Page 67 of When We Were Young

‘I hope she wasn’t too upset.’

‘She’ll get over me,’ he jokes. ‘So, will you see that guy again?’

‘That’s up to him, I suppose.’

‘Are you ready for a relationship now, then?’

There’s a pause, then she says, ‘I don’t feel ready, but I doubt I’ll ever feel ready.’

‘You’re ready. It’s been long enough,’ he says. ‘I’ll get Liv…’

I scamper out of sight as Dad comes out to the hallway.

‘Liv!’ he calls.

‘Yeah?’

‘Mum’s here!’

‘I’m revising!’

He lowers his voice. ‘Take a break.’

In the kitchen, Mum holds out her arms. I go to her and give her the briefest of hugs with my face turned away. Dad throws me a warning look. I don’t know why we have to pretend we’re best friends.

‘I popped over to wish you good luck for tomorrow,’ she says.

‘Thanks,’ I mumble.

‘You’ll be great. Just put in all your effort for this last push. It will be over in a few weeks, and you can forget all about it.’

‘Yeah, well, I’d better get back to it.’

Dad says, ‘Liv, weren’t you going to say something to your mum?’

‘Was I?’

‘About the other night?’ He’s pulling a weird face.

‘Oh yeah,’ I say. ‘I’m sorry about reading your letters. I shouldn’t have done that.’

For a moment, she’s not sure what to say. ‘Thanks for apologising. I’m sorry I lost my temper.’

‘I’ve got a lot to do, so I’d better…’ I jerk my thumb towards the stairs.

‘We’re so proud of you, Liv,’ she says.

Now I feel bad.

Chapter 32

January 1996

‘You fucking bastard!’ spat Aidan, striding towards him, his face twisted in rage.

Aidan shoved him so hard he fell into a garden hedge, twigs puncturing his clothes and skin. He lost his footing, trying to right himself, and slapped onto the pavement.

As he scrambled to get up, Aidan booted him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending shock waves of pain through his core.