The Late Blossoming of Frankie Green by Laura Kemp

said, recalling the stunning six-foot photographer who could’ve been modelling on the other side of the camera.
    â€˜Total love of my life,’ he said, blowing out a flaming marshmallow. ‘Best two years ever. Then, you know, when I proposed she said she wasn’t ready and she wanted to “find herself’” travelling. She told me to ask her again to marry me when she came back but she’d understand if I didn’t wait for her. I’ve tried not to. But there’s no one like her, and never will be.’
    â€˜Oh, Floyd,’ she said, ‘I just assumed it was water under the bridge. You hide it well.’
    â€˜I can’t keep going on about it, can I?’ he said, turning to Frankie with a shrug. ‘Em has no idea, she was pretty cut up too when she went because they were like sisters.’
    Frankie felt really sorry for him – in all likelihood, Sasha was gone, not just as in miles away. But couldn’t the same be said for Jason? Floyd deserved sympathy, not some scathing wake-up call. ‘Hey, I’m the same with Jason. It still feels wrong. People might think we settled down too young and they do the whole ‘there’s so much out there’ lecture but when you meet the right person, you just know.’
    â€˜Yep,’ he said, sighing, then missing his mouth so the marshmallow stained his beard and one of his silly hi-top trainers a gooey white. ‘What a pair of losers we are.’
    â€˜But you’re a very nice loser,’ she said, laughing easily at his funny ways and from too much alcohol.
    â€˜And so are you, Frankie,’ he said, pulling her in for a cuddle. Out of nowhere, his touch gave her a shiver. It had been so long since she’d had any contact with a bloke. But there was no denying they had a special relationship, seeing as she was one of his sister’s closest friends. And once upon a time, before Jason, she had fancied him in a best friend’s big brother kind of way. They’d come close to a snog once, at Debbie Yates’ fifteenth in the village hall, but Em had caught them and stuck her fingers down her throat to show her disapproval. She wondered if he remembered. Probably not, he’d had so many such moments. But if you’d had as few as her then you didn’t forget.
    â€˜I just want him back,’ she said, pulling away, and peering up at the stars. ‘You know, he’s still in contact. We speak regularly and I know he still cares about me. It’s as if he needs to get something out of his system.’
    â€˜Well, that’s pretty normal,’ Floyd said. ‘Even though it hurts, I can see why Sasha wanted to get out of here too. I’d done all that in my gap year. And it must be the same for Jase.’
    Maybe it was the drink or maybe it was because Floyd was such a good listener, but before she knew what she was doing, Frankie was pouring her heart out. For ages.
    â€˜What you need is some fun,’ he concluded after a while, ‘to take your mind off things.’
    â€˜I’m not very good at fun,’ she said, the words catching in her throat as Leonardo wound round her legs, seeking a stroke.
    â€˜Oh, come on,’ he said, picking up the cat and tickling him under the chin. Frankie was amazed the cat had allowed him to touch him – Jason had to only walk in the room and Leonardo would hiss at him. ‘This party has been brilliant and… well… um…’
    â€˜See? And tonight’s not exactly been what you’d call “banging”, has it? I’m just so dull. I’m trying to fight it but I have to face it. I’m of no interest to anyone.’
    Floyd’s eyebrows shot up. Leonardo shot off. He’d seen a moth by a candle. Unless it was an excuse because he’d sensed what was coming.
    â€˜What?’ she asked, defensively, genuinely wondering how he could assert otherwise.
    â€˜If you’re