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‘Oh, so youdounderstand subtext,’ she says drily from behind the counter. She turns her attention back to Max. ‘You’re leaving?’
‘Yeah. My appointment’s at twelve,’ he replies. He elaborates for me, ‘I’ve got to be at the Australian embassy for a visa interview.’
‘You’re going to Australia? We could swap numbers if you want, I used to live there so I—’
‘Finlay, I swear to god,’ Ava says through gritted teeth, and I trail off. I mime zipping my lips closed and twisting a key. She leans over the counter to aggressively grab the invisible key before pretending to drop it in the bin.
Max watches the entire silent exchange in amusement. ‘Right. Well, I’m gonna go, I think.’
One of Ava’s hands is outstretched towards a takeaway cup when she says to him, ‘Do you want a drink for your journey? Or some food?’
He shakes his head. ‘Nah, I’m good, thanks.’
‘And you’re sure you don’t want to stay at mine tonight as well? It might be easier.’ She walks to the front of the counter to hug him goodbye and my chest tightens. I’m watching an entirely different Ava appear before my eyes and for some reason it feels like I’m intruding.
‘You sound like Dad. I’m fine.’ He looks at something on his phone and says, ‘I’m booked up for the next month or so but I’ll see you in August for the housewarming?’
I’ve been trying—not very hard, admittedly—not to eavesdrop, but at the mention of the infamous housewarming party I can’t help but meet Ava’s gaze. I hold back a smile while she screamsdon’t you fucking dare say anythingwith her eyes.
Max asks the question anyway. ‘Are you coming to that, Finn?’ When Ava’s jaw clenches, he says, ‘Shit, sorry. Did I just make it awkward? Did I invite you to someone else’s party?’
‘Not awkward at all,’ I reply breezily. ‘I’ve been invited.’
‘Cool, so you’ll be there?’
‘I’ve been invited,’ I repeat, which only makes him more confused.
‘Finn’s not sure yet if he’s free,’ Ava offers. ‘He’s a very busy man.’
‘Sure. Well, hopefully I’ll see you there. It was nice to meet you,’ he says, definitely still baffled.
As soon as the door rattles closed behind him, Ava shakes her head at me, moving back to her spot at the till. ‘I have never met someone so terrible at following the most basic instructions.’
‘Weird, that’s exactly what all my report cards said at school.’ Igrab a packet of hazelnut wafers from the display and place it on the counter. Knowing I can rile her up makes my life infinitely more interesting.
‘I can’t believe you’ve now met JosieandMax,’ she says, almost to herself. As she prepares the card reader for me, she mumbles, ‘Should I get my parents on FaceTime too? Might as well go the whole hog.’
‘I love mums,’ I say, tapping the machine with my phone. ‘So feel free.’
She narrows her eyes slightly at me for a second, her expression unreadable. ‘Mould. That’s what you are.’
‘You should consider a career in poetry.’
‘Wiggling your way into every crevice of my life.’
‘Did you really need to use the word “crevice”?’
‘Everywhere I turn, you’re there.’ A look of horror crosses her face. ‘Oh my god. I’m really not getting rid of you, am I? Not until you move away?’
‘Nope,’ I reply, popping the “p”. ‘Lucky you.’
14
London in a heatwave or the inside of an industrial oven?
A V A
I’ve wedged open thefront door of the coffee shop in the vain hope that the weather gods will take pity on us with a breeze to cut through the stagnant air, but it’s not enough. I wipe the back of my hand across my sweaty forehead, profoundly regretting my decision to have a fringe.
