Page 93 of Second Verse

‘I owe you for mine,’ Norah said.

‘My treat. You just got sacked,’ Poppy pointed out.

‘Not that I don’t appreciate the snapshot of your lives, but can you move?’ the ice cream man asked. ‘I’ve got other customers.’

‘Jesus, we’re going,’ Poppy said.

They shuffled off to the side and were quickly replaced by more ice cream lovers.

Norah and Poppy walked over to the park and went through the gate, finding a free bench to sit and watch the kids going up and down on a seesaw with a bit too much vigour. They’d already finished their ice creams, and both of them were wearing a not-small percentage of them on their respective faces.

‘Look, I’m sorry for bringing this up. If you don’t think it matters, then I guess it doesn’t,’ Norah said, working her way down her ice cream at what she hoped was an adult pace.

‘I didn’t say it doesn’t matter,’ Poppy began. ‘I just think... It’s in the past. And you’ve got more important things to think about.’

‘What does that mean?’ Norah asked, confused.

‘Ask your mum,’ Poppy said, stuffing ice cream into her mouth.

‘About?’

‘Max.’

‘Why would I ask her about him?’ Norah replied, mildly disgusted to have to think about Max right now.

‘Because she thinks you’re getting back with him,’ Poppy told her through some more ice cream.

‘What?’ Norah nearly yelled.

‘Yes. She came to see me and told me to back off. She loves a good warning, your mum.’

‘She came to see you? When?’ Poppy said.

‘The other night.’

‘And she said what,exactly?’

‘To leave you alone because I would be depriving a family of the chance to get back together,’ Poppy said quickly, shovelling the last bit of ice cream into her mouth.

‘That’snothappening,’ Norah assured her.

‘Are you sure?’ Poppy said.

‘Yes,’ Norah said quickly.

‘But...’

‘But what?’ Norah asked, feeling frustrated about the circles they were going in.

‘That’s not what you said the other night,’ Poppy said, sadness in her eyes that Norah couldn’t miss.

‘You mean...’

‘Yes.Then. It was pretty clear you weren’t over him.’

That pissed Norah right off. ‘I am. YouknowI am. Better than anyone.’

‘But you said you were...’ Poppy began and then stopped.

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