Page 62 of Perfect

“He was a bit standoffish at first but I suppose we didn’t really know each other,” I responded keeping it light. I wasn’t going to get into another discussion about Connor when he wasn’t there. I hated the behind-the-back approach.

Natalie grinned showing perfect, overly white teeth. She reminded me of one of those bullterrier dogs. “He’s a tough one to crack all right.”

Her comment seemed to drag Nate’s attention away from what the boys were discussing.

“He’s not the only one,” Nathan put in with a grin at Ella.

“Don’t start,” she replied, kicking him under the table and rolling her eyes.

Interesting. To whom was he referring?

Shaking off the thought I simply replied. “It’s fine. We’re good.”

Natalie took a drink from her glass, twisting sideways, eyeing me over the rim. “Tom was saying you want to be a teacher?” I knew her attempt at small talk was leading to something else.

I nodded before taking another sip of my beer. She so wasn’t really interested. “Yes, I’m thinking about it.” I could tell she was sizing me up with every syllable that left her lips.

She screwed her face up, it wasn’t a nice look.

“Doesn’t your dad own shit loads of land and stuff? Surely you don’t have to work at all.”

I stared at her with a coolly impersonal smile. Her words and tone were rude and I was surprised that no one commented. Was she usually a disrespectful bitch, or did they allow her to speak to me that way because they thought Iwasan overindulged brat? Even Tom hadn’t said anything, although he was more focused on Nate and the girls on the next table to us.

I chose my words carefully. I didn’t want her to think she’d won any points with her snide remark.

“My dad’s OK off I suppose but that’s not me. I still want to do my own thing.”

Natalie full-out scoffed at that one.

“Bollocks,” she put in waving her beer about.

Her use of language gave me an even lower opinion of her; stupid ignorant cow.

At last, Nathan jumped to my defence. Better late than never I supposed.

“Shut it, Nat, you’re just jealous and bricking it that you’ll end up as a hairdresser like your mother, dyeing old ladies’ hair pink and shit.”

She shot him a dirty look.

“Fuck you, Nathan. You can talk, youabsoluteleach. When are you going to get a job and stop sponging offyourparents? You know, follow in Golden Boy’s footsteps.”

Upon Golden Boy being thrown into the mix, Tom shot a glance at Ella and she rapidly pushed to her feet, saying she needed to pee. I asked her if she wanted me to come, the whole ‘girls go to the loo in twos’ and all that, but she declined.

I shuffled in my seat now I had more room and Natalie nudged me with her elbow, her eyes roaming over my face.

“So where is Mr. Moody tonight?” she asked with a pointed look like I was his fucking keeper.

I shrugged. “Probably working.”

Natalie shook her hair back and I was met with a waft of perfume: had the girl bathed in it? There was a definite uniqueness about the smell, it wasn’t one that I would have worn. Bit pungent, like her attitude.

I shook off the thought upon realising she was still speaking.

“Thought it was going to kick off at yours Nate.”

To be honest, it was a shame she was there. Within the space of an hour, she had definitely soured my experience.

Nathan rolled his shoulders and then took another swig of beer; boy the guy drank fast.

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