Page 8 of The Guilty Girl

‘Want to get a drink?’

‘I’m okay.’ Sean tipped the bottle to his mouth and nearly gagged as the cider scalded his throat. ‘It’s hot in here.’

‘What?’

He was leaning towards Cormac to repeat his words when he noticed the lad at the drinks table eyeing them.

‘Who’s the kid?’

‘Jake. Hannah thinks he’s a drug dealer.’

Sean stepped back, bumping into someone behind him, and felt a stream of warm liquid soak his T-shirt.

‘Drugs? That’s so not cool. I’m leaving before someone calls the guards. I’ll be mincemeat if my mother finds out there were drugs here.’

‘Get real, Sean. She has to know house parties are drug dens.’

Sean squirmed. ‘I doubt if she thought Lucy McAllister would be the type of girl to have drugs at her party.’

‘Lucy is exactly the type. Her parents are in Spain, so when the cat’s away and all that.’

‘How do you even know that?’ Sean felt a shot of panic. He was surely dead if his mother found out Lucy’s olds were not at home. Confined to his room for a month, maybe the whole summer.

Cormac tapped the side of his nose. Sean sipped his tepid cider and surveyed the damage being caused to the McAllisters’ beautiful home.

‘There will be some mess to be cleaned up in the morning,’ he said. Why had he said that? Definitely time to leave.

Cormac laughed. ‘Can you imagine Lucy going around with a mop and bucket? I’d pay to see that. She’s not the type to break a nail to save a life, never mind lift a mop.’

‘You’re so right.’

‘This is boring. Hold my space. I want to see what Jake has to offer.’

Sean watched as Cormac haggled with the dark-haired boy behind the table. He looked away quickly as the deal was being done. Maybe he should have a look outside to see if his mother was actually waiting for him and catch a lift home. The sanctuary of his room with his gaming gear was more inviting than a night of warm drinks being spilled on him and watching his friends getting high.

Before he could move, Cormac was back by his side with a giddy smile. ‘I hope it’s good stuff, because this party is shite.’

Sean sighed. How soon could he make his escape?

Later, as he edged towards the door, he saw Hannah approaching him. She might be pretty, but he really needed to get out of there. Then again, she was very pretty!

* * *

Lottie yawned and closed her eyes for a moment before shaking herself awake. It was close on midnight and she hoped Sean would leave the party soon. The music was deafening even with the car windows closed. The McAllisters were lucky they had no close neighbours, or the garda station would be flooded with complaints.

She let her eyelids droop again.

A knock on the window made her jump. She banged her knee against the steering wheel. ‘What the hell?’ She relaxed seeing the grinning face of her son.

He walked around the car and slid into the passenger seat.

‘I knew you’d be here. Thanks, Mam.’

‘You’re not mad at me?’

‘For once, I’m glad. It’ll be impossible to get a taxi later on.’

She started the engine, hit the lights and reversed out onto the road. ‘Dull party?’