Page 30 of Fierce Family

“Thanks,” he says and takes the bottle with hands that are shaking slightly, presumably from the pills which are still wearing off. “Are you going to give me a lecture?” His voice isn’t hostile, more careful.

“No.” I shake my head. “Why would I do that?”

“Isn’t that what men do when they date a single mum? They want to play father to show that they can be the head of the family. I have a dad.” He looks me straight in the eye and I appreciate that he’s not shying away from the discussion.

“And he’s a great dad, but he’s not your mum’s husband. He can be one thing without the other. That's okay.”

“How would you know?” He takes another sip from his water.

“Because my parents are divorced. My dad found an amazing new wife. My mum’s also remarried.” I leave it at that.

“And how is the new dad?” he grins at me smugly.

“He’s not my dad. I have a dad. My mother's husband is not a great man.”

“Why?”

“Because I think it should be his job to make sure my mum is happy in life and he doesn't do that.”

“Is that what you try to do for my mum?”

“Making sure your mum, you, and your brother are safe and happy is my number one priority.”

“Like you said, we have a dad who does that; besides, you don’t know us.”

“I know. But I want to be there when he can't. As a friend. Not as a new dad. “

“You want to be my friend.” He snorts.

“I'd like to be.”

I don’t get a reply. Instead, he leans back in his bed and stares at the ceiling.

“Can I ask you something?”

He shrugs. The coffee is bitter in my mouth as I empty my cup.

“Why did you do it? You’re a clever guy, you must know the risk.”

“It was just meant to be some fun. Everyone does E. All these horror stories are just adults trying to scare us off so they can control us.” He doesn’t sound quite as confident about it as he tries to appear.

“You still think so?” My question hangs in the air for a while before he sits back up and studies me.

“We're you never tempted when you were young?”

“Maybe, but I was determined to become a firefighter like my dad so I was on a health kick most of the time. I got my high from climbing.”

“You climb?” His whole face changes.

“Hey, I’m born and bred in the Lake District. The hills are in my blood,” I wink. “I climb with a few of the FMR guys and some of my mates from the fire station.”

“Would you ever take me with you?” He looks genuinely excited.

“If your mum is okay with it. Don’t they have a climbing club at Fellside High anymore?” That’s how I got into climbing. We had a crazy PE teacher who set up a club for all those who wanted to learn and he taught me everything I know. When he died on an exhibition in theHimalayas we were shocked, but named the club after him and promised to keep climbing.

“Nah, our PE teacher is only interested in cricket,” Gregory rolls his eyes and laughs when I grimace. Football, rugby, I can watch it all, but cricket is really not my thing.

“Well, you ask your mum and if she says yes I’ll take you and Kieran out.”

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