Page 81 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘Would you like me to go home?’ I ask tentatively.

‘You should stay. The fireworks are always good.’

‘I saw your dad and brother setting up.’

‘I should probably head over and help them. Are you hungry?’

I wish I could shake this atmosphere that hangs over us. It’s hard to know what he’s thinking. Or, more specifically, what he thinks about me.

I clear my throat. ‘Paige said to tell me about what happened with Lucy?’

He falters, his expression indecipherable. ‘Oh. That. Not much to tell.’

‘Who was she?’

‘She was my first proper girlfriend. I lost my virginity to her in the woodshed outside in the fields not far from here. I’d just turned seventeen. It was before my initial audition for the TV show.’

‘Right. Did you keep in touch with her?’

‘No.’

‘Oh.’

‘Honestly, I’d rather not talk about her.’

‘Of course.’

‘Come on, lunch will be ready in the house.’

Aidan holds the front door open for me and I enter the McArthur family home, an extension of the pub. I hear voices all chattering; the sounds of children’s laughter and nerves hit my chest.

‘This way,’ Aidan says, and leads me through to a dining room.

‘Everyone,’ Aidan raises his voice as we turn the corner. He waits for me to appear at his side. ‘This is Lexi. Lexi, this is my mum, Olive, my brother Rohan, my sister-in-law Jo-Jo, their children Georgia and Finley, and you already know Paige.’

There is a chorus of ‘Hi, Lexi,’ and I find myself beaming. After a lonely Christmas, the idea of company fills me with joy, and the warmth I feel in this room is a thing of magnificence. The notable affection of one family having a meal together, complete with a Christmas tree still glowing with lights, a bridge of candles in the window, and a wreath above a large fireplace.

‘It’s lovely to meet you, Lexi,’ Aidan’s mother says as she comes over to greet me, taking my hand in hers. Her children bear a striking resemblance to her. ‘We’ve heard such wonderful things about you. Come and sit down. I’m afraid lunch is mostly leftovers.’

‘Thank you. Anything is fine with me,’ I tell her.

‘There’s a seat by me,’ Paige says, putting me between her and Jo-Jo. Aidan goes and takes a seat next to his mother.

‘Is Dad coming or not?’ Paige asks.

‘He’s still checking everything for tonight,’ Jo-Jo says with a roll of her eyes. ‘The fact that I’ve triple stock-checked everything seems to make no difference.’

Rohan chuckles. ‘You would have thought you knew your father-in-law by now.’

Her lips break out into a grin. Olive encourages everyone to dig in.

‘Everyone please eat the ham,’ she says, raising her voice over the hubbub. ‘I do not want to still be eating ham come January.’

‘I hope you’re not a vegetarian, Lexi,’ Paige says next to me.

‘I don’t want ham,’ Finley – who I guess to be about four – grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest in protest. ‘Yuck.’

‘So, Lexi,’ Rohan asks me. ‘What did you get up to for Christmas?’

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