“Yes… yes, you know I do. That’s why I’m calling.” Then she adds, “How was Scott?”
Thankfully, she can’t see the smirk across my face. “He was great—on top form, actually. Keep it quiet, but I think he has a new woman in his life.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, anyway, you don’t want to know about Scott’s love life.”
“Don’t I?”
“I don’t know. Do you?”
I can almost hear her brain ticking over down the line. “No, course not… no… so anyway, what were the results of the DNA test?”
I smile to myself. “It’s official. I have a brother.”
Her voice strains, as if she has something in her throat. “How does it feel to have an older brother?”
I take in a breath, then slowly release it. “It’s pretty amazing. If you’d asked me this time last year, it would be a different answer, but I didn’t know Scott as I do now. If the tests had been negative, I’d be disappointed.”
“Wow, what a turnaround.”
“I know.” Then I realise something. “Hold on. How did you know he was older than me?”
Her voice sounds flustered. “I…I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. You said, how does it feel to have an older brother.”
“Maybe I remembered from school or I just assumed.”
“Which is it?” I reply, enjoying myself.
“I assumed—I suppose.”
“Huh, huh?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Just stop with the questions, you silly cow.”
Now is not the time to grill her about Brae Fest, and anyway, winding her up is lifting my mood, no end. “Whatever you say, Angie.”
Eddie is waiting with a smile on his face. “You look gorgeous.”
“Um, thank you?” I glance down to my black sweatshirt, blue jeans, and trainers. I’m hardly rocking it, but Eddie has made an effort. He’s in black jeans, matching black polo and smart tan shoes. It’s a little over the top for the student bar.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go into town?” he asks.
“I’m not exactly dressed for anything fancy and I can’t be late back. I have to be up early.”
I can’t risk going to town tonight. It would mean having more than the agreed one drink, and I’d end up paying for a couple of rounds. Right now, my student budget won’t stretch to more than one.
It’s just a few minutes walk to the student bar. We’re fortunate enough to have everything we need right on site. A doctor’s surgery, supermarket and launderette are a few of the facilities here and reasonably priced. It’s the main reason I stayed on campus for my last year rather than renting a house with friends. Not only did I need peace and quiet to get through my finals, but I also needed to cut back on my spending if I was to make it to the end.
Eddie is a nice guy. We’ve always got on, and conversation has never been difficult for us, but tonight feels different. It could be the corner table by the window he insists we sit at. It’s secluded and far too romantic for two friends having a drink. Still, at least I’m out of my room. My planned eveningof hot chocolate with giant marsh mellows would have been a little sad.
The surrounding bar is relatively lively but not as busy as usual for a weekend night. There must be a party going on somewhere. Once Eddie has been served, he plonks his bottle of beer down, along with my vodka and mango and a family bag of pickled onion Monster Munch. Eddie tears it open for us to share, which makes me smile as I sit opposite.
“What?” he asks, looking down at his offering.
“How did you know these were my favourite?”
