by Katy Cannon
“I’d love to.” Faith wrapped me up in a hug. “Thank you.”
“Well, I’ll need something to keep me busy once the show’s over,” I said. “But first – Dad’s right. I need to get back there. I’ll see you all after the show.”
They nodded, and I dashed back down the passageway that led to the wings of the stage. Glancing back over my shoulder, I saw Dad sitting with his arm around Faith, and Mum holding her hand.
Maybe we could all find our way through together, I thought. It had to be easier than doing it alone.
Out past the audience, tucked away in the same side room we’d used for refreshments the year before, I spotted Mac and Lottie, handing out cakes and drinks. They worked so smoothly together, like they could read where the other was and what they needed without any obvious clues. They were just in tune, I guessed.
I wondered if Connor and I would be like that, this time next year, only probably with a little more drama. I hoped so. But who knew? Connor had a whole summer of working backstage ahead of him, I hoped, and I had Faith’s wedding, plus plenty of sewing projects I wanted to get on with. And maybe the youth theatre summer school Connor planned to be at would need an extra actress – or a wardrobe mistress, for that matter.
“Still wishing you were out there tonight?”
Stepping into the wings, I saw Connor watching me from the centre of the stage, putting the last prop for the first scene in place.
“No, actually.” I moved towards him, drawn in like I always was when he was near. “I was thinking how much I’m looking forward to doing this again.”
“The costumes?”
“Working with you.”
I didn’t think I’d seen the particular smile that spread across Connor’s face at my words before. A special smile, just for me. Not quite proud, not just happy, not even pleased to be proved right … it was a mix of everything. Everything he’d ever felt about me, I think.
“I don’t care if I’m on stage or backstage for my next show,” I said, stepping closer to him. “It’s not about being a star for me, any more. It’s being part of something. And being with you.”
“I can’t wait. And until then…” Moving closer, Connor took me into his arms, and I smiled as I rose up to meet him in a kiss.
“A lot more of that,” I said, knowing exactly what he’d meant.
“Definitely.”
“Come on, you two.” Mr Hughes stood at the side of the stage, smiling indulgently at us. I should have been embarrassed to be caught by a teacher, but I wasn’t. He wasn’t Mr Hughes right then, I could tell. He was Guy, Connor’s stepdad.
“Time to start?” Connor asked.
“Yep. We’re all ready back here.”
Connor glanced around the stage, then at me again. “Here, too.”
“Right then,” I said with a grin. “Showtime.”
And, with my hand in Connor’s, we headed backstage. Exactly where I wanted to be.
Lottie and Mac didn’t want to get involved with Bake Club – or with each other. But as the end-of-year Bake Off approaches, tensions rise. Can Lottie keep up the façade of her perfect life? And will her bubbling romance with Mac survive the pressure?
Also available as an ebook
Copyright
STRIPES PUBLISHING
An imprint of Little Tiger Press
1 The Coda Centre, 189 Munster Road,
London SW6 6AW
First published as an ebook by Stripes Publishing in 2015.
Text copyright © Katy Cannon, 2015
Cover photography copyright © Alister Thorpe, 2015
Black and white illustrations courtesy of www.shutterstock.com
eISBN: 978–1–84715–630–3
The right of Katy Cannon to be identified as the author of this work respectively has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved.
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any forms, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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