Page 56 of Now and Again

We had a fight. The day of the party. Didn’t he tell you?

He never said a word.

It got ugly. We both said some bad things to each other.

That makes a lot of sense. He’s been in a terrible mood.

Riley wouldn’t take responsibility for that.That would have nothing to do with me. He doesn’t give a shit about what I think.

He cares about your opinion more than you might imagine.

Riley wasn’t having any guilt trips.I doubt that. But even if it was true, that doesn’t mean I have to listen to his shit.

No. It doesn’t. Maybe neither of us do.

Riley couldn’t think what to say to that, so she said nothing, and Amanda didn’t say any more either.

***

‘India, I saidno. I have it in my texts; there’s a written record of it. NO. It’s right fucking here,’ Riley said, holding up her phone for dramatic emphasis. She’d only been back five minutes, and any plans to be more patient with India were out of the window.

India sighed. ‘I thought it was just banter. We both know you never do stuff unless I force you to do it. I’ve already confirmed with the guys.’

Riley tried to rein in her rage. She was living rent-free under India’s roof, and Riley had to remind herself she was grateful for that. ‘India,’ she said slowly and quietly. ‘I don’t need to beforcedto do anything. I live my life exactly as I want to. And that includes finding my own dates.’

India guffawed. ‘You live like a nun. I’m just trying to make sure your hymen doesn’t grow back or whatever.’

‘Has it ever occurred to you that I don’t need as much sex as you do, India?’ Riley asked.

‘Are you slut-shaming me?’ India asked, folding her arms across her chest.

‘On the contrary. You’re prude-shamingme,’ Riley told her.

India moaned. ‘Jesus. It’s one hour. One or two drinks.’

‘Here. So I can’t even leave when I want to.’

‘I guess you’ll just have to try for a change,’ India smirked.

‘You’re doing this onpurpose, aren’t you? Why?’ Riley asked. ‘Why do you care one way or the other if I’m seeing anyone?’

‘I just want you to be happy,’ India said. For a moment, Riley felt slightly guilty for questioning her motives. But then India added, ‘Which is never gonna happen if you keep picking up rubbish.’

‘Rubbish?’ Riley repeated quietly, angrily. ‘What the hell does that mean?’

India looked like she wasn’t sure she should have said that last part. But then she shrugged. ‘You’re my bestie, you know I think you’re... Well, you know, great and everything,’ she said quickly, with moderate awkwardness. India didn’t really go in for compliments as a general rule. Riley didn’t get a chance to appreciate the brief warmth, however, because India was quick to cancel it out. ‘But you do have this tendency to… date down,’ she finished.

Riley was agape. ‘Datedown?’

‘I can’t be telling you anything you don’t know. That you’ve got a bit of a wide-on for the proles. I’ve been known to swim in the shallow end myself. But you can’ttakethem anywhere, can you?’

Riley’s jaw was sitting on India’s expensive shag rug. ‘Are you fucking serious?’

India, who’d been on her backfoot before, decided to go on the offensive. ‘Riley, come on. If I didn’t have a point, you’d have stuck it out with someone, wouldn’t you? But it’s not what you’re looking for. Even if it does piss your dad off.’

Riley had never wanted to slap India around the face quite so much. ‘How could you say something like that?’ she breathed quietly.

‘What, I’m wrong?’ India said smugly.

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