Page 27 of Begin Again Again

“Beth. Bethany Myers.”

“Oooh,Bethany Myers.”

Why had he said that? Why hadn’t he said, ‘just a girl?’ His mind strained, trying to take him back to his stupid line in the pub. Byron shoved it away. “It’s nothing serious.”

“Who cares? At least you’re back out there.”

“Yep, I’m really fucking out there.”

The bell above the door jangled as he strode into the store. He headed to the back where the fridges full of iced coffee lay. “Don’t tell Mum and Dad.”

“Because they’ll lose hope you’re getting back together with The Cuntess?”

“Watch it,” he said half-heartedly. If Audrey hadn’t insisted on telling everyone she was related to the eighth Countess of Carnarvon, she wouldn’t have gotten the nickname. That and she shouldn’t have told Sal their Instagram was ‘so brave.’

“I won’t tell Mum and Dad,” Sal said. “But you should. It’s not normal for them to be attached to some chick you dated two years ago.”

“Eighteen months.” Byron pulled three extra-shot Ice Breaks from the store fridge. “Dad called her my girlfriend this morning.”

“For fuck’s sake, it’s been two years!”

“Eighteen months.”

“Who gives a flying fuck? Tell them what she said when she dumped you, and they’ll drop kick her from their minds.”

“No fucking chance.”

“You big noonie.”

Byron scowled. “Yeah, cheers. I’ve gotta go.”

“Hang on!” Sal’s bedsprings creaked. “Youpromiseyou’re coming to my show, right?”

“When is it again?”

“Tomorrow night! I already got you two tickets. You can bring Derek.”

“I fail to see that happening.”

“Or Bethany Myers? Hey, yeah! Bring Bethany Myers!”

“Uhhhh?”

“Or do whatever you want. Just come,” Sal said quickly. “Talk soon. Have a good day. I’ll send you some memes.”

“See you, Sal.”

They hung up. Byron walked to the counter to pay for the iced coffees. Hecouldask Beth to his sister’s burlesque show, but hadn’t he shown her a weird enough time already? He tapped his phone to the pay button, smiled at the attendant and headed outside. The sunlight was pale but gaining strength. He turned his face to the sun, soaking it in. Why not invite Beth? Lean into the strangeness? He liked her. They’d clicked and he didn’t click with…

Anyone?

… many people these days. But she’d left when he was sure he’d asked her to stay. If he hit her up again, she might tell him to go fuck himself. Or she’d be nice and blow him off, but this morning was hard enough without knowing he’d biffed it with a hot chick.

Byron leaned against the corner store wall and cracked open his Ice Break. Things didn’t look good with Beth, but she’d still messaged him when she left. That had to count for something. And hewantedto see her again almost as much as he wanted to touch her again. Mind made up, Byron placed the three iced coffees on the footpath and pulled out his phone.

Redo?

Before he could question anything, he hit send. Then he turned off his phone and headed back to his dad and the day’s work.

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