Page 114 of Thick as Thieves
I roll my eyes at Rowena. What a mother.
Evie does not even respond. I look to my right, and her expression is blank, a fixed smile on her face that only someone who’s spent a lot of time in her company would know is fake. I’ve never seen anyone shout ‘fuck you’ without saying a word before, but I just watched it happen.
I see Marcus scowl at his mother and the two girls, but they’re so desperate to embarrass her, they don’t notice.
“But,” goes on Issy, “we didn’t realise that one of Lord Stockton’s old shirts was in the bunch. I think it was on the throwing out pile, and we put the dresses on there and then picked them all up together. It must have gotten mixed up. So, sorry Everett, but that’s not a dress, it's a cast-off throw-away old shirt of Lord Stockton’s.” They start to laugh, and some of the others join in—including Rowena—but not everyone.
“Well I think it looks really nice,” the girl who asked the original question states. “I’m going to raid my dad’s wardrobe. Never would’ve thought of looking in there for something trendy to wear. Evie, do you think it would look nice in blue? He has loads of those blue pinstripes with white collars.”
Evie smiles genuinely in response. “They’re so nice. Kellen wears one, and it looks so cool on him.” She looks adoringly up at Marcus, touching his hand. God, she’s so theatrical.
His eyes glaze over, his brain is mush. He’s like a puddle on the floor.
“I think it would look great if it was bigger and you belted it. You might need a brown belt though, as that looks better with blue.” Evie continues to smile at the girl as she offers her thoughts. “We can have a look tomorrow. Get Kellen’s shirts out. Can’t we, Kell?”
She’s touching his hands, running her fingers up and down his arm, and he doesn’t know what day of the week it is. I’m not sure he could answer with his own name, he just nods.
She turns her full smile on the other people who’ve backed her. She’s so fucking clever, bringing in her champions, and saying ‘bring it, bitches’ to the others.
“What shoes did you pair it with?” Issy asks, clearly pushing innocence into her voice. She knows full well Evie has holey boots on.
“Shall I show you?” Evie says and stands.
It’s a total fuck you move, and I laugh. Kellen has not even noticed the shoes. He probably only got as far as her legs and is looking bewildered at the exchange.
“I feel like I need some catwalk music on,” she says, undisputedly in command of herself and this room. If they thought she would be embarrassed, they got it all wrong. She struts up and down the dining room with a little kick of her boots.
“Blundstones,” she says. “Best boots ever. And to be fair, these were Kellen’s. So I’m dressed head to toe in Russell exclusives,” she crows, laughing. “Recycling at its finest. I’m very passionate about the environment,” she says seriously. “Are you going on the marches?” And just like that, she’s turned off the conversation of her outfit and on to other matters.
I look at her when a lull comes in the conversation. “Did I tell you how amazing you are,” I say to her.
Her grin knocks me over like a warm summer breeze. “I know it, Xan. But thanks, you ain't so bad yourself.”
“Are you hitting on Marcus’s girlfriend, Xander?” accuses Issy. She’s left her seat and comes around the table to cause trouble.
“Absolutely. Guilty as charged. I’ve told him I’m waiting for him to make a mess of things so then Evie will go out with me.” I smirk at Evie. She knows I’m not actually joking.
“In your dreams,” scoffs Isobel.
“Yeah, those as well. They’re very vivid,” I tell her. Evie and I start to laugh.
She pops at Evie next. “You think you’ve got Marcus where you want him? Well, he promised my friend a motorbike ride tonight. She is sixteen, you know.” She places emphasis on the age.
“Has she got a licence? My brothers ride bikes round the fields all the time. I fall off a lot, but it’s such good fun,” Evie replies blithely. She side-eyes me to keep up the pretence.
“You’re so thick, Evie. He’s going to have sex with her. Yourboyfriendis seeing someone else.”
Evie looks at her and then turns towards Kellen, who is talking to another group at the bottom of the room. Shouting at the top of her lungs, she turns the tables. “Kellen, are you taking that girl out on a motorbike tonight to have sex with her?”
The whole room stops. I smother my laugh. It’s a good job Rowena has left the party. The sidekick has gone bright red, and Issy looks like she wants the floor to open up and swallow her.
He comes straight over. “No, who told you that?”
Evie points at Issy. No quarter asked for, none given.
Isobel sputters out, “I never did. Why would I say that to your girlfriend, Kellen?”
“It’s Marcus to you Isobel.” His voice is sharp. It’s the first time I’ve heard him use that tone with her.
