Page 61 of Begin Again Again

Beth wanted to tell him he was amazing for being here, but she had a feeling he didn’t want to hear it. She watched the emcee stagger on stage, acting as though Sal had been so good it hurt them. They grabbed the mic. “Put your hands together for Musk-Skank Sally!”

The warehouse shuddered under more applause.

“They really were great,” Beth said. “Really cool.”

“Yeah, that’s good.” Byron screwed up his eyes. “I just…”

“What?”

He opened his mouth, closed it, then shook his head. “Wouldn’t it be more fun for Sal if I wasn’t here? Or our parents? They know I shut my eyes, why would they want me to come?”

Beth frowned. “You really want my opinion?”

“Definitely.”

“Well, that’s easy.” She gestured to the audience, some of whom were still clapping, others laughing or imitating Sal’s routine. “Look at how pumped up everyone is. Sal did that. Why wouldn’t they want to share that with you?”

Byron raised his eyebrows. “Mmmm, maybe?”

“Come on! That’s exactly it!”

He gave her a small smile. “That’s pretty smart, Horoscopes.”

Beth folded her arms across her chest.“I know it is.”

“Do you? And do you know if you want to get kissed?”

She smiled. “I think so. If someone would like to kiss me.”

Byron leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He tasted like scotch and soda and god he couldkiss. His hands slid down her back, gripping her ass, and Beth moaned into his mouth. He kissed her slower, almost lazily. Like he knew he was melting her into a puddle. Beth’s mind raced ahead to where this could go. They’d seen Sal. Maybe they could stay for one more drink and—

“Hello there, brother. Nice night for it.”

Beth turned. Sal was standing behind her in a mauve dressing gown, their rubber-gloved hands on their hips.

Chapter 11

Byron didn’t know why he was so embarrassed to be caught kissing Beth. Sal had seen him with girls before and they were attheirburlesque show. But as Sal grinned up at him, he had the inexpressible urge to deny what they’d just seen with their own eyes.

“Hi there.” Beth held out her hand to Sal. “Are you okay with touching?”

“Sure,” Sal said.

They shook, smiling at each other.

“Congrats on your show,” Beth said. “You were amazing.”

“Gracias!” Sal’s eyes snapped to him. “What did you think of myperformance, big brother?”

Byron thought he was grateful Sal was now wearing a dressing gown. He was about to tell them so, when he remembered what Beth said. He smiled at his sister. “You were great. Everyone seemed into it. Tonnes of cheering.”

Sal beamed back at him. “Thanks! It was amazing up there.”

He’d said it, the right thing. He flashed a quick smile at Beth and hugged his sister, lifting them up so they were on a level. Sal wrapped their arms around his back and tried to crush him. “Thanks, big brother. I just wish Mum and Dad had come.”

Byron felt like he’d missed a step going downstairs. No matter what he did, it was never enough. He was only ever a shitty ambassador for their parents. He put Sal down and stepped back to Beth’s side.

“What?” Sal demanded.

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