Chapter 32

"Here's another one." Doreen places a newspaper on the breakfast table and I glance at the headline. In the two days since the Nationals there's been a barrage of publicity. This is the third newspaper, in the last two days, she's presented me with.

"It's almost as if you had won." Doreen looks pleased that Nick and I are getting a lot of attention. I'm not so sure. It was the publicity we needed if the school was going to stay open. Now it just seems empty.

Yesterday, Nick borrowed his dad's van and took me back home to collect some things I needed.

My parents were home and I told them the two decisions I'd come to, but I still need to figure out all other aspects of what I'm going to do with my life.

"Darcy, there you are. We've been worried about you," my mum said when I walked into the living room. So worried they didn't try calling me. They knew where I was, as Claire—who did bother to see how I was—said she'd told them. I ignore her and head towards my room.

"We're sorry. Can we explain?" I stop at their words and turn to them.

"No, you lost that privilege when you chose not to tell me what your plans were." I direct this mostly at my mum. My dad's not off the hook, but I know the subterfuge was orchestrated by her.

"I'm not coming home. I'm staying with Nick until I can sort something else out," I tell them. "I'll come back only for the lessons we have arranged for as long as I'm needed. I will not let our clients down. Nick and I will still hold our forties event in a couple of weeks because, again, I will not let those people down."

Having delivered my speech, I spin round and continue to my room. Packing up as many clothes as I can fit into all the bags I can find, I also pack in toiletries, books, chargers, my laptop, and of course, Bearlero.

Now, a day later, I'm trying to come up with ideas for a new career. I reach for some more cereal. After not eating Saturday evening and very little yesterday, I woke up hungry, so I'm taking it as a good sign.

My phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket. It's Claire.

After asking how I am—really, what can I say?—she states her reason for ringing.

"Would you and Nick be up for an interview with local radio?"

"What about the people who actually won the competition?"

"They aren't local, and well, frankly, they aren't news. You guys are hot property right now."

I don't really know what to say to that, so I ask Nick, who's stuffing his face with toast.

"If you want to, then I'm happy to be there." He shrugs, seemingly unaffected by the thought of appearing on the radio. He also seems quite content to stay in the shadows, and I'm not prepared to let him do that. He was as much a part of the competition as I was. I couldn't have done it without him.

I tell him as much later when we're back in his room.

"It was never my dream... well, not as much as yours," he tries to explain. "It was something you'd planned and trained for. It's not right for me to take away from that."

"It doesn't matter that I've trained for longer. You've put in plenty of hours, too," I insist. "We're a partnership, Nick. I'm nothing without you."

I capture his smile with my mouth, and kiss him long and deep, trying to imprint my words and their meaning onto him. His face is flushed when I pull back and look at his kiss-bruised lips.

"Well, that's a partnership I could definitely get on board with," he says, then drags me towards him for another kiss.

When we resurface, I remember the problems kissing him has banished from my consciousness for a while, and that Nick hasn't gone to work. It's Monday, so surely he should be working. I pace the room... Well, try to, as the room isn't very large.

"It's fine," he reassures me. "My dad has taken Alan with him today. I'm not needed."

"You're losing money because of me!" It doesn't make me feel any better.

"And it's okay Darcy. I promise you," he says, and I sit back down. "I was thinking we could go look at a house this afternoon." He adds, "I think the need to find somewhere has become a bit more urgent."

I look around his room at the space all my stuff takes up and I can't disagree, even though my chances of being able to contribute anything to the costs are practically zero. At some time I'll remind him of that, but the set of his jaw tells me that this is not the time. Instead, I answer that I'd love to.