Page 19 of Sing it, Sam

“Why would he do that?”

“Ever since he was little, he was an opposites boy. He’d do the complete opposite to what he was supposed to. Maybe I should’ve told him to stay in his room. Keep to himself.”

“He might not always do the opposite. He did apologise for the other week.”

“Oh, he did, did he?”

“In his own way,” I add, pulling my lower lip into my mouth.

A grin curls at the sides of his lips. “Of course, in his own way. That kid only does things his own way. He’s a stubborn prick sometimes.”

“Well, I can understand that. It can’t be easy for him living in a home.”

Silence stretches between us. I take a mouthful of punch. And then another.

“Tell me. How does a pretty girl like you end up working in a nursing home?” Ben asks.

He called me pretty.Oh boy. I try to ward off the blush rising to my cheeks with the power of my mind. On second thoughts, I shouldn’t fight it. I’ll probably end up looking constipated or something. “Is it so hard to believe that I wanted to work there?”

“I guess not. But it’s not something I’d volunteer for.”

“Well, it helps me pay rent and all that too, so that’s a bonus.”

“Hello there, handsome,” a squeaky voice calls from behind Ben.

He turns to face a girl in a bright aqua and pink floral dress with equally as brilliant pink lipstick and nails. Kara has really gone all-out with her outfit tonight. It’s a far cry from the usual workwear my old school friend wears when she’s hay-bailing with her dad.

“Hi, Kara,” I say, but she doesn’t hear me. She’s transfixed on Ben.

“Hi there,” Ben says in a deep voice. I swear his tone is capable of melting panties in Willow Creek and beyond.

“Dance?” she asks, curling her arm around his and dragging him towards the makeshift dance floor before he has time to answer.

He turns his head towards me, and drags his feet as he follows Kara.“I don’t dance,”he mouths to me.

“You do now,” I say through a chuckle.

Fantastic Forearms doesn’t have as much rhythm as you’d expect, but I guess he’s trying. Either that or he’s trying to keep up the awkward Clark Kent charade. It makes him more adorable.

I head back to the bar and order five glasses of bubbles, and carry them on a tray over to the girls. When I reach the group, Janice is missing.

I place the drink tray on the edge of the table. “My shout, girls. I just wanted to say thanks for being so welcoming.” I take each glass and one by one, place a drink in front of Britt, Hannah, and Leonie.

“Aw, thanks. I’m glad to have someone new in the group,” Britt says. “I’m all about sharing the journey.”

“Yeah,” Leonie says and winks. “Welcome aboard, literary sister.”

“Thank you.” I place the last glass of bubbles on the edge of the table where Janice was sitting. “Where’s Janice?”

“She left. She was shitting me anyway,” Hannah says and sculls down the rest of her drink. She swoops up the glass I’ve placed in front of her. “She needs to learn to relax.”

“I think we need a cheers,” Britt says, raising her plastic glass.

“Yes!” Leonie shouts, swaying in her seat. Four plastic cups filled with bubbles meet in the middle of the table.

Before I know it, we’re toasting a second time and then a third. I hate to admit it, but the inclusion of alcohol is helping bring us closer together … or maybe it’s the fact that we aren’t just focused on writing, but rather, getting to know each other. We talk about exes and about love found and lost. Britt opens up about losing her husband to cancer before brushing it off to talk about aromatherapy. As much as I’m curious about her husband and how she’s coped with the loss, I engage with her when she talks about the health benefits of essential oils. I get the feeling that talking about him is still raw for her.

“Come on, Clarky,” I hear a voice whine in the distance. All of our heads swing towards the dance floor.He’s still out there? Wow.He obliged her all this time?

“Sorry, Kara, duty calls,” Ben says, lifting up her hand and planting a kiss on the top of her knuckles.

He makes a quick exit out of the hall, favouring his right foot along the way.

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