Page 96 of Matched Up

‘Grand Prix?’Niall asked and nodded upstairs.

Shane looked at me, like he wasn’t sure what to do.‘Sure?’

‘Let’s do it,’ I said.I took Shane’s hand and pulled him upstairs after Niall.

Megan was playing too.We all chose our characters and were squished together on the sofa.

Niall then Megan, then me, then Shane.

‘Hey, before we start, can I say something?’

Mario Kartmusic played in the background, and everyone looked at Niall.

‘Sure, yeah,’ said Shane, clearly even more nervous now.

‘Sorry for acting like a dick when you joined Westing.Don’t know why I did that.Can we be cool?’Niall reached over for a fist bump.

‘Yeah, man, sounds good,’ Shane said with a smile, and I shared a look of relief with Megan.

I was so grateful to Niall right then.

‘Nice one.You’re not beating me at this, though.Or you’re dead.’Niall laughed.

But Shane didn’t win.I did.And then I did a victory dance, which was cut short when Mum came up the stairs.

‘Dinner’s ready.I think I did a really good job this time.’She smiled and looked so proud.

‘Thanks, Mum.’

We went downstairs and Mum had set the table like it was Christmas or something, with a centrepiece and candles and the good cutlery.So embarrassing.

‘Look at the lovely flowers Shane brought.’Mum pointed to the carnations in the middle of the table, and I looked at Shane, who’d gone bright red.

‘So, Shane, sit down, tell us about you,’ Dad said.‘Lexie has already told us bits and pieces, but I’d love to know more.Then maybe I’ll understand why my daughter is walking about with a grin on her face all the time.’

I wanted to die.‘Dad!’

Shane talked about football and schoolandhis family.He talked about everything that had been going on, starting with his dad’s accident.I hooked my foot round his under the table.

‘Oh, Shane.That’s a lot to deal with at your age.If there’s anything at all we can do to make things easier, please tell Lexie and we’ll do whatever we can,’ Mum said.I was hoping she wouldn’t cry when Shane was talking, because she looked like she was about to.But she didn’t.Instead, she got up and opened the oven.‘It’s ready!’she sang.

Nobody said anything when she set the lasagne on the table.We just stared at it.Black congealed cheese round the edges, dried out sheets of pasta that hadn’t been covered in sauce.

Niall burst out laughing.And then everybody laughed, including Mum.

Dad got up and squeezed Mum’s shoulders behind her.‘Shall we get some pizza?’

She nodded through tears of laughter, and later, we sat in the living room eating pizza and trading stories about school.

Then Mum came in to ask us all a question.‘I have a challenge for you all.We’d love to take you on holiday this summer.Shane, we can work around you and whatever you need, but I need you all to come up with somewhere to go.Anywhere.’

Megan gasped and grabbed Niall’s hand.I looked at Shane, scared it was too much and that he would run right out of my house.

He just smiled at Mum.‘That sounds amazing, Mrs Ryan.I’ll speak to my mum and see what could work.’

‘Brilliant.’Mum looked so happy.

When Shane had to leave, we stood in the hallway again.This time we were actually alone.

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