Page 83 of Kicks

“Not long now, babe. Then you can put it all behind you.”

Will it be as easy as that?

EIGHTEEN

BILLY

“He’s here,” Crystal exclaimed.

Billy squinted in the direction she pointed. He was going to have to give in and get his eyes tested. Another sign that his thirtieth birthday was on the horizon.

Sure enough, there was Eddie. As usual, effortlessly gorgeous in a white T-shirt and jeans.

“Hello, you two,” Eddie said.

“I got into summer camp,” Crystal blurted out. “And if I do well, I’ve got a place.”

Eddie hugged her tightly. “That’s brilliant news.”

He extracted himself from Crystal and kissed Billy on the cheek.

“You must be over the moon,” he said.

There was something different about him. Billy couldn’t put his finger on it. A pang of worry lodged in his stomach.

“Shall we go in?”

They were outside a high-end burger place in the centre of town. It was Crystal’s favourite restaurant, so it had been a no-brainer.

“I got to choose,” Crystal said, linking Eddie’s arm as they walked in.

“I love it here,” Eddie replied. “Me and my friends come all the time.”

Once they were taken to their booth, they settled in. Crystal had insisted on sitting next to Eddie and currently regaled him with all the details of what the next few weeks would have in store.

“Where will you stay?” Eddie asked.

“They use empty halls of residences,” Billy explained. “That way they can keep an eye on them. No stupid parties, remember.”

Crystal rolled her eyes. “As if. I’m not a kid, Billy. I know what this means for me.”

“I know you do. I’m so proud of you.”

“Can I have a triple burger and milkshake then?”

“Yes, you little mercenary.”

He caught Eddie’s eye and frowned. “What’s up, Eddie? You seem under the weather.”

Eddie rubbed his head. “Scott made cocktails last night. It’s all self-inflicted.”

“No sympathy,” Billy replied.

Eddie smiled weakly. Billy tried to put his apathy down to a hangover but he was getting a vibe from Eddie that made him nervous.

Why can’t he look me in the eye?

“I’m going to a sleepover at my mate, Cassie’s, tonight,” Crystal continued. “She’s gutted I’m going away. We were going to sell friendship bands on the seafront this summer. We got all the stuff in and everything.”