Page 18 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron (Blindsided #2)

Chapter eighteen

Text Wars

T welve months after the funeral

Byron: Ur dad’s a menace. just offered me tofu burgers and tried to convert me with a dad talk. help. he said they “cleanse the blood.”

is this a threat?

Ana: He’s on his annual “artery-awareness” kick. Mum’s convinced if he eats one more egg he’ll explode.

For the record: I ate a lamb kebab in front of her just last week.

Byron: good. was startin to think u’d gone veggie.

was gonna stage an intervention.

Ana: I’m many things, Roberton. Starving isn’t one of them.

FYI, they’re not burgers, they’re bean patties. And he was being polite. You did call Manchester “a grey industrial misery pit” at dinner, I heard.

Byron: bc it is?? And I was pulling his leg.

And he came for my city. so I asked if Sicily even had electricity yet. and tofu smells like bin juice

Ana: You didn’t. And I may agree with that.

Byron: I did.

He blinked twice and I could hear his teeth grinding.

Ana: Byron.

He’s from Palermo.

Byron: Still think they run on goats and good intentions.

Ana: You’re the reason British people aren’t allowed to travel unsupervised.

Byron: love u too xx

***

Two weeks later

Byron: match report: I scored. twice.

u missed the magic. ur loss .

Ana: I was dodging gunfire. I’ll catch the next one, superstar.

Byron: fine. but bring actual food. not ur rabbit nonsense.

Ana: No one is stopping you from eating dead things. I just choose not to at the moment.

Also-I saw the footage on youtube. That second try was not a try. Your toe was on the line.

***

A few days later

Byron: we beat Sale.

scored once. broke a rib.

worth it.

Ana: Is this your way of flirting?

“Hey babe, I’m internally bleeding but emotionally available.”

Byron: u like me best broken. admit it.

Ana: Please. You barely function unbroken .

Also, sent you that hot sauce from Morocco. Try not to cry.

Byron: My eggs are on fire.

tastes like murder. 10/10.

***

Mid-month

Ana: Sylvia check in?

Byron: brief. she’s deep under.

Am trying not to freak out.

Ana: Tell her I think she’s a badass.

And if she needs someone to leak something anonymously to the press… well. I know a girl.

Byron: *Wink emoji*

u still the biggest gossip in Manchester?

Ana: Only if the stories are true.

***

Later that month

Byron : ur mum sent me chia pudding

am i supposed to eat it or exfoliate with it?

Ana: She’s spiralling. Your arteries are next.

She’s going to start offering kale shots at Cadi’s baby shower.

Byron: speakin of, u done with prep?

Ana: Almost. I’ve got pastel balloons, tiny clothes on string, and enough cupcakes to choke a rugby team.

Gray tried to interfere. I banned him.

Byron: good. he wanted a spit roast pig.

For a baby shower.

***

Days before the shower

Ana: Cadi’s glowing. She’s going to pretend she doesn’t want to cry when she sees the book I bought her.

Bet you five quid she sobs at page two.

Byron: i’ll double it.

Also, S yl picked the baby onesie. it says Future Interrogator

Ana: She’s a menace.

She’s also brilliant.

Byron: like someone else i know.

ur shower gift for cads better be epic. she still sulkin u skipped the hen-do.

Ana: I was detained at the border, Byron.

***