Page 13 of Smut

“Yeah, I thought you were with that other girl,” Kevin says, and I jump, not realizing he’s standing right behind me, a stack of young adult fantasy novels in his hands.

I give him a tepid look. “What other girl?”

“I don’t know,” he says, practically whining. “When you drove me home the other day, we saw her walking down the street and you covered your face so she wouldn’t see you.”

My dad shakes his head. “What’s gotten into you, Blake?”

I take in a deep breath and keep my voice light. “Nothing at all. I’m twenty-three years old and I like the ladies, what can I say?”

“You weren’t like this with Rachel.”

My chest burns at that. “You didn’t even know Rachel. You met her once.” Stop trying to act like you know anything about me at all, I finish in my head.

He knows he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. He comes over to the register, clearing his throat. “So, how much did we do today?”

Oh boy, the worst moment of the day. Bracing myself, I look over the numbers.

It’s not good. It doesn’t even pay the expenses accrued.

“Well?” my dad says, and I step out of the way so he can look at them.

I glance nervously at Kevin, and we both seem to hold our breath as dad closes his eyes, his fingers squeezing the bridge of his nose again. He holds it there, trying to compose himself. Then he swallows and shakes it off.

“Thanks for your help today,” he says flatly, like he couldn’t conjure up any emotion if he tried.

“No problem,” I tell him.

He still doesn’t look at me. “School is going well? End of the year is coming.”

“It’s going great,” I tell him, even though that’s kind of a lie. But I don’t dare rock the boat. I know why he’s asking me. He’s reminding me that soon all of this will be mine, and if I don’t know what I’m doing, I’ll run the business into the ground. Just like he’s doing.

“Good, good,” he says absently. “I’ll take Kevin home. Thanks for getting him.”

“Anything for my bud.” I eye Kevin. He seems unreadable right now. Maybe he’s already fighting orcs or something in his head instead of watching his father worry about the money they’re losing. “See you soon.”

I get out of there and don’t seem to breathe until I’m at The Bard and Banker pub on the next block. I text Heath and tell him about the change of plans, to meet me there instead. I need alcohol in my veins ASAP. My dad, Kevin, the business, the pressure, the mention of Rachel are all swilling through my brain.

While I’m waiting for Heath in one of the small semi-enclosed booths or “snugs” as far away as possible from the band I know will start playing later, I get an email in my inbox.

From Amanda Newland.

Oh yes, I can’t believe I forgot to add her to my shit pile of worries.

I gulp down half of my dark lager before I can even look at it.

When I finally read it over, I can hear her voice in my head, throwing all these superfluous words my way, as if I would get confused and not understand her whole email. She must think I’m not only a total wanker but a fucking idiot. Actually, I get the impression she thinks that way about most people.

“You need to be taken down a peg, darling,” I say out loud.

“Are you talking to your phone? Or on your phone?”

I look up to see Heath peering down at me with amusement. “Or just having a spat with Siri?” he goes on. “I agree she needs to be taken down a peg. Talk about a know-it-all.”

“Ugh,” I say, as he sits down. “You don’t want to know the bloody truth of it.”

“Well, there’s got to be a reason why you’re looking to get drunk on a school night,” Heath says, then reconsiders it. “I mean, more so than usual.”

Heath is in most of my business classes and is in a similar situation to me. Meaning, pressure from his parents is the main reason why he’s getting his degree. With his carefree attitude and penchant for environmental causes, Heath would be much happier surfing his life away during summers in Tofino and snowboarding on Mount Washington in the winter. He’s also a pretty good wingman. There’s something about the shaggy-haired, perpetually tanned, surfer dude that the girls can’t resist. Might be the fact that he’s a pot dealer and they get their weed for free.

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