Page 24 of The Last Kiss

She means because no one else can beyou know, because I’m a singleton of life. But then I guess she is now too. What did getting married and trusting anyone give her, apart from a baby that communicates in upchuck and a wild terrorist that bites?

“Shall we have a coffee?” Her voice shakes.

I wince, twisting my lips. “It might need to be stronger.” And that’s it. Her tears fall and we cling onto one another, salt water from two different sources creating an unstoppable torrent.

“I can’t bloody believe this. I always knew he was shit.” Liv splashes more Tia Maria into her coffee. The coffee is long gone. She’s basically refilling straight Tia Maria. I mean it tastes of coffee—that makes it almost the same thing.

I stare into the depth of my mug, searching for the answers to the universe, like, how can life be so shit.

Paige’s hair is braided into tight French braids. My stomach gave a little squeeze as I did it, even the word French making me shiver.

“Dr Francis isn’t shit, Liv,” I lift my gaze from my fortune teller Tia Maria mug. “He was lovely actually. Even held my hand.” My voice tightens. “You know. When he told me.”

Liv grips her cup so tight her knuckles whiten. We will have a liqueur volcanic explosion if she carries on at this rate. “Right. Well, I’m coming next time, I’ve got questions.”

“Sure you have,” I smirk into my cup.

“And I’ll hold your damn hand.”

I can’t take a breath. My chest doesn’t want to play ball. I try to breathe through the panic, but it won’t ebb, won’t release the pressure around my sternum.

“Liv…”

She slips off her stool, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I’m not letting you go. You’ve all I’ve got.”

I swipe at my wet cheeks. “That’s not true. You’ve got Paige and Lenny. You can’t let this bring you down, you’ve got to be the best mum you can be for them.”

“I know, and I will, but I’ll also be the best sister. I’m going to fight for you, Julia. I’ll never let you go. Which makes me think.” She lets go of me, reaching for her phone where she fires off a quick message. I straighten myself up.

“What are you doing?”

“Asking Charlie for the healthiest immune boosting recipes she has.”

“Ugh. No. I am not drinking any of that green shit. No way.”

“Ummmm, naughty word.”

I turn, caught in the act of adulting by Paige. “Come here, monster.”

She slips to my side and I haul her up, pushing my nose into her hair. “You’ll look after your mummy, won’t you?”

“Sure. I’m a biggish girl, but where are you going?” Her pale gaze holds mine and I crack under the pressure of it.

“She’s going nowhere, ever.” Liv slams down her mug. “And that’s a promise.”

I shake my head at her over Paige’s head. Don’t promise things we can’t keep.

“Sweetie, Daddy will be here soon to pick you guys up. Can you go and get your backpack.” I hate the way Liv’s skin pales. Hate what he did to her with his empty promises and dick that couldn’t stay contained.

I’ve threatened to chop it off, but she assures me it’s not worth the jail time.

“I’ll just go and wake Lenny.” She hesitates, like she thinks I might just disappear as soon as she leaves the room.

“I’ll go.” I jump down from my stool, my tight covered feet cool against the tiles of the kitchen floor. “Does he need changing?”

“No. I did it before his nap.” She shakes her head, leaning over the kitchen counter, sobs shaking her body.

“Liv,” I whisper, reaching and brushing her hair down her back. “I’m not going anywhere right now.”