“Oh, God,” Matty murmured.
Sloan turned with narrowed eyes, a silent question on her face. Then recognition hit her. She’d seen him before at Matty’s flat—thedruggie!
Gloria twisted on the stool and it spun her around. “Oh, crap.” She slumped. “Oh, well, that’s my fun over with.” She looked at Brandon. “Help us get down, young man.”
“Mother,” Sloan said it firmly, then sighed. “I’ll have a Diet Coke. Matty?”
Matty’s eyebrows shot up. So did Gloria’s. Brandon looked between them all and decided he was better off waiting.
“I’ll have...an orange juice?”
“The least you could have done was invite us,” Sloan said to Gloria, stepping closer to the bar. She stopped and stared at Brandon until he moved and made room for her.
Gloria remained looking shocked, but her mouth was already in action, remarking, “Assumed you were busy with this one.” As she pointed over her shoulder with her thumb at Matty.
Sloan held Gloria’s gaze in the mirror as she said, “I was.” She smiled as the woman behind the bar came closer. “Diet Coke and an orange juice, please.” She turned back to Gloria. “And I’ll be busy again later, when we go home.”
One of Brandon’s friends started to make a comment but stopped dead when the hard stare moved onto him.
“I’d think long and hard before you open your mouth,” Sloan said icily. “I’m not as friendly as my mother appears to be.”
***
With their drinks finished, Sloan ushered Gloria and Matty outside. “Can you drive?”
“As in, do I have a licence, or can I drive for you?”
“Both?”
Matty grinned. The Saab wasn’t a car she’d ever thought she’d get the chance to take for a spin. “I do, and I can.”
Sloan handed Matty her car keys, then hesitated. "Be careful with her. She was my dad's." She paused then added, "I'll have to put you to the insurance at some point."
“You’re really going to let me drive your car?”
Sloan nodded. “Yes. I’ll walk back with this one.”
Matty looked at Gloria, who tutted and rolled her eyes.
“I’m not an imbecile,” she muttered, but neither Sloan nor Matty took any notice.
“Drunk and disorderly and in charge of a scooter. I’m not letting her loose on her own,” she told Matty.
“I amnotdrunk,” Gloria said, her face pulling into a horrified look at the implication. “I’ve had three beers and—”
“And?” Sloan asked.
Gloria looked away. “Nothing.”
Sloan let it drop and was about to lean in and kiss Matty’s cheek when the pub doors opened again, Brandon and his mates filing out.
“See you later, Glo,” Brandon shouted. “You know where to find me.”
Gloria gave a quick wave before putting the key into the scooter and starting it up. “Race ya,” she taunted, cackling.
“Give me strength,” Sloan muttered. “I’ll see you back at the house, Matty.” And then she turned and chased after Gloria.
Matty tossed the keys in her hand and then glanced over at Brandon and his mates, all standing around, lighting up joints and passing them around.
