Frankie favoured walking lunches in her daily routine, as she said she spent far too much of her life sitting and chatting. India was behind her sentiment totally, and was now used to grabbing a coffee and walking the Southbank with her friend. On a day like today, with summer just over the horizon, it was the best remedy ever. Particularly when her mind kept jumping back to a forlorn Gina on her sofa. India hoped she stayed where she was.
“You okay? You seem miles away.” Frankie didn’t look at India as she walked. To their right, the River Thames rushed as a water taxi went by, swiftly followed by a tourist cruise jam-packed with eager travellers.
India nodded, the coffee too hot in her hand. She should have got one of those cardboard holders. She stopped, got a tissue from her bag and wrapped it around the cup. “I forgot my reusable cup today. Bad me, killing the planet.” India paused, taking in the row of restaurants to their left, their outdoor patios full of tourists and locals alike. “I’m a bit distracted. Remember Gina, your estate agent and now mine?” Also, someone who just made me walk out of my flat all flushed and disorientated.
Frankie nodded, sipping her water.
“I just ran into her, and she was quite upset. She’s back at my flat, having a cup of tea while I meet you.”
Frankie stopped walking. “She’s back at your flat? What’s she doing there?”
India shrugged like it was nothing. “She was upset. She’d just walked in on her business partner snogging her ex. I guess I know what it’s like to have an ex who doesn’t really give a shit about you. I wanted to make sure she was okay.” Somehow, in the short space of time they’d known each other, Gina’s happiness had climbed higher on India’s list of priorities.
“But she’s at your flat and you’re not there.” Frankie crinkled her face. “Has something happened? Are you seeing her?”
India felt the blush spring to her cheeks. “No! I’m not in the market for a girlfriend. I’m just being compassionate to a fellow human being.”
“Or you fancy her.” Frankie’s gruff laugh coated the air around them.
India wanted to deny it, but knew that would only fuel Frankie’s fire. “I do like her. She seems genuine. Plus, she had no idea who the hell I was, which makes a refreshing change.”
They walked on for a few moments, walking around the stalls selling dog-eared paperbacks on the riverside. India usually stopped to browse, but never with Frankie in tow, who skipped around the stalls like they held poison. Frankie was not a reader.
“Hang on, her business partner. You mean Bernie?”
India nodded. “Yes. Do you know her? I met her once. Didn’t get a good vibe.”
Frankie nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. I had bad dealings with her once, so it doesn’t surprise me what you’re saying. She’s in it for herself and nobody else. She’s always seemed to have more money than she should to me, too. I know her business, how it works. I don’t understand how she’s got her fingers in so many pies.” She wagged a finger at India. “Tell Gina to get out while she can.”
“Not easy when they’re tied up financially.”
“She can borrow money. Gina and Bernie were always a strange match. Maybe Bernie’s only showing her true colours now.”
“I’ll let Gina know.” For now, Gina was probably more concerned with Bernie sleeping with her ex than business issues. But India would remind her to see the whole picture.
They navigated around the queues for the London Eye, past the London Aquarium. India was stopped twice for selfies, and graciously posed for them, having learned early on it was easier and quicker to do them than to disappoint fans and feel guilty for the rest of the day. Plus, it didn’t happen that often, despite what her family thought.
Frankie steered them away from the river, down into some gardens where they got onto a path and began walking in a long, slow loop. India breathed in the freshly cut grass, loving how green it was.
“I wanted to let you know the committee approved Rainbow Rings as the official Pride biscuit, so you can use the logo on the packaging if you like.”
“Fabulous news.” India gave Frankie a grin. “Wait until you taste them, they’re delicious.”
Frankie patted her stomach. “Me and biscuits don’t mix at the moment. I had too many of them on holiday, I’m trying to regulate my intake.”
“I shouldn’t send you a box for free, then?”
“Don’t you dare.”
“I’m sending a box of Chocolate Rockets to Gina’s sister. Apparently, she’s a big fan.”
Frankie gave her a look as they passed a gorgeous bed of yellow and white roses. “No, you don’t fancy Gina at all. Not one bit.”
India nudged her friend with her elbow. “What’s wrong with carrying out a nice gesture for someone? Plus, I’m a grown woman. I don’t fancy people anymore. I admire them. Respect them.”
Frankie let out a strangled yelp. “You want to jump her bones, you don’t fool me. I’ve known you too long, remember?” She nudged India back. “The other reason I wanted to talk to you was about Eunice. You’re still on for meeting her in Birmingham on Sunday?”
India nodded. “It’s in my diary, especially after I read the letters. So much longing and so many things unsaid.”
Frankie nodded. “I know. They broke my heart. I so want us to find H and reunite them, which is your job to make happen. But on that, I have bad news about Lucy going, too. She was on the list for a minor operation, and they’ve moved it forward to that week, so she can’t make it. Will you be okay to go alone?” She paused. “Or you could ask Gina, even though you don’t fancy her one bit.”
India rolled her eyes. “I’m not rising to your bait.” She pictured Gina’s face on the bench earlier. She’d looked so defeated. India wanted to put a smile back on her face today. “Although, a trip away might take her mind off her troubles. Plus, I think she said her family lives there.” Bright plans rolled through India’s mind like a summer showreel.
“You do what you have to do. So long as you try to coax Eunice into finding the mysterious H, okay?”
“Got it.”
India let herself back into her flat, not quite sure what she was walking into. After all, she didn’t know Gina that well. She’d left a virtual stranger in her flat alone, which is something she’d never normally do. Only, Gina wasn’t a stranger, was she? She was someone India felt at home with. Like she hadn’t with anyone else in quite a while.
‘You fancy her,’ Frankie had said. India hadn’t let her mind go there before. Not totally. She enjoyed Gina’s company. Her body tingled when she was around. But did she fancy her? Did she want to jump her bones? She wasn’t sure she was ready.
Maybe India shouldn’t invite her on the trip to Birmingham. “Or maybe you should!” said the devil on India’s shoulder. She glanced at her reflection in the hallway mirror, but the devil was nowhere to be seen.
“Only me!” India shouted, like this was something she did every day. It wasn’t. There was normally nobody waiting in her flat.
“I hoped it was you.” Gina turned her head. “Burglars don’t normally have keys.”
India stood in the doorway, staring at Gina in a new way. Gina’s pain was still evident in the crease of her brow. However, after speaking to Frankie, and thinking about asking Gina to come away with her, it was like India had allowed herself to think beyond what she had before. Now, she really took in Gina’s sparkling eyes. Her elegant nose. Her kissable lips.
Heat slid down her body. Maybe Frankie had a point.
Although, India wasn’t acting the way she normally did when she liked someone. In those circumstances, she was normally bold and brash. But with Gina, it hadn’t happened that way. She’d edged into her life, mainly on rooftops. Now, Gina was on her sofa, an empty mug on her coffee table, and she looked like she belonged there. That thought hit India harder than she ever expected.
Gina moved her feet from where they were buried under her, and sat up straight. “How was your meeting, and Frankie?”
“Both good. We walked the Southbank and marvelled at all the people queueing for the London Eye.”
Gina smiled. “You’re not a fan?”
“It’s the most hyped big wheel in the world, and you have to share your carriage with a bunch of other people.” India sat in the armchair to the right of Gina. “So no, not a fan.”
“I went up on it with my family when they came to London. The very first time after I came out to them. I was grateful for those other people. It lessened the awkwardness we were all feeling.”
India gazed at her. “I get that.” Maybe Gina wouldn’t want to come to Birmingham, after all. Disappointment pooled in her stomach. She was already counting on Gina coming, wasn’t she?
“Any word from Bernie or your ex in the hour or so I’ve been gone?” A change of subject. Patience personified.
Gina’s face clouded over. “Nothing. Which says a lot. They probably started shagging on the sofa the minute I left. Or went on a TK Maxx shopping spree.” She gave India a shrug.
“TK Maxx? That’s very specific.”
Gina waved a hand. “It’s a long story, I’ll tell you another time.” She paused. “Anyway, is Pride going to plan? I never did sign up as a volunteer.”
“You’re helping out on my bus, so you’re good.” India sat forward. “Plus, there’s another way you can contribute, too. I have a Pride proposal for you.” Heat hit India’s cheeks as soon as the words left her mouth.
Gina spluttered. “If you’re asking me to marry you, I’m going to turn you down. Call me old-fashioned, but I like at least one date first.”
India put her head in her hands before looking up at Gina. “Okay, I’m going to try this again. You know the ‘It’s Never Too Late’ campaign where I’m going to Birmingham to meet the author of the love letters?”
Gina nodded. “I remember you spoke about it.”
“The organiser, Lucy, can’t make it now.” India made sure she had Gina’s eye contact. She did. “The trip is to meet Eunice, put her at ease and get her onside, nothing documented. I actually think just me going to meet her the first time makes more sense, so you don’t even have to come to the meeting. However, you said you wanted to help, and this is a way you can. I’d love the company, and you know your way around the city, so you’d be doing me a favour.”
Gina narrowed her eyes. “You know that going back to my home city isn’t a natural fit for me? The lesbian Indian girl. There won’t be any bunting in the street.”
“Don’t tell your family you’re coming. It’s only going to be overnight. You don’t have to see them if you don’t want to.” India let that realisation sink in.
Gina’s brows knitted together. “I suppose I could do that, although I always think they’ll just know anyway. My mum has a sixth sense when it comes to her children. I usually avoid going, full stop. But that idea is revolutionary.” She pursed her lips. “You’re opening my mind to new possibilities.”
India knew exactly what she meant. “Ditto.”
Her phone beeped in her handbag, but India ignored it. She didn’t want to break this moment, break the spell that was thick in the room. It would go in seconds, but for now, it was perfect. “What do you think about the weekend?”
Gina moved her mouth left, then right. “Possibly yes. A weekend away from London and my life sounds good. When are you going?” Gina’s gaze burned India’s skin.
“This coming Saturday. I’m meeting Eunice on Sunday.”
India’s phone beeped again. And then again. She got up and retrieved it. “Sorry, I’d better take a look.” Her hand shook as she clicked her home screen. Was Gina feeling this, too? This charge in the room between them? Whatever it was, it crackled with fresh energy as India grabbed her phone from her bag.
“Let me just check who needs me.” Two emails from her operations manager. One from her dad. But also, two text messages from Andi.
What the hell did she want? India was determined to stay in the room, keep the vibe. But her fingers had other ideas, clicking on the texts.
Andi wanted to meet up. She had something she wanted to tell her. Was India available this week? Annoyance rose in her. Could she never escape Andi’s clutches?
She could if she ignored her. India threw the phone back into her bag, then focused all her energy back on Gina. On the way her hand rested on her thigh. The arch of her neck. Particularly on Gina’s lips.
“Do you need to get going?” Gina moved to the edge of the sofa. “I need to rescue my car anyway. The ticket only lasts until three.”
India stood up, shaking her head. “Stay there. I’ll put the kettle on. You need to eat a Rainbow Ring before you go, and you can’t do that without fresh tea.”
Everything else could wait.
Especially Andi.