Runaway Bride: A laugh out loud funny and feel good rom com

‘I had the sofa moved back so the bed extends into the tailgate awning, gives me a bit more space. Modernised the decor, redid the electrics. It was a nice little project, took my mind off – well, other stuff I had going on.’

‘Why orange?’

‘Wasn’t my choice. Someone else picked the colour.’

He’d turned away and was frowning into the distance. It felt like it was time for Rule One to kick in, so I quickly changed the subject.

‘So, um, where will you sleep?’

‘Got a fold-up camp bed and a sleeping bag under the seats. I’ll put it up in the side awning.’

‘Won’t you be cold?’

He shrugged. ‘Couple of thick jumpers on and I’ll live.’

‘I’ll sleep in the awning. You have your bed.’

‘Won’t hear of it. Irish tradition of hospitality. Anyway, you need a decent bed after the day you’ve had.’

‘Thank you.’ I was too tired to argue. ‘So, er… bedtime?’

I felt suddenly bashful. My cheeks and forehead were on fire.

‘First things first.’ He rummaged in the tall cupboard until he found a little green first aid kit. ‘Your hands. Let me take a look at them.’

I sank dizzily onto the edge of the bed. Jack knelt in front of me to examine my inflamed palms.

‘The left isn’t so bad but the right’s looking nasty,’ he said. ‘Better get some antiseptic cream on them and bind them up.’

‘I’ll be okay,’ I mumbled. The world seemed a bit spinny suddenly.

‘Metal drainpipe, was it?’

‘Think so.’

‘Hmm. Have you had your tetanus jab?’

‘Yeah. Probably.’ A little giggle bubbled out of me. ‘Funny word, tetanus. Tet-anne-uz. Sounds like a… centurion. Brush on his head and all that.’

He frowned. ‘You okay, Kitty?’

‘Tetanus,’ I repeated. ‘Tett-an-nuss.’

He held one hand against my forehead. ‘Jesus, lass, you’re burning up.’

‘’M’okay. Sleepy.’

Suddenly, everything was black.

***

When I came to, a man’s silhouette was leaning over me, stroking my hair.

‘Ethan?’ I mumbled.

‘Morning, sleepyhead.’

I blinked to get the fog out of my eyes. ‘You…’

‘That’s right, me. Who am I then?’

‘You’re… Jack. Jack Duffy.’

I could see him clearly now, leaning over me as I lay in his bed in the camper. He smiled.

‘So you remember me. That’s a good sign.’

‘Did I fall asleep?’

‘Yeah. For two days.’

‘Two days!’

‘You passed out with a fever. You’ve been in out and of consciousness ever since, raging temperature. Don’t you remember?’

‘I remember… pub. And you. What happened?’

‘Oh, we’ve been having bags of fun together,’ he said. ‘Had to get you to A&E to start with, just in case it was tetanus. You had me worried sick.’

‘Was it tetanus?’

‘No, just a nasty dose of the flu. Not surprised, after what you’d been through. Your poor body must’ve been weakened past the point it could fight any more.’

I tried to sit up, but my head throbbed so hard I sank back down with a groan.

I put a palm to my forehead. It felt all fuzzy. When I glanced at my hand, I saw it was wrapped in a thick bandage.

‘That can come off soon,’ Jack said. ‘Your hands should be healed enough by now.’

‘You’ve been looking after me?’ I mumbled.

‘I have, yeah.’ He shook his head. ‘Good thing I found you. If you’d really tried sleeping rough in that flimsy dress, you could’ve killed yourself.’

Sandy was sleeping in her bed on the floor nearby. I leaned over to tickle her ears, reflecting woozily on the surreal fact I seemed to share the same backstory as my rescuer’s pet dog.

‘Do you feel like you could eat?’ Jack said, standing up.

The world was spinning so much, I knew I’d struggle to keep anything down. But my throat felt like it’d been sandblasted.