“Uh… hey, everyone.I just dropped Evan off.I’m heading out.”
“What’s the rush?”Casey asks.“You can stay two minutes.”
“I don’t want to intrude…”
“Martin!”Karen appears in the doorway.“Good to see you.We haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Sorry, Karen, you’re right.I’ve been busy.”
“At the hospital, I guess,” Nick provokes me.
“Pretty much.”
“You’re not leaving.Stay for dinner,” Karen insists.
“Thanks, but…”
“No buts.We’re all here, dinner is ready.We’ll just grab another chair.”
“I’ll get it,” Casey says.
“I don’t know…”
“You’re stuck now,” Evan whispers as he slips away from me.
“You want us to get the fuck out of here?”Ryan asks, totally unbothered.
“Ryan!”his mother snaps.“Where are your manners?”
“I just meant maybe the Doctor needs a minute.”
“What are you talking about?”Karen looks from Jamie to me and back again, her face lightening up like she’s just discovered the secret of the Holy Grail.
“Oh, but?—”
“Not your fight, Mum,” Nick says, gently steering her off.
“I just wanted to…” Karen starts, searching for the words.
“You’ve done enough with us,” Nick tells her softly.
Karen lets him lead her away, and I’m left with Ryan and Jamie, who still hasn’t said a word.
“Should I leave you two alone?”Ryan says, being an extra dickhead today.
“Fuck you, O’Connor!”Jamie snaps, regaining his ability to speak just as I lose mine, because even his voice isn’t how I remember it.
Ryan laughs as he disappears into the kitchen.Jamie and I linger in the doorway, hands fidgeting, neither of us quite brave enough to meet the other’s gaze.
“So,” he says, clearing his throat.“Did you mess up the laptop?”
He’s taking the piss.We’re right back at square one.
“Shit happens.”
“Were you distracted by something interesting?”he teases.
“I fell asleep and knocked the mug.”
