‘No, but I heard your voices.’
‘It was someone’s birthday,’ I say slowly. Will doesn’t nod.
‘Last week at the Wards’ . . .’ he begins, and I shut my eyes.
‘Yes,’ I say, blinking. ‘But at least she doesn’t get like Kit’s dad when she drinks.’
‘That’s true.’
For a moment, there’s silence between us.
‘Did Dad say anything?’ he asks. ‘Is she back in therapy?’
‘No. I mean . . . I don’t know.’
‘OK.’ Will glances at me, then he puts his arms around me and hugs me. ‘Growing up is realizing that your parents are just human beings with problems, I reckon.’
‘Growing up is shit,’ I whisper.
‘Yeah, definitely.’
I rest my head on Will’s shoulder.
‘Let’s go back this afternoon, OK?’ he suggests. ‘I’ll talk to Mum and Dad and tell them about Kit.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. Then they hopefully won’t be so disappointed.’
‘You’re right.’
‘Of course I’m right.’
I shut my eyes. There’s only just over a year between us, but sometimes it feels like Will’s older than me. But maybe that’s just the Libra in him, always keeping him so sensible and balanced.
‘And in other news?’ he asks, after a while.
Oh, great. He wants to talk about Sinclair.
‘What do you mean, other news?’
‘Is it true that Charlie’s going to play Romeo?’
‘Yes.’ I try to pull away a little, but Will holds me close. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Well, you know, I think I’d be jealous if it were Kit who’d got one of the lead roles with somebody else.’
‘Yeah, but you and Kit are endgame.’
‘You and Charlie could totally be too.’
‘Don’t keep calling him that.’
‘Why not? It’s his name.’
‘It feels wrong . . . He’s Sinclair, not Charlie.’
‘I saw this TikTok the other day about two best friends who fall in love,’ Will goes on. ‘It made me think about you two. Hold on, I’ll send it to you.’
