Page 63 of Beautiful Scars

“Have youseenCole’s flat?”

I chuckle. “I avoid Cole’s flat like the plague in case you’re in there.”

“Oh pipe down,” she says dismissively. “I’m planning your wedding, remember?”

I suppose she is.

She opens one of the high cupboards and takes a few steps back, trying to see up into the top shelf.

“You won’t find any cocaine in there, doll.”

She spins around and stares at me. “Do you always have to be such a cunt? I thought your brother was bad, but at least he’snota cunt a good twenty percent of the time.”

I allow myself a singular laugh and take a seat at the breakfast bar. “I’m sorry.”

“Sure you are,” she says, and turns back to the cupboard.

“What are you looking for?”

Letting out a huff, she turns back around to face me. “Teabags. I won’t hold out for biscuits but they wouldn’t go amiss.”

I get up from my chair and she automatically keeps the social distance as I walk around the island. After finding the teabags, and a packet of custard creams, I put them both down on the counter and go to fill up the kettle.

If she’s planning my wedding then I’ll make her a cup of tea. Peace offering, and all that. And I’ll make myself one, too, since I can’t sleep and it sounds slightly more interesting than counting toast crumbs.

“Sit,” I tell her.

She does.

I don’t have a clue how to make a cup of tea, but with her keeping me right I manage two semi-reasonable ones. Maybe I’ll try it again in the morning for Meisie. Or was it coffee she said she liked?

Fuck knows. I take a seat at the other side of the breakfast bar and motion for Sarah to pass the biscuits back to me. I don’t waste any time getting fired into them. “Why aren’t you out partying with Cole?”

She stares at me from across the table and takes a sip of her tea. “Because, contrary to what you’d like to believe, I’m not some druggie bitch who lives for parties. I have work in the morning.”

“Interesting.”

“Not that interesting, I work in a bank.”

I let out a singular laugh. “I couldn’t think of anything better to say.”

A cynical smile flashes across her face and she takes another drink. “Why aren’t you downstairs with Meisie?”

I sniff. “I’m taking a night off work.”

“Oh fuck off. You might have been fooling Cole but you’re not fooling me.Work.” She rolls her eyes while I narrow mine.

I’m not getting into this with her. I’m not getting into this with anyone, so I take a drink from my own cup. It tastes like shit.

“You should put some sugar in it,” she suggests.

I push the cup away. “Nah. I’m not that bothered.”

She laughs. “Is that your go-to stance on everything? Tea? Your business? Meisie?”

“Suited me just fine so far.”

She shakes her head. “If you say so.”