“I can kind of see why he didn’t. And you got mad at him for how he was being.” She paused and perched on the dentist chair. “I think I know who it was.”
“Who? I thought it might have been one of his ex-band mates or someone who was pissed off at him.” She leaned against the worktop, appreciating the food. She’d been hungry all morning.
Rayah shook her head. “What did you and Scott do yesterday?”
Keren took a swig of water. There was no point pulling Rayah for her obvious side step. The girl was as stubborn as a child wanting more time on a computer game. “Stayed in bed. Ate breakfast. Had an argument or three.”
“What about?”
“Cars. Bikes. And how to load a dishwasher.”
“Standard,” Rayah said. “And then you had make-up sex. Shit, Key. You end your non-self-induced orgasm drought and I can’t have details.”
“You can. But anyway, it’s all just casual and who knows what’s going to happen. We haven’t been out on a date; it’s just been sex.”
“And a day in bed.” She stood up. “I think it was Jake who told Scott you called him that.”
“Why would he do that? Or at least why would he not tell Scott if he’d done it for a joke?” Keren was thrown. Jake wound everyone up, forever the joker and the wide boy, but he never caused harm.
Rayah shrugged. “I’m not sure that one, you should know, and two, you want to know.”
“But you’re going to tell me anyway?”
She nodded. “Then I’m going to speak to Scott and tear a limb off Jake.”
“Given you have torn a leg off him most weeks since you were old enough to speak, I’m surprised he has any left.” She tried to make light of the situation.
Rayah shook her head and pulled a bar of chocolate from her pocket. “Jake really liked you. It wasn’t just Scott who had a crush. Jake never said anything because he knew you’d turn him down.” Rayah headed to the door.
“Why?” Keren couldn’t get her head round it. “I saw Jake around more than I saw Scott. He always felt like he was my brother just as much as yours given how we used to torment him. I never thought he saw me as more than that.”
Rayah gave a little nod. “I know. And so did he. Key, you were gorgeous as a teenager and more so now. Men want to grab onto those curves and well, do whatever Scott did to rock your world. Jake wasn’t immune.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He asked me not to. And he’s my brother. He’s the one person I’d lie to you for.” She looked around the room, not meeting Keren’s eyes. This was Rayah’s tell that she was thinking far too deeply, which was something they needed to have the emergency services on hand for.
“I don’t think you should say anything. We’re going back to something more than a decade ago. Leave it be, Ray.”
Rayah shook her head. “Scott knows it was Jake who made it up, obviously. He’ll have a go at him at some point because it’ll be him he blames. And Scott holds a grudge.”
“Does Scott know Jake…” She couldn’t say the words because they sounded so unreal in her head.
“Liked you? Still likes you, maybe? No. I was the only person who knew and that was because I guessed and told him I knew. It won’t matter if Scott knows, because Jake cocked up. He shouldn’t have lied.” She checked her watch. “I’m going to go back to school. I’ve got Sadie’s class next for P.E.”
Keren wasn’t sure which part to deal with first, so she went for the least obvious. “What are you thinking about me and Scott?” Rayah’s first thoughts had been to the past and she seemed to have by-passed the fact that her best friend and cousin were sleeping together. Keren wasn’t sure why this was.
“I’m trying not to.” Rayah shook her head. “I don’t even know if I’m surprised. The way you’ve gone on at each other for years we all suspected there was more to it. I think I just need more time to process that you’re banging my cousin. Or he’s banging you.”
“You’re not… mad?”
Rayah pulled a face, not unlike the ones that Sadie Grace could produce. “Why would I be mad? I think Scott’s an amazing guy and you’re the best there is, so why wouldn’t I be pleased about it? He might be the reason you stay in Severton. I really have to go. See you tomorrow night at the bar?”
“You not coming round tonight? It’s reality TV catch-up night?” Keren frowned at her. It was rare for Rayah to miss one of the reality binge nights.
“I’m looking after Jonny’s kids. He’s having to cover a shift and he’s stuck for a sitter, so I get a double whammy of Sadie, to the extent I’m taking them home straight after school. One of the new to town parents asked if I was Sadie’s mum the other day.”
Keren stared at Rayah, totally unsure what to say. “You weren’t showing her favouritism?”
