Page 54 of Meet Me in Berlin

Mum gapes at me. She looks at Chandice, then over the top of the screen to Jaz, then back to me. ‘She better be winding me up.’

I rub the back of my neck and look away.

‘How the fuck has that happened?’ Mum’s fork clatters onto the table and she throws her hands up. ‘Now you’ve made me swear at the dinner table. You know I don’t like swearing at the dinner table.’

I give an incredulous laugh. ‘I didn’t make you do anything. I’ve got to go, yeah.’

My dad sticks his head in front of Mum’s. ‘Hiya, Casey love.’

‘Hiya, Dad. You having early birthday celebrations?’

‘We are.’

‘I’m sorry I’m missing it, but I’ll call you Sunday.’

‘Okay, love. Enjoy Berlin,’ he says.

‘Oh, she’s bloody enjoying it all right,’ Mum hisses.

‘I’m having dinner with an old friend. Stop frettin’.’

‘But she’s not an old friend, is she? She’s an old fling that you never got over. What is she even doing there? I told you not to contact her.’

I throw my head back and groan. ‘I’m not talking about this now. I’m going to be late.’

‘Have you spoke to Eva yet?’ Mum asks.

‘Jaz,’ I call. ‘I’ve got to go.’

‘That’s a no, then.’ Mum shakes her head and stabs a piece of chicken.

‘Leave it out, Wendy,’ Dad says. ‘She’s a big girl. She can sort out her own mess.’

Mum shoots Dad a look. ‘No, Marvin. I won’t leave it out. Someone needs to talk some sense into her.’

‘Fuck’s sake, Mum,’ I mutter, only partly under my breath.

‘Oi. Mind your language at the dinner table,’ Mum says.

I throw my hands up. ‘I ain’t at the dinner table!’

‘But we are, so watch that mouth.’ She tuts. ‘I don’t know why I’m worried about what’s coming out of your mouth; I should be worried about what’s going in it!’

‘Oh my God, Mum! No need. Jaz!’ I call.

Jaz flips the screen around, a mischievous grin on her face.

I hold my hand up in a wave. ‘Later.’

She takes a massive bite of chicken and waggles her eyebrows. ‘Have a good time,’ she says through her mouthful.

‘Jasmine!’ her mum scolds. ‘Don’t encourage her.’

‘I’m off.’ I hang up, grab my jacket and leave the hotel, ready to meet the person who became an integral part of me the moment I first saw her.

Chapter 18

Casey, Berlin

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