Page 69 of The Time of My Afterlife

Molly stares at him. ‘You’re a Zelda fan?’

He nods. ‘Hey, I’m not old but my knees do make the same noise as a Guardian charging up.’

To my surprise, she giggles. ‘Funny.’

Clark’s face softens. ‘I used to play video games when I needed to escape people.’

She looks up and smiles. ‘Really?’

He nods. ‘When my parents were downstairs arguing, or when my dad had stormed out and my mum was being annoying.’

‘Lol, that’s me on the last one,’ she says, putting down her Switch.

‘Hey – video games are great for allowing us to escape to another world.’

They both go silent, and I want to say something. Words are jostling on my tongue. After a long silence, Molly says, ‘Mum’s busy all the time. She keeps talking about the men she’s dating. I don’t seem to be on her mind any more.’

Clark nods. ‘I felt the same when my parents split up and Mum was angry at my dad.’

Molly looks at him. ‘Really?’

‘Mum was obsessed with trying to find out as much as she could about this woman my dad had hooked up with.’

‘That sounds familiar,’ sighs Molly. ‘Although my mum is obsessed about the men she’s dating. What did you do?’

‘I kept talking to her.’

She grimaces. ‘I told Mum the other night she was obsessed and always loses herself when she dates men. It was in the middle of an argument.’

Once again Clark lets her go quiet. He doesn’t jump to any conclusions or try to steer the conversation.

Molly fiddles with her Switch. ‘I don’t think screaming and shouting at her is working. Now she’s got another man in her life. It’s like what I didn’t want to happen has happened.’

Guilt nibbles away at me. Ronan was my fault.

‘Shouting doesn’t work. I tried that,’ says Clark. ‘You just end up a snotty and tear-stained mess.’

Molly laughs. ‘So much snot.’

I can’t quite believe this. Clark has got Molly to talk.

‘You need to take her out shopping and talk to her over a hot chocolate. She will listen. I promise,’ says Clark.

‘Do you think so?’

‘Your mum loves you, Molly. She’s always telling customers how proud she is of you when I’m in the café.’

Molly’s eyes widen.

‘She loves your netball achievements and that English Lit essay where you got an A.’

How does he know all this? I never have time to listen to conversations.

I watch a smile spread across Molly’s face. ‘I feel a bit better. I love coming here.’

Clark casts me a triumphant look, and to my surprise, I don’t feel irritated by him taking over. My insides feel like they are warm and gooey.

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