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“Not fair. That will take years!”
Laughing, she puts her arm around her brother’s shoulder and ruffles his hair. “Come on Kiddo, let’s go home and get you those Jammie Dodgers.”
For a long moment, I sit frozen in my car. Inside, she’s killing me. I can tell how hot she is for this prick. It’s written all over her face. I can see how excited she is, how much she wants him. Oh, my beauty, my beauty, how you disappoint me. Those were some of the cheesiest chat-up lines I’ve ever heard, and yet you’ve fallen for it hook, line and sinker. My God, I thought she had better taste, I thought she was intelligent.
There’s something about that guy I don’t trust. Something smarmy and disingenuous. And I don’t believe for one second that his girlfriend, this Georgina person, is out of the picture. The fact that he was lying through his teeth was obvious to anyone with half a brain, but apparently not to Jessica. It’s nauseating how easily women fall for his type of bullshit, but it’s obvious she just wants to fuck him, so is willing to overlook his shortcomings. Mesmerised by his good looks, she would drop her knickers for him in a heartbeat yet wouldn’t let me get within six feet of her. Someone like me would have to pay a fortune to even touch her hand while this little cocksucker gets it all for free. She’d probably screw him right here and now on the pavement if he asked her to. Fuck, I’m so mad I could punch something.
Gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles ache, I exhale slowly, trying to hold it together.Count to ten, count to ten.I’m so fucking mad I could scream. Jessica, what are you doing to me? Are you really going to go on a date with this imbecile?
CHAPTER SIX
Jessica
“Well, someone looks very pleased with themselves,” Cynthia smiles, opening the fridge and pulling out a bottle of Aqua Libra. “What are you so happy about? Have you won the National Lottery or what? Come on, spill the beans!”
“Better than winning the lottery,” I reply. “I have a date with Jack Parker tonight!”
She cocks a brow. “Jack Parker? You don’t meantheJack Parker from school whose name you used to write all over your exercise books? The same Jack Parker you’ve had a crush on for years but always denied it?”
“Yep. The one and only.”
“Woah! Celebration time, my baby’s going out on her first date tonight!”
I flush with pride, my head so light I feel as if I’m walking on air. I still can’t believe it. All throughout the journey home from Freddie’s school, I’ve been feeling sort of intoxicated. I can’t believe Jack finally asked me out! After all these years of wishing and hoping, this feels like a dream come true.
Opening the kitchen cupboard, my mum takes down two mis-matched glasses and places them on the sideboard. “Sorry, forgot to ask, would you prefer a coffee or are you okay with Aqua Libra.”
“Aqua Libra’s fine.”
She pours us both a glass of the flavoursome sparkling water. “So, where are the two of you going tonight for this date?”
“We’re going to seeTitanicat the Odeon in Streatham.”
“Ah,Titanic. That film with Leonardo DiCaprio? Erin said she saw it for the second time last week. Says it’s fantastic even though it’s about three hours long. It’s so good apparently the time just flies by and you don’t even notice.”
“Great! I can’t wait, it looks bloody amazing.”
Cynthia takes a sip of her drink and stares into the middle distance. “Have you decided what you’re going to wear tonight?”
“No. It’s such short notice, I just hope I can find something in the wardrobe that’s clean.”
“If not, you can always borrow something of mine.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks, but I’m not sure ‘70s Glam Rock is quite the look I’m going for.”
“Cheeky!”
We both laugh and for a moment, I study her face intently. All at once, I notice how pale and tired she looks today, how drained of energy. She appears older somehow, and the little frown line between her brows seems more pronounced than usual. Suddenly, I’m wracked with guilt. I’m so bloody selfish. Here I am, so wrapped up in the excitement of my date tonight, I’ve totally forgotten to check if she’s okay with me going out and leaving her alone with Freddie. I love my brother to bits, but he can be a handful at the best of times, and I worry she doesn’t have the energy to be running around after him all evening. Should I even be going out, given the circumstances?
I put down my glass. “Mum, listen, are you sure you’re okay to look after Freddie tonight? You look tired, so if it’s going to put you to too much trouble, I’m happy to stay in and cancel.”
She seems appalled at the idea. “Cancel your date with Jack Parker? Over my dead body! Darling, you’ve already put too much of your life on hold for me, there’s no way I’m going to allow you to screw up your first date. Don’t worry about me and Freddie, we’ll be fine. You go out and enjoy yourself. Don’t you dare even think about cancelling.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
On the verge of tears, I throw my arms around her and hug her with all my might. I love her so much sometimes it’s hard to breathe. There’s nothing better in this world than being in the warm, comforting embrace of my mother and it tears me up inside to think we may not have much longer together.
