Page 26 of The Lies
“Well, when you have a partner who does what they’re told, it’s much easier.”
“Fuck off, Jase,” Blake says, taking over from me.
“So, I spoke to my solicitor this morning. She’s given me the go ahead to start sorting stuff in the apartment. I was wondering if we could maybe go at the end of the week?”
“I’ll need to check what I have booked in but that should be okay. I’m sure either Mum or Addy will have Sinead.”
“Or I can,” Jason adds, but we both ignore his offer.
“How long do you think you’ll need?”
“As little time as possible. I was thinking maybe going Friday to Sunday.”
“Aw, man, I thought we were going out Saturday night with Nate,” Jason complains.
“That’s the week after, dipshit. Nate’s away this weekend.”
“Oh yeah, his Geeks R Us convention,” Jason says. He sounds bored even saying the name.
“What’s that? Cara said she’s away at some design event this weekend.”
“Whatever it is, it’ll be the same one,” Blake mutters while Jason tuts and rolls his eyes.
“What?” I ask, feeling like I’m missing something.
“Those two have the longest running on-again off-again relationship known to man. They swing from hating each other to loving each other faster than the fucking weather changes.”
I presumed Cara was single. She’s mentioned going on a couple of disastrous dates recently. I had no idea she has something going on with Blake’s friend.
“Do you remember Nate?” Jason asks.
“I don’t think so.”
“Nathan Malone. I think he moved here not long before me so you would have missed him.”
“Ah mate, I’ve got to go,” Jase suddenly announces. “Off out with a lady tonight,” he says, thrusting his hips as he walks over to the door.
“Lucky lady,” I mutter to myself, but Blake must hear me because he starts laughing.
“Don’t forget to wrap it up; the world doesn’t need any more Jasons running around,” Blake shouts after him.
“Fuck you, arsehole,” are Jason’s parting words.
“He really is something else,” I comment once the door slams shut behind him. After finding out a little more about Jason from Aunt Addy last week, I asked Blake about him on the phone the next day and he basically reiterated what Aunt Addy had said with a little more detail. The whole thing sounded horrendous. No one wants to foster a naughty teenager and those who were up for the challenge only lasted a few weeks at most, because Jason seemed to make it his sole mission in life to prove no one wanted him. That was, until Steph and Rick agreed to take him in. Thankfully, Blake and Jason were good friends, because Blake said himself that if they weren’t he probably wouldn’t have lasted long there, either. Eventually, Steph and Rick won him around by showing they wouldn’t kick him to the curb like all the others, and he started to turn his life around. He got himself a job labouring on a building site and managed to channel his aggression into boxing. Apparently, he’s pretty good, according to Blake. He now lives with Nate who works in IT and sounds like the complete opposite of Jason in every way possible.
“He’s a good friend.”.
“I can see that. He seems like a decent guy deep down, but I can understand why he doesn’t want to show it.”
“He sees that as a weakness, so he puts on that act to keep people at bay. I totally get it, even if it can get a little tiresome.”
I’m silent for a few seconds as I think about Jason and what he’s been through. Was I a bit of a jerk to him just now? I wasn’t trying to be; he’s just a little full on.
“So, I’ve been meaning to ask you something, but keep getting distracted—”
“Oh yeah, how’s that?” Blake asks, placing his hands on my hips and lifting me onto the unit.
“No idea,” I answer as he starts kissing down my neck.
