by Casey, Jane
‘Oh, well. I’ll miss you.’ He lay down on his bed with his hands under his head.
I sat on the edge of the mattress, pleating the coverlet in my fingers. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Go for it.’
‘Why do you stick around when I keep turning your life upside down?’
‘Because I love you.’
‘I remember you saying,’ I said, trying to keep my tone nonchalant.
‘Well. That, basically.’
From the bottom of the stairs, a voice floated up. ‘It’s shepherd’s pie for dinner. We’ll eat at six.’
Rob looked at his watch and groaned. ‘That’s only half an hour. We’ve only just had tea and cake.’
‘You’re a growing boy.’ I put my hand on his chest. ‘I haven’t said it back.’
‘I noticed.’
‘And minded?’
‘Nope.’ He grinned lazily. ‘You’ll say it at the right time, when you’re ready.’
‘Sure about that?’
‘As sure as I am that you’ll be in here paying me a visit after lights-out later, mother or no mother.’
‘Arrogant.’
‘Always.’ He tilted his head. ‘I do love you, you know.’
‘I know.’ I stood up and went to the door, then paused. ‘You know how half the floorboards on the landing creak?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Well, half of them don’t.’
He started to smile, a smile that matched the one on my face. ‘Your point is?’
‘I know which is which.’
‘It’s no wonder I think you’re wonderful.’
‘I am pretty great,’ I admitted. ‘You really are lucky to have me.’
‘This is what I keep telling you.’
I’d moved back in with my parents, yet again. I was doomed to sleep in a separate bed from my boyfriend for the duration, which just made it all the more urgent for us to find somewhere else to live. My stalker was back, and angry. I was seriously worried about my career prospects.
I still wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Acknowledgements
This book is the product of much hard work by many talented people. I owe thanks to them all, but particularly the fiction team at Ebury: my editor Gillian Green, Caroline Newbury, Hannah Robinson, Louise Jones, Jake Lingwood, Fiona MacIntyre, Susan Pegg, Hannah Grogan and Martin Higgins, and everyone in the sales department. They are very dedicated and it’s lovely to work with them. I am also indebted to Justine Taylor for her painstaking copy-editing.
I am incredibly lucky that Simon Trewin is my literary agent and that he has such a wonderful assistant, Ariella Feiner. They are a great team, infinitely supportive and understanding. Just as importantly, they have a good line in jokes. I am also very grateful to their colleagues at United Agents, particularly Jessica Craig and Zoe Ross.
The Last Girl would never have been finished without the help and encouragement of my family, especially Frank and Alison Casey and Kerry Holland. Philippa and Simon Charles, and Michael and Bridget Norman, provided unstinting hospitality for many weeks while I was writing. I am also very grateful to my extended family and friends for their help and enthusiasm; it makes all the difference.
Since one of the main characters in The Last Girl is a criminal barrister, part of the book is set in his chambers. I must emphasise that all of the characters are complete inventions, as is Three Unicorn Court, though the Temple certainly exists.
I find one of the hardest things about writing a novel is to think up characters’ names. I am very pleased to have been allowed to borrow Caitriona Bennett’s name for a key character in this book. I am also grateful to Áine Holland – to whom the book is dedicated – for the use of her first name as Maeve’s middle name. I think it suits her.
Finally, I must thank Edward, Patrick and James for their very important contributions to the writing process – Edward for entertaining me, Patrick for turning up at the right moment, and James, as ever, for everything.
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781446491997
www.randomhouse.co.uk
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
Published in 2012 by Ebury Press, an imprint of Ebury Publishing,
A Random House Group Company
Copyright © 2012 by Jane Casey
Jane Casey has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner
The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009
Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at: www.randomhouse.co.uk/contact/contact-us
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Hardback ISBN 9780091948474
Trade paperback ISBN 9780091946777
To buy books by your favourite authors and register for offers visit: www.rbooks.co.uk