Page 115 of Releasing 10
“My mam.”
I glanced at the television screen to where two lifeguards were kissing and touching each other in the shower.
I knew all about that.
And it came after the touching.
The monster showed me.
“What about you, Baby Biggs?” Mark continued to taunt my friend. “Ever kissed my brother like that?”
“Are you stupid?” Claire scrunched her nose up in disgust. “I’m eight.”
“What about you, munchkin?” He poked me with his foot again. “I bet you’ve been kissing her brother like that.”
“Hugh’s her friend, you weirdo, and Liz is only nine,” Claire defended, slapping his foot away. “Quit annoying us or I’m telling Catherine on you!”
“You’ve got fire in you, don’t ya, Baby Biggs?” Mark laughed, clearly unbothered by her warning. “That’s good.”
The sound of the front door slamming shut filled my ears then, followed by my sister’s voice when she called out, “Look who I found outside, girls.” My sister appeared in the doorway with a familiar, curly-haired boy beside her.
“Gibs!” I exclaimed at the same time Claire cried out, “Gerard.”
“Look at the state of you,” Mark snapped, glowering at my friend. “What the fuck kind of costume is that?”
“He’s an egg,” Claire defended, making a beeline for Gerard. “And I’m a chicken.”
“He’s a dickhead is what he is,” Mark muttered.
“Leave him alone,” Caoimhe admonished, elbowing his side when she joined him on the couch. “He’s only a child.”
Gibsie’s eyes flicked to Mark before focusing on Claire. “Are you okay?”
“Of course,” she replied happily, throwing her arms around him. “I missed you, Gerard.”
“I missed you, too,” he replied, attention shifting from his stepbrother to Claire. “Your mam’s outside talking to Catherine,” he added, turning them around so that he was the one with his back to the couch. “I wanted to come with her to make sure you were okay.” He shrugged. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Gerard,” Claire laughed, bouncing from foot to foot from the sheer excitement she clearly felt from being reunited with him. “Mam’s outside?”
“Yeah, she’s talking to Catherine.”
“I’m going to go hug her,” she announced before bolting for the door. “Will you grab my bag from your room, Liz?”
“Yeah,” I replied, watching her disappear from sight.
“Gibs!” Mark barked, causing both of us to jump. “Come over here, fucker. I want a word with you.”
Gibsie reached for my hand at the same time I reached for his, and I asked, “Do you want to come upstairs with me to get Claire’s bag instead?”
Nodding eagerly, he fell into step with me as we bolted into the hallway, heading straight for the staircase at top speed.
Not stopping until we were inside my room, Gibsie stood with his back to my door and exhaled several shaky breaths.
“Are you okay?” I asked, feeling worried.
“Yeah, I’m…” Breathing hard, he held a hand up and momentarily focused on his breathing until it evened out. “I just hate that guy.”
“You do?”
