Page 50 of Ex in the City
‘Really?’ Joey squeaks with delight. ‘You would come to my party?’
Dylan nods with a friendly smile.
‘Of course,’ he replies. ‘Can I bring a friend?’
Joey turns to Jessica.
‘Mum, can Dylan come to my party, and can he bring a friend?’ he asks her.
I can’t help but laugh at how funny it sounds, Joey asking his mum if his new friend can come over.
‘Dylan can bring anyone he likes,’ Jessica tells him. ‘In fact, Dylan, if you give me your number, I can send you the details.’
Oh, smooth. So nicely done.
Dylan promptly hands her his phone – a little too promptly, maybe – and Jessica keys in her name and number.
Once Jessica and Joey head off, it’s just me and Dylan.
‘I can’t believe you’re going to a teenager’s birthday party later,’ I tease him.
‘We’re going to a teenager’s birthday party,’ he corrects me with a chuckle. ‘You didn’t think I’d go without you, did you?’
I laugh and roll my eyes in mock exasperation.
‘Oh, great,’ I say sarcastically. ‘Can’t wait.’
But, now that I think about it, is it weird that I can’t?
24
Standing in the village hall, with Dylan, at a teenage boy’s birthday party was not something I ever thought would happen this year – or ever.
It’s certainly not one of our usual haunts, or our usual crowds, but here we are.
Joey’s mum, Jessica, has gone all out, renting the village hall but, heartbreakingly, there are only five other kids here. There’s a DJ playing music and the disco lights are on but no one is home – well they are all quite literally at home, that’s the problem.
I lean in close to Dylan because, even over the music, in an otherwise empty room I worry my voice will carry.
‘This is so sad,’ I say softly. ‘I can’t believe Ellie hasn’t even shown up. She’s his sister, and she’s popular – she could’ve packed this place with kids if she wanted to.’
‘Kids can be cruel to each other, but hopefully, they grow out of it,’ he replies. ‘In the meantime, I’m determined to make sure Joey has a good birthday.’
Jessica and Joey make their way over to us.
‘Thanks so much for coming,’ Jessica tells us both, before turning to Dylan. ‘This is probably the quietest party you’ve ever been to, I’ll bet?’
‘Back in the day is a different story,’ Dylan replies. ‘But these days no one invites me to their parties, so thanks for letting me come.’
Dylan gives Joey an encouraging smile.
Jessica, not wasting an opportunity to flirt, tilts her head.
‘Speaking of back in the day, I would love to hear your stories sometime,’ she says. ‘Even if it has to be away from little ears.’
‘Mum, I’m fourteen,’ Joey reminds her with a groan.
Yeah, unfortunately, I know what she’s suggesting too.
