Page 18 of Kicks

Crystal leapt up. “Everyone will take the piss at school.”

“Sit down, please,” Billy said in his best commanding voice. It must have worked as she obeyed immediately. “And please mind your language, Crystal. I mean it.”

“Hah,” she said. “You’re selling vibrators and worrying about me swearing. That’s bloody rich.”

“You’re fifteen. Different rules. Deal with it,” Billy fired in response. “If we don’t do something major, we’ll be finished.”

“Why can’t you sell the place?” Crystal asked. “It only reminds me of them anyway.”

“I want you to be reminded of Mum,” Billy said.

Tears welled in her eyes. “And Dad?”

“Maybe not so much.”

“It’s still got his name above the door.”

“Then all the more reason to change it,” Billy said. “Imagine his face if he found out what we’re thinking of selling.”

Despite the atmosphere, Crystal clearly saw the humour in the situation. “I suppose that would be funny.”

Billy took her hand. “I’m doing what I can,” he said. “How about we give it six months? If nothing happens, then we’ll sell it. I promise. You’ll be going off to university in no time. We need money either way.”

“What will you do? If we sold.”

That was quite the question. “I’ll be an expert in butt plugs by then. Sex sells.”

She shoved him. “That’s gross. I suppose it’s worth a shot.”

“Thank you, darling.”

The smoke alarm went off in the kitchen.

“Shit. The potatoes.”

She leapt off the sofa and ran into the kitchen.

“Language,” Billy shouted after her. “And bring the takeaway menus with you.”

FIVE

EDDIE

Eddie put his knife and fork down. He sat back and rubbed his belly.

“Tyler, that was amazing. Danny’s a lucky man.”

Tyler had become the unofficial chef of the flat they shared. Eddie usually heated things from the supermarket chiller aisle. Scott tended to burn things. So when Tyler had moved in, they’d welcomed his skills with open arms.

“In more ways than one,” Scott replied. “If the noises at night are to be believed.”

Tyler blushed. “Are you listening at my door again, Scott?”

Eddie laughed. “Poor thing hasn’t had much action lately.”

“Bugger off,” Scott said snootily. “I’ve decided to go for quality than quantity from now on. The numbers game clearly wasn’t working.”

Tyler patted him on the arm. “The rest will do you good. To be honest, I’m far more worried about your knees than Eddie’s when he goes on an occasional run.”