‘No,’ I resolutely reply.
‘How old?’ Lou asks.
‘Sixteen.’
‘You’re only sixteen!’ Alex exclaims, as all eyes fall on me.
‘I will be on Wednesday,’ I mutter.
‘I know, it’s mad, isn’t it,’ Josh addresses them, ignoring me. ‘She looks at least as old as us.’
‘Aw,’ Lou says patronisingly. ‘Sweet little sixteen. What are you getting for your birthday?’
‘That’s what I’m trying to find out.’ I stare at Josh expectantly.
‘Do you know?’ Tiff asks him.
‘Yep.’
‘Tell us,’ she urges.
‘Nup.’
‘Tellme,’ Lou insists, leaning towards him, ear at the ready. To my annoyance, Josh complies. I see her hand resting on his thigh and my stomach prickles with jealousy.
‘Really?’ she says, looking at me.
‘What? Tell me!’ Tiff pleads.
Lou leans across Alex and whispers into her ear.
‘Aw, that will be so cool!’
‘This is really bloody annoying,’ I say loudly. The next bloke – Brian? – chuckles and pulls Tiff close.
‘Come on, let’s do Chinese Whispers,’ Shane suggests, from beside Brian. A moment later, Shane exclaims, ‘What type of car?’
‘Mate!’ Josh bursts out.
‘Am I getting a car?’ I turn to him, wide-eyed, as he glares at Shane.
‘Oops,’ Shane says sheepishly.
‘Am I getting a car?’ I ask Josh again, my head starting to buzz with excitement.
‘Don’t tell Dad I told you,’ Josh warns me.
‘I won’t, I promise. What sort?’
Josh sighs and takes a swig of his beer. ‘It’s only a second-hand one I’ve been tinkering with at work, so don’t get your hopes up. My dad asked me about it today.’
‘A car’s a car,’ Lou says.
‘I couldn’t agree with you more,’ I respond, beaming from ear to ear.
*
We sit there drinking and eating bar snacks until the late-afternoon sun dies away and the street lamps come on outside the pub. Talk turns to going to a nightclub.
