“Xav tugged Yves off me and handed me the call button. “You’ll be needing this, Phee, when my irritating little squirt of a brother bothers you again. Just press and the nurses will come running. One of them looks like a pro-wrestler, so she’ll make short work of him.”

“Xav bounded out behind him. “Yeah, Phee equals You-She squared. I’ve been working on that one: like it?”

“I wasn’t sure, but I thought it kind of suited me. With the right shoes and everything.” I displayed the new blue pumps. “I wanted to look, you know, pretty.”Yves gaped. I felt a little bit sorry for him. “Um…Phee, I don’t know what to say.” I let my bright expression dim. “You… you think I look horrible in it?” My voice rose in a convincing squeak of distress.He put his hands on my soulders. “No, you look great. You always look great, no matter what you’re wearing.”Zed laughed. “Ouch. Wrong thing to say.”

“Yves. You are goint to love him all over again when you meet him, believe me. You're married.' 'I'm what? But I can't be more than eighteen!' 'My son is very persuasive,' said Saul proudly.”

“Follow me. Yves held out a hand, expecting me to take it.I had had enough of being pushed about, towed here,shoved there. Lead the way, O master.He raised an eyebrow at my sarcasm. Glad to see youhave seen the light. I only want what’s best for you.Mr Arrogant or what?I don’t mean it like that. He shook his head, tellinghimself off. I just want to make this right but I seem to bedoing it all wrong.Then let me go.That would be a tragedy. Give me a chance here.Please.”

“...I want you to be as happy as I am.""Trust me, that wouldn't be the case if I found myself shackled to Xav Benedict by a quirk of fate.”

“Xav!Got you. Not letting you go.I realised I wasn't alone in mental deep space; he had always been there and could pilot me home.”