Page 32 of When We Were Young

‘You fucking bastard!’ spat Aidan, striding towards him, his face twisted in rage.

Aidan shoved him so hard he fell into a garden hedge, twigs puncturing his clothes and skin. He lost his footing, trying to right himself, and slapped onto the pavement.

As he scrambled to get up, Aidan booted him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending shock waves of pain through his core.

With a guttural wail, Will rolled over and curled up into a protective ball.

Aidan’s boot rammed into his exposed lower back once, twice, three times.

This new pain was raw and astonishing. Every nerve ending in his body screamed for attention.

Will pushed himself onto all fours, gasping for breath.

Nausea spiralled up from his gut, filling his mouth with saliva.

He spat on to the ground. What was Aidan waiting for?

He had him on the ropes. He could finish him.

Will grabbed the hedge and dragged himself up to standing.

‘What the fuck, Aidan?’ he panted.

‘I just saw you with Emily!’

‘She dumped you, you fuckwit.’

‘ Yesterday! And you’re sniffing around her already. Would you jump in my grave as quick?’

Aidan thrust his palms into his chest, but this time, Will was ready and pushed back, his hands tingling with adrenaline.

‘You’re not together anymore. Get over it!’

Aidan squared up to him, chest puffed, chin jutting forward. ‘She’s a slut!’

That was it. Something snapped in Will, and he gave in to the overwhelming urge to punch that stupid face. He swung his fist, and it connected with a satisfying thud.

For a split second, Aidan looked surprised, his mouth open in a little ‘o’ shape. Then he composed himself and was back talking and shoving and getting in his face. ‘Go ahead. I couldn’t give a shit. You can have her.’

Will swung again and again, not always hitting his target, but mostly.

‘Oi!’ came a shout from an upper window. ‘Clear off or I’ll call the police!’

Aidan retreated, wiping the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

‘You can have my sloppy seconds,’ he said.

He got back into his car and sped off, tyres squealing.