Page 153 of Brighter Together

Not restraining.

Just there.

I keep walking.

At the door, Nick looks back at the room. “You two really do make a compelling case for contraception.”

I hear somebody inhale sharply.

Then Nick follows me into the corridor.

The door closes behind us.

I make it halfway to the lifts before the adrenaline hits properly.

My hands are shaking.

I shove them into my pockets.

“Can you fucking believe them?” My voice carries further than intended.

A young bloke waiting beside the lift startles badly enough that several papers slide from the folder in his hands.

“Sorry,” I say.

He gives me a nervous nod and immediately starts gathering them.

Nick presses the lift button.

“Maybe save the shouting until we’re outside.”

“I wasn’t shouting.”

The young bloke looks at me.

Nick looks at him.

Then back at me.

“Of course not.”

The lift arrives.

We step inside.

The doors close.

I drag a hand over my face.

“She’s his daughter.” This time I’m shouting.

“Yep.”

“He stood there and defended the wanker that is his son.”

“Yep.”

“He didn’t even ask if she was all right.”