Page 74 of Summer, in Between
‘Very funny,’ I say, ‘and offensive.’
‘Offensive?Because he called you a little girl?’says Cavey.‘Complimenting a chick is offensive?’
‘Offensive because it’s belittling, and offensive because am I really giving off surfer vibes?God help me.I’m spending too much time with you guys.’They return to collect the chairs, stacking them on a weirdly shaped trolley which needs the two guys to steer it through the door of the pub.
‘That seems a bit excessive,’ I say, ‘too bad if we wanted to sit.’
‘Better than having a chair thrown through the window like last summer,’ Ant says.
‘Yeah, I’d forgotten about that.What’s with you guys and fighting?’
‘Hey, nothing to do with me,bella, I’m a lover, not a fighter.’
‘Yeah, yeah.’I laugh.
‘Hey, JB tells me you’re going for medicine?’he asks.
‘That, or law.I still can’t decide and it’s freaking me out.’
‘You’ll be right.When are you catching up with him?’
‘Probably when school goes back, which totally sucks.I haven’t seen any of my friends since school finished.Online just doesn’t cut it.’
‘That’s nice.Hear that, Cavey?We’re not Cat’s friends.’
‘You know what I mean.School friends.Got my back no matter what friends.’His face drops and I lightly punch his arm.‘Someone who’s been there for the long-haul, that’s all I mean.’
‘That’s slightly better, but I’ll take it.You’re not friends with any of the locals?’
‘Have you seen the friendship opportunities around here?I don’t think so.’
‘One of your friendship opportunities is having a crack at your boyfriend,’ says Cavey.
I turn to look behind me, and there’s Isabel Dillon leaning against the bar, standing right next to Paul, licking her lips and grinning in his face like the freakin’ Cheshire Cat.He moves away to speak to the bartender.
‘Case in point,’ I shrug.
‘There’s nothing for you to worry about there, Cat,’ says Ant.
‘I’m not blind; I know she has a thing for him.But I also know he has a thing for me, so I think I’m good.’
‘Paulie’s into you so bad.Mate, we’ve never seen him so into a chick like he’s into you.’
‘Che bello, Antonio.You really should be a poet.’
‘Mannaggia, I’m serious!’he laughs.‘Hey Cavey?Am I right or am I right?’
‘Must be.I’ve barely laid eyes on my best mate all summer.’
My shoulders descend as Paul weaves through the crowd back to my side.
‘Here you go, Cat.’He cracks open a beer and hands it to me.
‘Good timing, mate.’Cavey takes a long swig of his beer.‘One of the uni try-hards working here just had a crack at your girlfriend.’
‘What?Which one?’His eyes traverse the room.
‘Nothing happened,’ I say as the band starts.
