‘No Melody?’
Ben’s expression seems a little guarded, though it’s easily explained by the presence of his sister sleeping in the other room. While neither of us concerned ourselves last night, this morning there’s the potential for awkwardness.
God, I hope she didn’t hear us.
‘No sign yet,’ he answers. ‘Something tells me she won’t want to go to brunch.’
‘That suits me,’ I reply, making my way to the kettle and pressing the switch. ‘I’m so sleepy I was thinking of spending the day lounging in bed.’
Though I set that one up perfectly for him, Ben doesn’t respond or even turn around. Not until the moment passes and Mel totters into the kitchen wearing yesterday’s clothes and a hangover cloud.
‘Morning, troops. God, why do I sound like I have a twenty a day habit?’
‘Uber karaoke, most likely,’ Ben murmurs in response.
I swallow a snort, catching Mel’s eye as she pushes herself up to sit on the countertop. Her “twenty a day habit” isn’t a reference to cigarettes but cock. As in,God,why do I sound like I’ve deep throated twenty men this morning?Not that she smokes or blows multiple men. It’s just an aphorism.A Mel-ism?Anyway, the answer is always singing. Drunk Mel thinks she could give Beyoncé a run for her money.
‘I’m paying for it this morning,’ Mel says, wrapping a hand around her throat. ‘I hope you tipped the driver well.’ Sober Mel has no Beyoncé delusions.
‘Let’s get ready for brunch!’ I interject, clapping my hands.. . without any real expectation of this happening.I hope.
‘Ah. Did we make plans?’ Melody ask blandly. ‘And why did I spend all night on the couch?’
‘We didn’t make plans. You did. You promised to take us to brunch this morning; your shout. Didn’t she, Ben?’ I ask, turning to him.
He doesn’t so much answer as grunt.
It’s been a long while since I’ve seen sullen Ben. Actually, Ben wasn’t even sullen when he was younger, as I recall. A pain in my ass, but not moody or crabby. I wonder what’s going on?
‘Raincheck?’ Melody asks tentatively. ‘Only, Tim just rang. He apologised for being a monumental douche last night, and he wants to make it up to me.’
‘I see how it is. He’s takingyouto brunch. We’re not invited.’
‘You’re welcome to come,’ she answers brightly, but we both know that’s not going to happen. I’d rather watch paint dry than spend an afternoon in Tim’s company while he talks stocks and bonds. The only bond I’ll ever be able to afford is glue. ‘And what about this?’ she asks, pulling my phone from the back pocket of her jeans.
‘What about it?’
‘Well, the battery has gone flat for a start.’
I shrug. I’m not due back to work until tomorrow. This is my first day off in three weeks, and I intent to spend the whole day at home. Hopefully, sitting on Ben’s knee. Or his cock. And he did once mention sitting on his face.
‘As I recall, from the depths of my vodka hazy mind, you signed up for Tinder,’ she says, spotting my charger hanging from the outlet set into an unplastered wall.
‘Yousigned Nell up for it,’ Ben snaps quite suddenly.
‘Nell?’ Melody’s expression twists. ‘Since when is she Nell? She’s not a tavern wench in the seventeenth century, even if she does have the boobs for the gig.’
‘Is there a compliment in there?’ I ask, watching the siblings wage a silent battle of minds. Or something.
‘You’re acting weird again,’ Mel retorts, plugging my phone in to charge. ‘I hope you’re being a good guest forNell.’ With the kind of superior look only a big sister can cultivate, she turns away huffily.
‘We should set some time aside to have a look at the potentials,’ she says.
‘Potentials?’ I repeat, wondering what the hell she means.
‘Your swipe rights. You know, potential dates?’
‘Ah, that,’ I respond in exactly the same tone as,ah, kale. ‘Yeah. Sure. Let’s look at them sometime.’ Never.
