Page 19 of When We Were Young

‘I haven’t got a CD player, you know,’ he says, walking away, leaving a trail of damp footprints.

I follow. ‘Did you know Mum did this artwork? Her name’s on the back.’

‘Yeah, she made that at college. It was this big.’ He spreads his arms out. ‘It took ages.’

I knew they studied art together at college, but I assumed she wasn’t any good – Dad runs his own design agency, but Mum works in the office at my old primary school.

I place the CD on the counter. ‘But this is really good.’

‘She was brilliant, so talented, far better than me. She had her own exhibition at a gallery before she’d even finished the course.’

‘Why did she stop doing it then?’

He hesitates. ‘Well, you showed up and after that, she was busy being a mum.’

‘Oh.’ My brain is whirring at a hundred miles an hour. My mum was friends with a rock star,andshe was a talented artist – how did I not know this? I don’t know her at all.

He pours a glass of water and drinks it all in one go. ‘Listen Liv, don’t mention this to Mum.’

‘Why not?’

‘This whole thing with Will Bailey…’ He picks up the CD. ‘She’s sensitive about it. Sometimes you never really get over these things. Curb your curiosity – for her, will you? Promise me?’

‘But I just want to know––’

‘You’re lucky, you’ve never lost anyone. You don’t know what it’s like. Grief can be hard, Liv. Don’t ask her about this, okay?’

I want to argue with him but he’s giving me his puppy-dog eyes and they’re his ultimate superpower. ‘Okay…’

‘Thank you.’ He kisses my forehead, takes the CD, and puts it back in the cabinet.

Chapter 10

September 1994

Will had been lying in bed for hours but sleep would not come. The events of that night were stuck on repeat in his head: Mitch dropping them in it, Reu throwing up, that final round of applause. But the image of Aidan with Emily was the most persistent. How long had they been seeing each other? What were they doing right now?

He switched on the bedside lamp, reached for his jeans, and felt in the pockets. He panicked for a moment thinking he’d lost it but there it was in the last pocket he checked.

A business card:

Richard Eason

A&R Co-ordinator

Island Records

When the Space Junkies came off stage, Will bought them a drink to thank them for lending their kit. Their set had been great. It was no surprise they had A&R interest. Even though the Space Junkies bought their fair share of drinks, Will still ended up spending a fortune.

When they were packing up their gear, a guy in a leather biker jacket came up to Will and, pressing the card into Will’shand, said, ‘Let me know when you’re playing again.’ He left before Will had a chance to respond.

Matty and Reu had gawped at the card when he’d shown them. The realisation of what it meant sent them into a wild, whooping frenzy until the bouncer recognised Reu from earlier and kicked them out because he was underage.

Will held the card in his hand now, turning it over and over, his thoughts still jumping around as the sun came up. They needed a decent gig in London if they wanted to invite Richard Eason along. And they needed a drummer. Oh, and a van.

He’d spent the last of his Greece savings last night. He was officially skint, so he also needed a job.

At 6:30 a.m., he gave up trying to sleep. He got up and went to the newsagent to pick up the local paper. Walking back up the path to the house, he checked Aidan’s bedroom window. The curtains were closed. Was Aidan in there? Was he alone? He’d been staying out a lot lately. Will knew why now.