner,” Larry replies.
“Can we drive past the front? I want to see the turnout.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Noah grins at me, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. It’s a look I recognize from when we first met—and the end result was that he showed me all his favourite New York places. I don’t know what he’s up to, but I’m intrigued.
The road outside the Brighton Centre is packed with people already queuing to enter, and Larry has to slow to a crawl to drive past. The crowd must be at least ten people deep, some in colourful macs, others huddling together under umbrellas to avoid getting completely drenched. All of a sudden I feel a wave of anxiety come over me at the intensity of what I am seeing. My boyfriend is Noah Flynn. All these people are going to be watching him sing onstage, and if they don’t already know who he is they will after tonight. Some of them are even holding handmade banners that say: MARRY ME, NOAH; WE LOVE YOU, NOAH; and LET ME BE YOUR SUMMER GIRL.
Then I relax. I don’t mind that someone wants to be his “summer girl” (after all, I’m quite happy in the knowledge I’m his all-seasons girl now). I think about how lovely it is that he has so many supporters when he is the opening act for such a huge band. Most of these girls will only know him because of YouTube, and each one will have played a part in making him as successful as he is. Of course, there are a lot of people who are only there to see The Sketch—it helps that all four members look as though they have stepped out of a poster for Abercrombie & Fitch. I feel a huge sense of pride for Noah and this crazy journey he is about to embark on, and I do a little wiggle of happiness at the thought that I will be by his side along the way.
Noah clicks open his seat belt and I stare at him in alarm. “What are you doing?” I ask.