Chapter One
Having her birthday fall on a Sunday meant Keira didn’t have to put any thought into how to celebrate. She’d spend the evening the same way she spent every Sunday evening: in the local pub with her best friend, Mel – listening to the dulcet tones of strangers singing karaoke.
“Are you sure you don’t want to do something different tonight?” Mel asked when Keira flopped onto the couch in the living room of their rented two-bedroom apartment in Bristol.
“No. I’m very happy with a couple of drinks in the Flute and Fiddle.”
Mel pushed her short blonde hair away from her face but kept her eyes on her phone. “I can always round up the gang if you want a proper party.”
“No, thanks.” Rounding up the gang would involve spending the evening in a gay bar with Mel’s friends, and their nights out were a bit too wild for Keira’s liking.
With a look of defeat, Mel changed the subject. “How was it at your mum and dad’s?”
“Good.” Keira had dutifully gone over for lunch.
“What did you eat?”
“Egg and chips.” Admittedly it wasn’t the grandest of birthday lunches, but the way Mel rolled her eyes annoyed Keira immensely.
“Do they ever eat a meal that doesn’t include chips?”
“No idea,” she said frostily.
“Sorry. I just thought they might have gone to a bit more effort.”
“Mum baked a cake.”
Mel looked unimpressed. “Did they get you a present?”
It was tempting to make up something that wouldn’t prompt more eye-rolling from Mel. Except if she said they’d got something impressive, Mel would inevitably want to see it.
“An umbrella and a couple of scratch cards,” Keira admitted. She closed her eyes briefly to avoid the look of disdain on Mel’s face, but it was evident in her voice anyway.
“Did you happen to win thousands of pounds on your scratch cards?”
“Nope.”
“Your dad would probably have claimed it back from you if you had.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” Keira said through gritted teeth.
“I hope he didn’t ask you to lend him money on your birthday?”
“Of course he didn’t.” To be fair, Keira wouldn’t have been surprised if he had, but she resented Mel’s comment nonetheless. Coming from a perfect, supportive family, it was difficult for Mel to understand the nuances of Keira’s less functional family. She stood, needing to put an end to the conversation. “I’m going to have a shower. What time are we going to the pub?”
“Whenever you want. I was going to cook mushroom risotto for dinner before we go.”
The mention of Keira’s favourite meal put Mel firmly back in her good books. “Thank you.”
“I also have an idea for how to liven up your birthday, if you’re really going to insist on staying in the Flute and Fiddle for the evening …”
“What is it?”
“You should ask Noah out.”
Keira leaned on the doorframe. “There’s no way I’m asking Noah out. We already talked about this – I can’t date the barman of our local pub. If it doesn’t work out we’d have to find a new local. Besides, he’s not interested in me like that.”
“The flirty banter that’s been going on between you for the last two months would suggest otherwise.”