Page 64 of Enemies to Lovers

‘God. Not to mention what happens afterwards …’ Kate pouts.

Mum holds up a finger.

‘Oh!’ points Alex, noticing she’s about to contribute, and I look up to demonstrate I am following along, listening intently. ‘Here she goes: Superwoman Veronica Greenberg is about to remind you that she went back to work two weeks after giving birth—’

‘Yes, Alexander,’ Mum says. ‘A fact I am very proud of, thank you, because it was resilience personified.’ She focuses on Kate. ‘It was a different time back then, you see. I couldn’t be seen to be weak, or different, after having children. The men didn’t have that problem, of course. It’s good that your generation has it different. Even in law, I’m sure there’s a lot more understanding.’

‘And shared parental leave,’ Kate nods. ‘But I can’t lie, I am nervous about that …’

I wonder if I seem distracted, because Alex gives me a look. I stay in neutral, as if there’s nothing for him tocomment on at all. Then I realise that he’s not lookingatme, but past me. It’s Adonis. He’s here with a pale-skinned and freckled blonde, who has the unmistakable air of tourist about her – her shoulders have sunburnt bikini-strap marks, just like mine did after day one. He waves at the table from where he is seated across the room, and Laurie says, ‘Are we okay with this?’

‘With what?’ I ask, since he’s looking directly at me.

‘I thought you and the Greek god were—’

I shake my head. ‘No, no,’ I say. ‘He’s not’ – I struggle to find the word – ‘my type,’ I settle on.

‘I’d have thought he was everybody’s type,’ Mum says with a giggle, and Kate leans across with her palm out. She says, ‘Veronica! Yes!’ and Mum gives her a high-five.

‘I’m ready for a subject change whenever you guys are,’ I say, keeping my voice bright so that I don’t accidentally lull my brothers into pushing the issue.

‘Oooh,’ Alex says. ‘Touché, little sister! His loss – that’s what I say.’ He wrinkles his nose at me.

I wrinkle mine back. Should I warn that girl what Adonis is really like? If somebody had warned me, would I have listened?

‘How about we decide on a plan for tomorrow?’ Dad interjects, and I am grateful. ‘I’d say we’re about due some culture, don’t you think? I’m a bit sick of all this relaxing. I need todo something.’

‘I second that motion,’ Mum smiles, with a nod. ‘We should at least do the ruins.’

‘I’m in,’ says Kate.

‘Same,’ says Laurie.

‘We might need to do two trips in the car then,’ Dad considers. ‘Or call a cab.’

‘Great!’ Mum says. ‘So – to bed now? It’s already gone eleven …’

‘I’ll get the bill,’ Dad says, and Laurie pipes up, ‘Let us, Dad. It’s the least we can do.’

Dad issues a raspberry noise in Laurie’s direction. ‘Nonsense,’ he says. ‘Save your money for the baby. It’s my pleasure.’

‘Drinks, anyone?’ Alex asks. ‘Ireallywant to go into town …’ He claps his hands together and rubs them, but his face quickly falls. Nobody wants a drink. He scowls. ‘Aww, man, come on! Somebody must want to come out?’ he begs. He looks round the table once more, mentally assessing which person would be most ripe for convincing. You can see him write off Mum and Dad for being too old, and then Kate and Laurie for being too coupled-up.

‘Flo? Jamie? Apparently things get really popping after midnight. Just a few drinks? I ambeggingyou. This holiday ismarveloso’ – here he looks at Mum with a flattering smile – ‘but I am a young man in his prime. I should be out there. Doing questionable things! What happens on holiday stays on holiday!’

‘I’m still trying to get over your use ofpopping,’ I tease. I feel Jamie smile next to me.

Alex fixes me with comically narrowed eyes, whichmakes me giggle, and then switches tack to sweet and innocent. ‘Please?’ he says, in a baby voice. ‘Pretty please?’

I couldalmostbe tempted by drinks. If Jamie comes …

‘Jamie, mate? You must go mad out there on the boats. Don’t you wanna have a little drink? A dance? A little flirty-flirt?’

‘I could be persuaded,’ Jamie says, and both men look at me.

‘Okay, fine,’ I say. ‘Let’s go and get fucked up in town!’

Mum tuts. ‘Not fucked up,’ she says. ‘That’s unladylike, and unsafe, for all of you.’

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