Riley laughs again, as if I were the clown at this bloody party, which is kind of true. But it’s not like Itryto make people laugh – this kind of crap just falls out of my mouth. I think it’s genetic. The genes didn’t quite make it to Ryan, though: his jokes are shit.
“Can I lie down next to you for a bit?”
“Of course,madame. Make yourself comfortable.”
Riley stretches out at my side along the sunbed, leaning her head against my shoulder.
“You’re really comfy.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Obviously. One day, Nick, you’re going to make some woman very happy.”
I laugh at her joke, even though, inside, my stomach is rebelling. “Do you really think so?”
“Absolutely.”
I sigh, leaning my head onto Riley’s.
“You’ll makehervery happy. You just have to believe it. And don’t give up.”
I knew it. Not even Riley is safe from this family. “You spoke to Ian.”
“Chris.”
“Oh, of course. I would never expect Ryan to keep anything quiet. And you two women are always gossiping.”
“Only if we have to.”
“And my life is your hot topic right now?”
“Your life has been theonlytopic lately.”
“Wow, I’m flattered.”
“You should be. Everyone loves you, Nick. We just want you to be happy.”
“Come here, love, everyone’s out in the garden.”
Mum’s voice makes me and Riley sit up, spinning our heads around.
“I don’t believe it. She didn’t.”
“I had no idea, I promise.”
“Don’t worry, Riley, I believe you. No one’s as sneaky as my mum.”
I get to my feet, keeping Jamie pressed against my chest, without taking my eyes away from Mum and Casey, who are standing on the patio. Casey seems a little lost – I’m sure this has all just been sprung onto her – as Mum swans around, perfectly at ease with her master plan:Sort out all my children’s lives and get them out from under our feet.
Casey says hi to Chris and Martin, stopping to chat with them for a while. Today, she’s wearing a grey vest top with the wordsEat your vegetables, bitchemblazoned across the chest; I can’t help but burst out laughing, making little Jamie jump in my arms. And as I feel something inside me swell up, pushing away everything else, I realise that the thought of Casey’s T-shirt that day is my first thought every morning.
I slowly approach them. “Hey,” I say from behind.
Casey whips around, suddenly. Her gaze flickers from me, to Jamie, and then back to me. Her eyes fill up instantly with everything I’d ever want to see, and feel…and have. Her eyes promise me something I’d never thought of, but that, now, I desperately want – and only with her. And I swear I’ll find a way to give us everything we deserve together.
In her eyes, I can see hope; future. My life, taking on a whole new meaning, intertwined with hers.
In her eyes, I see the two of us – and I already know that this beautiful, terrifying image is imprinted onto her heart, projecting onto my own.
