‘You said you want to know what they want. Look, it’s all here.’ She opens her notebook. ‘You have to chew on raw meat and leave some for her.’
I stare at her and laugh, waiting for her to join in. She doesn’t.
‘Meg. Chewing raw meat? What the fuck are you talking about? How has this got anything to do with the visions?’
She ignores my questions. ‘Then you do an incantation, a simple one. Say it over and over until you’re in this trance and then—’
There’s a soft rapping on the door. ‘Megan?’
I jolt.
‘We’ve to get ready to visit your granny,’ says Meg’s mum from the other side.
Meg jumps up. ‘I nearly forgot!’ She takes down the photo of Dad and the soldier. ‘Sorry, I need to go. There’s immigration protests planned down the road tonight so we want to get back early in case it kicks off. We’ll talk about the ritual later.’
‘Maybe.’ I start putting my things away. ‘Thanks for today.’
Meg switches off the red light and opens the curtains. ‘Pleasure. I just want to help.’
‘I know.’ I give her a hug. ‘See you tomorrow?’
She nods and I murmur a polite goodbye to her mum as I rush for the front door.
As I walk home for dinner, there’s a text from Ben.
Whats up?
I leave him on read and text Paul to ask if he still wants to meet up. I hold my breath as I see him typing. And then it lands.
Free now?
My hands are definitely sweating.
Got dinner with my family, but
after. What you want to do?
Its agony as I watch the little dots showing me that he’s typing.
It’s a surprise. Come to mine.
Chapter Nineteen
‘So, you’re meeting Meg?’ says Cormac. He seems a little suspicious, not helped by the fact that I’ve changed into my cute green shirt with the collar and I’m spraying on aftershave. He perches on the bed. ‘Where you going?’
Keep the lies small.
‘Not sure. It’s a surprise.’
‘Ooooh, exciting times in the life of Michael Kenny.’ Cormac lies back on the bed. ‘See you later? Might see if Paul’s about.’
I stumble as I head for the door. ‘Yep. See ya.’
I power-walk down the hill and rap on Paul’s door. No answer. I check my phone but there’s no message.
He’s stood you up.
I roll my eyes. This is not a date so therefore I can’t be stood up. This is just one friend running slightly late to meet the other by…four minutes and twelve seconds. I’ll give it ten minutes before sending a casual ‘Hey I’m here, outside your front door, where you said to meet, for a surprise, but no rush lol’-type message. Something easy-going and the opposite of my anxious state. I check my phone again. Five minutes and—
