Page 58 of Inbetweeners
“You can remember the number?”
Emmett nodded.
“What’s your story?”
“I’m an old friend of Emmett’s who’s been working for theBritish Arctic Research Station at Ny-Ålesund on Spitsbergen. My first trip home, so I wanted to go and see his parents and give them my condolences …”
Phoenix gaped at him. “Where did that come from? Do you know anything about the place?”
“Enough. Apparently.”
“So who am I going to be?”
Emmett started. “You want to come?”
“We stay together. I could be your boyfriend.”
Emmett couldn’t help himself. “You think you can pretend to like me for more than five minutes?”
“I could probably manage six. If pushed.”
“Dickhead. I’ll phone them.”
Emmett made the call.
“Hello?”
The moment he hear his mother's voice, his mouth went dry. “Good afternoon. My name’s Sebastian Holt. I’m… I was a friend of Emmett’s. I’ve been out of the country since he died and I wondered if I could come and see you before I go abroad again. I won’t take up much of your time.”
“Er…”
“I can be there within the hour.”
“We can spare a few minutes. You know our address?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
She ended the call.
Fifty minutes later, Emmett was parking in the driveway of his parents’ house.
“Isn’t this going to be a bit weird?” Harry said.
“More than you know,” Emmett muttered.
Leaving Harry behind had been a non-starter. He’d insisted on going with them and threatened to wander around the streets if they didn’t take him. The door opened before the three of them reached it. Emmett wasn’t sure what he expected to feel when he saw his mother. Had she missed him? She looked exactly the same, her hair pulled up into an elegant bun, her make-up immaculate. She was wearing a long linen dress with a flowered pattern.
Emmett put out his hand. “Sebastian Holt. I’m pleased to meet you. Sorry it’s under such difficult circumstances.”
She nodded and shook his hand.
“I hope you don’t mind that I brought my boyfriend, Phoenix.”
Phoenix put out his hand. “Hello.”
“Not at all.” She shook his hand and gestured them in.
Emmett had taken two steps towards the drawing room before Phoenix yanked him back.Oh yeah, we need to follow her.
