Page 144 of Mark

“Because I’m pretty sure she hates my guts and would rather ignore I exist than message me and call multiple times a day to check in on you.”

I scoff. “She doesn’t hate you.”

Maybe.

I never really know what mum is feeling towards another.

She arches her perfectly shaped brow. “Say it again but like you mean it.”

I snort out a laugh. “She just never bothered to really get to know you.”

“Puh-lease, she hated me from the moment I turned up wearing that god-awful mini skirt and crop top. And let’s not forget her parting words when I went in to get that last box of yours.”

“She didn’t mean it. She was just worried about me moving home. If she didn’t like you, she would never have allowed you in the house.”

“Then I’ll remind you of the time she told me I had to wait outside,” she reminds me.

I grimace. “Babe, I didn’t want to tell you this because I knew you’d fret over your shoes. But that night, you had dog shit on your shoe. Mum didn’t want you walking it into the house.”

Her eyes widen as she leans forward. “Are you kidding me? You let me go to a party with dog shit on my shoe? I thought we were friends.”

I throw up my hands quickly. “Hey, I was going to tell you before we got in the car, but by the time you walked over the grass, it was gone.”

She glances away. “I feel less shitty for inviting your mum and gran over now.”

“I really was going to tell you about the dog poop.”

“Five years too late, babe. Five years.” She sniffs.

“At least tell me I have time to look presentable because I don’t want to listen to Mum go on about the salsa stain on my top or that I have Dorito stains on my trousers.”

“I still think it’s weird you don’t lick your fingers clean.”

She must think I was born yesterday. “Stop avoiding the question and answer me. She’d better not be bringing my sister, Summer. I mean it.”

Placing her hands in her lap, her shoulders drop. “Okay. Okay. I didn’t technically invite them over. Your mum called me since your phone is still off and she told me she was on her way to pick up your gran to come here. I didn’t even get a chance to say not tonight. I swear. You know what your mum is like; she can never let anyone get a word in when she’s on one.”

“They… They are—” I stop short when there’s a knock on the door. Summer goes to get up to answer but I move before my brain can register what I’m about to do. Which is tackle Summer to the floor.

“Get off me, you heifer,” she growls.

I slap my hand over her mouth. “Shush.”

“Freya, I know you’re in there,” Mum calls out.

I glare down at my best friend who arches an eyebrow.

“Get off Summer and come answer the door for your nanna. I got lucky last night and my hips are so stiff today.”

Summer grins beneath my mouth, wagging her eyebrows. I snort, shaking my head.

“Mother,” Mum exclaims loudly. “Freya doesn’t need to know about your extracurricular activities.”

“Why? She’s not a virgin,” she remarks, and I can picture her giving Mum a dirty look, like she’s talking nonsense.

“It’s still not a topic you bring up to your grandchild.”

“I wasn’t asking for a conversation,” Nanna snorts, as another bang shakes the door. “Open up, sweetie. You know you’ll only get grossed out when—”

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