‘But you’re risking yourself instead,’ Fox said.
Etienne swigged his beer and swallowed.
‘I just wanted to tell you what was happening. So that someone knew.’
Silence hung over the table as that sank in. Etienne watched the tiny glance between his two friends. A silent communication.
‘We’ll lend you the money between us,’ said Fox. ‘I’ve still got some of Meg’s life insurance handy.’
‘And I’ve got savings,’ Walker said.
‘No way,’ said Etienne, shaking his head.
‘Yes way,’ said Walker.
‘And if you’re going, I’m coming too,’ said Walker, sitting forward.
‘Me too,’ said Fox. ‘You don’t have to do this on your own. But we keep it between ourselves. These guys sound dangerous. Nobody else needs to be involved.’
‘I can’t let you do that,’ Etienne said.
‘You’re doing it for your brother,’ Fox said. ‘We’re doing it for ours.’
Fox lifted his phone from the table with the Brothers from Another WhatsApp group, and scrolled back, showing the other men page after page of comments, chat and day-to-day arrangements between them. It went back years and suddenly meant much more than any old group chat.
The three men leaned in and clinked their bottles.
Brothers from Another Mother WhatsApp group, later that night
Fox: Et, just wondering, why did you decide to tell us today? About Alex?
Etienne: It was something Isabella said when she took me to the graveyard to see my parents.
Walker: She did what?? That’s nice.
Fox: What did she say?
Etienne: She said I didn’t have to do everything alone. That I had friends I could rely on.
Fox: Smart woman, that Isabella.
Walker: Talking of Isabella, Rosie tells me you’re in some kind of sex pact.
Etienne: That makes it sound weird. We’re having non-sex as she’s on a sex ban for a year until she’s become successful as a single woman.
Walker: And you thought I made it sound weird?
Fox: So, it’s a sexual thing then?
Etienne: Yup.
Walker: Casual?
Etienne: Yup.
Fox: Shame. She’s lovely. So good of her to help you with the boys that time when they were sick.
Walker: Hard agree. After the fire at the Malones’, she offered to help Millie with her Italian without a second thought.
