Chapter 20

Mum looks away, toward the dining room table, and I follow her gaze. Sitting on the surface is a bouquet of flowers.

Slowly, I get to my feet and go over to the table. The bouquet is wrapped in cellophane and tied with a big red bow. I count the flowers inside—it contains two dozen crimson roses.

Claire appears beside me, and says, “Ohhh…”

I remove the envelope that’s stapled to the cellophane, open it, and retrieve the card inside. It says, “Thanks for a great evening. You left me smiling like the Cheshire Cat. Kip x.” It ends with a

“Cheshire Cat?” Charlie says. “Oh shit. He knows who you are.”

“What does it say?” Mum asks.

Claire reads out the card, while I stare at the flowers and cover my mouth with a hand.

Did he know all along? Or did he just Google me when I left, the same way I did him?

“Who is he?” June asks.

I lift the bouquet, open the cellophane at the top, and sniff inside. Oh, they smell amazing. I turn to face them, still holding the bouquet. “His name’s Kip C