Page 38 of Muddy Messy Love

“Half of us were only nine.” I laugh. “Mr. Curnow’s head almost exploded, and tiny Trent Sparrow didn’t stop humping furniture all year.”

Liam and Tej crack up, and Jen pulls her mouth into a devious smirk. “Trent Sparrow soon graduated from furniture.”

He sure did. It’s all anyone could talk about for an entire semester.

Liam’s curious eyes question Jen, and she surrenders her hands to the air. “Not me, babe. He humped the choir teacher’s leg and got suspended.”

Tej barks out a bellowing laugh, and I nudge Jen. “See, you corrupted him.”

She waves me away. “That kid was doomed from the start. We all knew it.”

She’s not wrong.

Liam lays an arm around Jen’s shoulders and leans in towards her ear. “Maybe you could corrupt me later.”

His whisper is anything but quiet, and I look at Tej. “Don’t mind them. Trent Sparrow isn’t the only one with a humping problem.”

“Hey,” Jen says, muffled against Liam’s lips.

Tej grins. “Young love, raw and new. To be one of the lucky few.”

His words float around us, soft and pretty like delicate flakes of snow, and I raise a brow. “Wow, you should write songs.”

His grin turns lopsided. “Suppose I should join a band too?”

“You should totally do that.” I wink, and Tej quietly chuckles.

As if lost in thought, his gaze drifts to the spirit-lined shelves behind the bar, but then he returns and checks his phone. “Hell, it’s nearly two already.” He downs the last of his beer, then slides the empty glass towards the bartender. “How are you guys getting home?”

“Uber,” Jen says, coming up for air.

“Same.” I shrug.

“Together?”

I shake my head. “Nah, they live on the other side of the city.”

“We can’t all afford to live inGlen Irislike Aves does.” Jen nudges me with her knee, and I roll my eyes. I can’t afford it either. Beth charges me a pittance.

“Glen Iris?” Tej asks. “That’s on my way. Want to rideshare?” When I hesitate, he half shrugs. “Seems dumb paying twice.”

“Sure.” I smile. Why the hell not?

Tej grabs his guitar with Gibson scrolled across the case and fist-bumps a few friends before yelling goodbye to the pretty bartender.

Our warm breaths create plumes of frost in the chilly night air as we traverse the cobblestone lane. Jen and Liam stagger arm in arm ahead. We pass a closed café and an art gallery I didn’t notice earlier with colourful pottery lining the window sill. Quirky dogs and cats with boggled eyes and toothy grins. Polka-dot flamingos with wire legs. Price tags in thehundreds.

A pang of longing hits my chest. Talent is nothing without drive, but neither saves you without bravery—the balls to step into the spotlight and tell the world “here I am.” Unfortunately, I’m balls deficient.

“Two-minute ETA,” Jen says, severing my thoughts.

Tej checks his phone. “Ours is still six minutes away.”

We come to a standstill on the main street, and revellers gather a few shops down, swarming a late-night kebab bar like seagulls to hot chips. Moans of ecstasy leave their lips as they bite into the greasy goodness, cradling the wraps in their hands.

My stomach grumbles as Jen pulls me into a wobbly hug. “Thanks for a great night, chicky.” Her words are slurred but sweet, and Liam joins in, throwing his arms around us both.

“Yeah, thanks, Aves.” His annunciation is no better. “You’re the best. Slade issostupid for letting you go.”

---