Page 96 of Seven Letters

Riley made a face. ‘I really don’t know. I doubt it. I hope not.’

‘What’s the age you stop having sex? Fifty? Actually, no, it must be older. The one fromSex and the Citywho has loads of sex is fifty.’

‘Yeah, but you do realize she’s acting having sex, notactuallyhaving it.’

Shocko threw a stray sock at her. ‘Duh, I know that, but I reckon she’s up for it in real life too. Maybe it’s sixty.’

‘Well, Granddad is sixty-nine, so I guess he could still be at it.’

‘Does your dick go all wrinkly like women’s boobs?’

‘Jesus, I don’t know!’

‘At least women can have boob jobs. Men can’t have dick jobs.’

‘Yeah, but men have Viagra. We don’t have that.’

Shocko heaved himself off the beanbag and stretched his arms over his head. ‘My dad says they need to invent female Viagra ASAP. He says it’ll make marriages last way longer.’

Riley peeled off the last piece of varnish and flicked it into the wastepaper basket. ‘I wonder if Adam will marry again. I bet he does. He’s such a selfish bastard. I bet he marries some stupid young cow who wants sex all the time.’

Shocko rolled his shoulders to release the stiffness. ‘I thought you liked your uncle – before all this, I mean.’

‘I did like him. Sarah and he were crazy about each other. They had a brilliant relationship. They never seemed to fight … but, then, Sarah never fought with anyone.’

‘God, it’s World War Three in my house most days.’

‘Yeah, my parents fight too,’ Riley said. ‘But I never saw Adam and Sarah arguing.’

Riley was worried about her family. The letter from the solicitor had pushed them over the edge. Her mum was really hurt now as well as being upset, and so was Granddad. He was coming over with annoying Olivia to discuss what to do.

Shocko picked up his guitar and waved a hand at Riley. ‘Later. Call me if you can’t sleep again – I’ll leave my phone on.’

‘Thanks, I will, and thanks for last night.’

‘Hey, that’s what best mates are for.’

He was leaving the room when Riley went up and hugged him from behind. ‘You’re the best, Shocko,’ she said.

The night before she’d woken up, soaked in sweat and shaking, from a nightmare about Sarah’s bloated face and the green gunk coming out of the tube in her head. She’d calledShocko, who had talked to her for an hour until she’d felt calm enough to try to sleep again.

Shocko cleared his throat. ‘Yeah, like, anytime.’

Riley heard voices downstairs, it was her granddad and Olivia arriving. She followed Shocko down, then ran to Charlie.

‘Hi, Granddad.’ She flung her arms around him.

Charlie clung to her. ‘Hello, pet. It’s good to see you.’

‘Hello, Mr Wilson. I’m sorry for your … your, uhm, situation.’ Shocko shook Charlie’s hand.

‘Oooh, is this your boyfriend, Riley?’ Olivia looked Shocko up and down. ‘He seems like a nice boy. Lovely manners anyway.’

Shocko’s face turned a deep shade of red.

‘No,’ Riley said. ‘Shocko’s my best mate.’

Olivia smiled. ‘Well, we all know that friends can turn to lovers. Charlie and I were friends first, weren’t we?’

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