Johnny's Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

feet are hot in these trainers. Johnny joins me, putting his arm around my shoulder.
    ‘This place has good memories for you too, right?’ he asks. He points to the left of the pool. ‘That was where I saw you for the first time, lying there, fast asleep, in your
skimpy bikini.’
    ‘I remember it well,’ I say wryly. ‘I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard your voice.’
    ‘Look, they kept our table.’ He nods at the polished concrete table with bench seating. We shared a pizza there on my first night in LA and he quizzed me about my love life.
    ‘And they’ve still got the bar,’ I say sardonically, spotting the outdoor bar that used to be stocked with just about every spirit under the sun. Whisky was Johnny’s
drink of choice.
    He lets his arm drop and I instantly feel mean. He hasn’t had a drink for over two years.
    ‘Sorry.’ I turn around to face him.
    ‘It’s a fair comment,’ he replies, his green eyes looking even more luminous with the light of the pool reflecting in them. Yes. I remember this sight, too.
    ‘I love you,’ I say seriously. ‘I love you so much. I don’t want
anything
to come between us.’ I say this last sentence fervently and tears prick my
eyes.
    ‘Hey,’ he says, looking crushed. He pulls me into his arms. ‘Nothing is going to break us now. We’re too strong. I would never do anything to risk hurting you, Barney or
Phoenix. You guys are my
life
.’ He squeezes me hard as he says this, then he pulls away to face the house. ‘But I still love this place. It’s
me
, you know? I mean,
look at it. It’s fucking awesome.’
    I laugh at his enthusiasm, despite myself. ‘It’s pretty cool,’ I agree.
    ‘We could buy it back – in your name as well as mine,’ he says pointedly. ‘It could be
our
place. I like England, but I’m so pissed off with the rain,’
he adds grumpily. ‘And if you really hate it after a year or two, we could always move back.’
    ‘Hang on,’ I interrupt. ‘Are you saying you want to move here permanently?’ I’m taken aback. ‘I thought you were just talking about a summer pad. Somewhere to
live while you’re recording your new album.’
    He shrugs. ‘I thought we could give it another go.’
    My heart starts to beat faster. ‘What about our place in Henley?’ I ask. ‘I love it there. The kids love it. And Barney really likes his nursery.’
    ‘Barney is
three
,’ Johnny says meaningfully. ‘He’ll adapt. He always does.’
    Hmm. That’s certainly true. His little life has been nothing but adaptation.
    ‘What about me? I’m not sure I’m very good at starting afresh anymore. I’ve only just begun to feel settled with you at home.’
    ‘Come on, Nutmeg. Christ, you’re only thirty. And I’m thirty-six! Let’s live a little. You knew when you married me that life wasn’t going to be ordinary. I want
you guys to come on tour with me next year.’
    ‘Since when are you touring next year?’ I ask.
    ‘I was going to tell you,’ he says wearily.
    I have such bad memories of Johnny on tour… And he knows it. He can see it on my face.
    ‘You have nothing to worry about,’ he says firmly. ‘Shall we go and see inside?’
    Talk about a change of subject. ‘Fine,’ I reply bluntly. ‘But don’t go thinking this is a done deal, because I’m nowhere near convinced.’
    ‘I know, I know,’ he says flippantly. ‘We’ve got lots to discuss.’
    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: he always gets what he wants in the end.
    Two months later I find myself standing in the very same spot, looking down over the city of LA.
    ‘Can we go in the pool?’ an eager Barney asks.
    ‘Of course,’ I reply with a smile, looking behind him to see Johnny stepping out onto the terrace with Phoenix on his shoulders. I kick off my flip flops – this time I came
prepared – and stand on the first step. The weather is much warmer now than it was in March and the water is the perfect temperature. Not too hot,