FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Chapter 3 - Cod Pizza

She hugged Tally goodbye and walked to the car. It was large black Mercedes S class and the driver was in a black suit and cap. It was the way Garry had always arranged for her to be chauffeured, and she was sure he had done the same for Shawn, and said so as they strapped themselves into the comfortable seats.

"Yeah, but sometimes he let me take one of his cars. He had an Aston Martin just like James Bond's you know, and a Silver Phantom Rolls Royce, among others."

"Wow, that would have been amazing."

"He was a special dude."

They were silent for a while, both lost in their own memories, and then she began to think about the will conditions and the reasons behind then. Garry was matchmaking, he hadn't hidden it, and they both knew it. She realised that they both had discussed each other with him, and she knew what she had told him, but whatever it was Shawn had said must have also given Garry the idea that they should be together. It made her think and she snuck a glance at him under her lashes. He was looking out the window, his chin resting on his fist, deep in his own thoughts. He had finished his tour a few months ago and was working on his album. She was preparing for her own tour, due to start soon, based on the album she had recently released. There were a few songs on there about him, and she wondered if he had realised that. She had sent it to him before releasing it, as she always did, but he hadn't said anything specific. He liked the songs, and he told her his favourites and particular things he liked, but did he know that heartbreaking ballad was about him? It was fairly obvious and most of her fans had worked it out, and Shawn's too.

The car was warm and the movement was fast and smooth and she must have nodded off. When she woke up, her head was hanging to one side and she hoped she hadn't snored. Shawn was asleep too, his head back on the headrest, his hands loosely clasped in his lap.

"Stop staring at me," he mumbled, without opening his eyes. She jumped and then giggled.

"I was trying to work out if you were still alive," she said.

"Do I look dead?" he kept his eyes closed, his mouth barely moving.

"Sorta, but you definitely smell like you're dead," she snapped back.

"That's not me, that's your feet," he said and she snorted.

She loved their banter, it always lightened her heart when they roasted each other like this.

"Where are we going for dinner?" she asked.

"Hotel restaurant, the girl said it was Mediterranean with a British twist, whatever that means."

"Sausages, mash with olives and tomato."

"Yuck."

"Cod pizza."

"I'm gonna vomit. Shush."

"You're joking though aren't you?"

"I think it's actually Indian street food. I haven't stayed there before."

She pulled out her phone and started scrolling through Instagram, reading the motivational quotes, and happy stories that she followed. Then she played a game for a while before tucking it away again. Shawn had gone back to sleep.

"Just have to stop for some petrol miss," the driver said through the intercom. "If you'd like to wake up the gentleman, you could use the facilities if you wish."

"Shawn," she said, but then she saw he had his airpods in, he was no doubt listening to music or relaxation sounds. She reached out to shake him awake but realised he was too far away to reach, except that his legs were angled into the centre of the car. She reached out and grabbed his leg just above the knee, the only place she could reach, and she squeezed it and shook it. "Shawn, wake up."