Epilogue

Three monthslater

Last timeI took a flight to Sydney, I was all alone, and the twenty-two-hour journey seemed to stretch ahead into the distance.

But not today, with Josh at my side, and his hand gripping mine. I feel on top of the world as the plane rockets down the runway and lifts us up into the sky. Top of the world. Ha. Yes. Literally.

"You ok, baby?" he asks, and I grin before I look out of the window – the UK disappearing down below. Farewell Belgravia for three weeks. Luckily, we haven't got a Cockapoo puppy yet, like we've been debating.

"I sure am ok," I tell Josh. "Couldn't be better."

"Really? You're right at the top of the happiness tree, are you?" he asks, and there's a glint in his eye. A mischievous one.

"What is it?" I say. "Come on, Josh, I can read you like a book. Something's up."

He gives me the most magical side eye as he hands over his phone. It's in airplane mode – no shit – but what he's showing me is a screenshot of his latest proposal offer.

"What the hell?! You didn't show me this in the terminal! Spoilsport."

"Nope. We were too busy with the suitcases." He grins. "Plus, I thought I'd save it as an additional surprise."

The words on the screen give me butterflies. I get a swirl of them in my stomach – on top of the flight lurches. A wicked combination at approaching 35,000 feet.

User 1543. Male. 34.

Heath…

"But we only saw him last Monday."

"I know, but what can I say? The duo efforts are obviously paying off."

Wow. Another literally. Yes, the efforts are paying off. Heath has been booking us as a double act ever since I first showed up there. A huge cash sum every time. Guess I have captivated my TV idol at least a fraction of how much he's captivated me.

Us, rather. We're all captivated. Entertainers and client or not. The lines are blurring. Josh and Heath have been captivated by each other for years, that gets more obvious every session, and as for me… I'm right there alongside them.

"Have you read the actual proposal through yet?" Josh asks, as the seatbelt light dings off.

"I don't need to. It's a yes from me, obviously."

"No, I mean look." He points at the screen. "It's different."

My eyes widen as I look beyond his user name.

"Is he for fucking real?"

"I imagine so, he's pretty specific."

"France? For a whole week straight?!"

"He's got some time off before the next season. He told me when you were showering, to keep it as both a surprise and an avoidance of Nighttime Whispers is filming again soon?! EEEEEE!"

"Stop it!" I swat him. "I've got used to it now. I've calmed down about fisting my celebrity crush and watching him fuck my boyfriend on a fortnightly basis."

"Sure you have."

I read the proposal again. Yeah, Heath is being specific. He wants us at his villa in the South of France, for seven days straight, all expenses paid as well as 100k each for our bank accounts. He's having a laugh. It's insane.

"I'm not accepting that amount," I say to Josh. "Honestly. We have to give him a discount. I'd do it for free."

"So would I, don't worry. I'd pay him for the privilege. I've seen photos of his villa. It's better than a five-star resort. And he's going to be in it. That's worth a discount on its own."

I look at my boyfriend.

"Ok, in that case, have you talked to him about it? You aren't going to click accept, are you? Seriously, Josh, we can't take that much money."

He smirks. "Nope. Of course not. I turned it down."

"Turned it down? France?!"

"I turned down that particular proposal, yes." He gives me another side eye. "And he sent us another one."

"He did?"

Josh flicks across to another screenshot.

A new proposal price pops up onscreen.

A token one grand, for the two of us, for seven days straight. That's plenty more than enough for me.

Heath may have escaped my excited EEEEEEEEE last Monday, but Josh doesn't escape it now. I bounce in my seat, peppering kisses on my boyfriend's cheek.

We're going to be spending seven days with Heath Mason, at his villa in France. SEVEN FUCKING DAYS.

I hear a groan from the seat behind.

"What's with the shouting?! Can you stop it, please? I'm still shitting myself back here!" Carly's voice has her usual whine to it, but I'm coming to love it these days.

Josh turns in his seat, taking a look at his sister over the headrest.

"Ella is just excited about visiting people, Caroline. What do you expect?"

He doesn't specify who, of course.

"Yeah, chill out, Carls," her boyfriend says, in a tone of utter adoration – still fully engrossed in the honeymoon period.

His name is Kieran. Another Camden goth guy who likes to strum a guitar. He doesn't seem so much of a prick as Connor though, thank fuck. Not yet, anyway.

I unclip my belt and look over the seat along with Josh. His poor parents are still like ghosts. They are freaked out flyers, so Sydney may not have been the best location for a first-time visit, but hey ho.

"You two ok?" I ask, and Josh's dad gives me a thumbs up. Hopefully a good glass of port will help them out when the flight attendants start their rounds.

Jeez, I'm so excited Josh's family are coming with us, and so are Mum and Dad. Dad can't wait to show off his BBQ skills, and waterbombing.

How could things get any better than this?

Sun, sea, surf, barbeques, waterbombing and joint families, out for a good time.

My heart thumps like a trooper, I could let out another EEEEEEEEE in a flash.

Because things HAVE just got better than this. The evidence is right there on screenshot.

We get a week with Heath Mason, too!

And judging by the sparkle in Josh's eyes as he takes his phone from me, I have a feeling this won't be the last.

Two ladders for the price of one, on the hottest guys in creation…

I'm one hell of a lucky hardcorer.

THE END.