“Which girls?”
Zack shrugged. “Your sister. You know she’s got previous form with one of Chad’s mates.” While this was true, it was also inconsequential. Rayah regularly chewed up and spat out Keenan Rowe, but the poor guy kept on coming back for more.
“Rayah can look after herself. Who’s she out with?” Jake sat back and pulled out a tube of Pringles, set for some pre-game entertainment in the form of Zack.
Zack shook his head. “Keren.”
There was a laugh. “Let me text Scott that Keren’s out in Waverford tonight.”
“Don’t,” Zack groaned. “It’s embarrassing enough how he can’t even stand to be in the same room as her.”
Jake pulled his phone out from between the cushions of the sofa and rapidly sent a message. “Done. That’ll make sure he has a shit night.”
“Why can’t he just apologise?” Zack said.
“Maybe he’s not the one with something to apologise for.”
Zack shrugged. “It’s getting irritating.”
“It got irritating three years ago. At some point, I’m locking them in the cellar together for twenty-four hours with a bottle of tequila.” This time, Jake didn’t look amused.
“That could be an interesting experiment,” Zack said. “Which one would kill the other first?”
“My money would be on Keren,” Jake said. “And that sound means Scott has taken the bait.” He looked at his phone and laughed. “Dick. One line:I have no fucks left to give. And it took him at least a minute to respond.”
“Still don’t know what happened,” Zack said. “Scott won’t say anything and when I’ve tried to bring it up with Keren, she just tells me how much of an arsehole Scott is, to which I have no argument.”
Jake looked up from his phone. “Why don’t you ask Sorrell to find out? She’s becoming friendly with Keren.”
Zack knew the look on Jake’s face. It was the same one as when they were ten years old and Zack had a crush on Melanie Burns in the year above.
“I don’t know her well enough to have that sort of conversation with her,” Zack said, glancing at his own phone.
“But you know her well enough to have your arm around her at the bonfire,” Jake said. “Don’t think for one minute that went unnoticed.”
“I was just trying to look after her. She doesn’t know anyone and her dick of an ex has left her in the lurch.”
Jake typed something into his phone, pretending to ignore Zack’s defence.
“Scott’s mentioned going to the bar,” Jake said. “Maybe he can help you with your woman problem.”
“I don’t have a woman problem.”
“So is Sorrell not one of the girls going out to Waverford tonight?”
Zack stared at the TV. “I wouldn’t know. She said she might be before…”
“Before when?” Jake interrupted.
“She came into Sunrise before with some cakes she’d baked,” Zack said, wondering whether home alone and away from any member of his family was the wise decision to make.
“And you’re wondering whether she tastes as sweet as her cakes?” Jake whistled, long and shrill. “Good luck with that.”
Zack twisted his head round to stare at him. “There’s nothing to wish me luck for. I’m not interested.”
Jake stood up and turned the TV off with the remote. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go into town.”
“I’m not in the mood.”
