Page 72 of Before You Say Goodbye

Still, she had been furious when someone had produced a bud of weed for Bowie to try earlier that evening, and she’d told the others they were absolutely not to share it with him under any circumstances.

“I don’t want to do it alone,” Bowie had said. “It’s a social thing.”

“This isn’t a festival,” Emma said crossly.

“It doesn’t need to be.” He winced through a wave of pain and stared, wide-eyed, up at his mother. Relenting a little, Emma told him he could nominate one other person.

“OK.” Bowie smirked. “I nominate you.”

Emma rolled her eyes, slapped him playfully on the arm and said no more about it.

Now, they were halfway through their fourth reefer between them and she had returned to her sanctimonious stance.

“This is illegal, you do realise that?” she said.

“Well, it shouldn’t be, not when people need it.” Maddie gestured to her brother. “Look at him.”

At this time of day, Bowie was usually curled up in a ball in bed with at least one hand placed protectively over his chest.Tonight, he was sprawled on his back, one hand behind his head and the other arm around his mum. Autumn had not seen him look so relaxed in weeks. He threw her a sheepish smile. He had forgiven her. She blew him a kiss.

“I’m so fucking stoned,” Bluebell said stupidly.

Autumn nodded. “So am I.”

“Somebody go and get hummus and crisps?” Marley asked.

“No.” Emma shook her head. “You’ll get it everywhere.”

They sat in quiet contemplation for a while. Ben, who had been resisting when a joint was passed to him until now, took the one in Autumn’s hand and dragged from it with obvious prowess and pleasure. Emma watched him, saying nothing. Autumn broke the silence. Staring at Bowie and Marley, the drugs were loosening her lips.

“What’s it like being a twin?” she asked. “You two only ever go on about the good parts. Aren’t there any drawbacks?”

“No,” Bowie and Marley said together.

“There must be,” Bluebell said. “God, I’d hate it if there were two of me.”

“We would hate that, too.” Marley sighed. Bluebell hurled a pillow at him.

“What about fetishization?” Maddie asked. “Do people want to sleep with both of you?”

“It doesn’t happen that much with male twins,” Bowie said. “I mean, lots of women want threesomes, but I don’t think women have ‘sex with twin brothers’ on their fantasy list as often as men have ‘sex with twin sisters’.”

“Straight men are fucking weird.” Pip shook his head.

“That being said . . .” Marley grinned. Bowie laughed.

Emma sighed and put her head in her hands. Autumn knew why. This conversation would only get ruder. Bowie and Marley were on good form, and Autumn knew their mother hated conversations of this nature — where very personal details werediscussed instead of their typical level of tomfoolery — because they made her feel uncomfortable.

Marley’s eyes darted mischievously to each of his siblings and to Autumn. “Weknowthat therearewomen out there . . .”

“Dare I ask how?” Maddie asked. Bowie threw Marley a warning glance.

“Let’s just say we’re not proud of everything we did together when we were younger.” Bowie’s eyes met Autumn’s and he winked at her. She threw him a reassuring nod.

“Speak for yourself,” Marley muttered. “I had a great time.”

The twins guffawed. Their frivolity inspired the others and, eventually, everyone was laughing except for Emma.

“Who are these women who were sleeping with both of you?” Bluebell asked impudently.

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