Page 7 of Kicks
When Billy had sold their mother’s house, Harry had been perfectly content to take his share of the proceeds.
“Do you think they will?”
Billy squeezed her shoulder. “Not really, because I won’t let them.”
The sea was sparkling in the late evening sunlight. Billy sat on a wall, watching the waves. They hadn’t had much wind all day, so they weren’t dramatic.
He looked down at the phone in his hand.
Just bloody do it.
Billy took a deep breath and dialled the number.
“Billy?”
“Hi, Harry.”
“What’s the matter? Is Crystal okay?”
“She’s fine. I need to see you.”
Billy closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable rejection. It wouldn’t be the first time. Instead he was met by silence.
“Harry? You still there?”
“Should I be worried?”
“Not at all,” Billy replied. He didn’t want to have to beg for help over the phone. “It’s just easier to say face-to-face.”
“Hmm, reassuring,” Harry said. “Okay, when and where?”
“The shop. Tomorrow morning. Come any time.”
“Fine. I’ll see you then.”
He terminated the call. Billy put his phone back in his pocket and looked back out towards the horizon.
It hadn’t been a straight no.
Maybe things were going to look up. Would that be too much to hope for?
THREE
EDDIE
Eddie, Scott and Tyler were doing their third circuit of the industrial estate that the Pleasure Seekers headquarters shared with haulage companies and an artisan brewery. Clouds loomed threateningly over them.
So far, they had worked up a little sweat. A few more laps would get the heartrate up.
“Let’s go for another,” Eddie said, panting.
“Do we have to go so fast?” Scott wailed as he tried to keep up with Tyler and Eddie.
“That’s the point,” Tyler replied. “This is a power walk. I thought we wanted to get fit?”
They carried on.
“I’m not sure this is the best idea,” Scott said.
