‘But what, Beth? They should just have more willpower? Or maybe get a time machine and not even start in the first place? And they’re not kids! They are young adults at university and they should be afforded the same rights to fuck up as we were.’
Beth sat upright in her chair. ‘Really don’t know why you’re getting so upset but then again, you always were temperamental.’
‘Ladies, maybe you should just calm down,’ Erin suggested.
‘I am calm,’ Beth replied. ‘I just don’t think that inhaling chemicals or whatever should be so openly encouraged. It’s like people don’t care about harming the only body they’ll ever have.’
‘God, you’re so feckin’ pompous,’ Tara said, laughing in disbelief. ‘Just let folk live their lives. God, I bet you vote Tory now, don’t you?’
‘What does that have to do with anything, you libertarian tw—’
‘Enough!’ Erin yelped, before the political insults came out in full force. ‘Christ, you two haven’t changed at all, have you? I have enough going on without hearing you two sniping at each other.’
Beth pursed her lips and sat back. Sometimes she forgot that she wasn’t the only person going through hard times.
Erin grabbed her hair and angrily twisted into a loose bun. ‘If you’re going to argue, can you do it somewhere else, please. The rest of us are trying to have a nice night!’
Beth cringed. ‘Yes, sorry. You’re right. I really am just worn out.’
‘Yeah, apologies,’ Tara responded, giving the group a remorseful smile. ‘The heat must be getting to me.’
Erin rubbed her forehead. ‘Sorry, guys. Just been a stressful few days.’
‘No problem,’ Tara replied. ‘We’re the dicks here, not you.’ She smiled meekly, realising how trivial the argument had been.
‘Well, that was intense,’ Alex commented, trying to lighten the mood. ‘They’ve even put Jasper right off his murder spree.’
All eyes fixed on Jasper who was now rolling around, belly up on the path. Even as Tara left the group and headed towards the kitchen, the air of tension remained.
* * *
It was close to midnight when everyone began saying goodnight. Alex was the first to go, but she was almost glad to. Apart from the bickering between Tara and Beth, she’d been sitting across from Aiden all evening. Not close enough for accidental physical contact but plenty of opportunity to catch his eye, sometimes the gaze lasting longer than it should have. It was completely inappropriate but utterly thrilling, a fact she wasn’t proud of. Tara would be gutted if she caught wind of this and rightfully so.
After shooing a moth out of her window, Alex closed the curtains and began pacing the room. This was all getting too much. She needed advice.
Alex opened her phone and scrolled through her contacts. She needed to talk to someone, someone who wouldn’t immediately judge her.
‘Fi! You there?’
‘Hello.’
‘It’s me.’
‘I know it’s you, your name comes up on the screen.’
Alex rolled her eyes. ‘Fine, smartarse. Just thought I’d give you a wee bell. See how you are.’
‘It’s almost midnight, Alex, why are you calling… shite, hang on a second…Romeo, if you do not stop barking, I will let Mercutio play with your favourite tennis ball… Sorry, sis, I’m here. I swear that dog thinks the phone’s for him when it rings.’
Alex sniggered, picturing him waiting by the phone. Romeo was the sweetest, daftest dog she’d ever met.
‘Anyway, everything OK?’ Fiona asked. ‘What’s the craic?’
‘Everything’s grand,’ Alex replied, double checking her bedroom door was closed. ‘Everything’s going really well.’
‘Why are you whispering? Oh, you’re at your reunion, right?’
Alex perched herself on the edge of the bed, kicking her shoes off. ‘Yes, and I just wanted your advice on something. It’s a bit personal.’
