“There’s no one else in your family…?”
“Who? My grandparents? Mum doesn’t like asking for help – I thought you knew that.”
I watch her for a moment, then turn my gaze back to him.
“You could come along and watch one of our matches,” I say, without thinking.
“Mmm.”
“I could get you some tickets, if you wanted to bring someone.”
“Seriously?”
“Maybe on Sunday? We’re playing at the Aviva.”
“How would I get there? Mum’ll be working.”
“I could ask my brother, Nick,” I say instinctively. “If your mum doesn’t mind.”
“Mum?” he calls to her. “On Sunday I’m going to watch Ryan play.”
She turns around suddenly.
“I’m going with his brother.”
“Are you telling me or asking my permission?”
He scoffs. “Can I go?”
“We’ll talk about it.”
Evan nods at me to say that he’ll be there, then starts to head upstairs – but not without one of his pearls of wisdom.
“It’d be better if you went home. You’ve already got away with too much for tonight.”
I shake my head, amused, but the boy was serious – so serious that, as he climbs the stairs, he gestures with his finger that he’s keeping an eye on me. And I know that he really is.
I collect up the glasses from the coffee table and take them into the kitchen.
“You can just leave them there on the counter, I’ll sort them out tomorrow.”
I clear my throat. “Thanks.”
Wow. I’m taking some really big steps here. This time I said it without even needing the paper bag.
“It was just a pizza,” she shrugs.
“Also for forgiving me.”
She turns to me. “I haven’t.”
“So why did you let me stay?”
“For Evan. He invited you, and I didn’t really fancy telling him that you fucked his mother before walking out on her.”
Here we go again.
“Christine…”
