Page 26 of The Last Kiss

I see what she’s done. She’s waited until she thinks the wine has oiled the gears of my hatred. Liv doesn’t realise there isn’t enough wine in the world for that.

Idly, I contemplate if she’s serving me a glass of five pound a bottle new world wine.

“Nope.”

“Julia.”

“No. I mean it, Liv. Please don’t bring them into this.”

“You’re their daughter. Don’t you think they will care, want to know?”

I can’t look at her. How dare she.

“No. I really don’t.”

She sighs but I still don’t meet her eyes.

“Okay. It was just a suggestion.”

I nod. Throat tight.

“I’m changing the subject now; you can calm down.” I lift my face and give her my best death ray stare and she clutches her chest, falling sideways onto the oversized couch. “You got me.”

I have to laugh. Bitch.

“So. What happens now?” She sits back up and readjusts her hair.

“Now the transplant team will call me. I’ll have to go and see them to… I don’t know, talk to them about shopping for a new heart…” My joke falls flat. “Is it weird, hoping someone else will die so I can live?”

Liv lowers her glass, face scored with something I don’t want to see. “No. I’d go on a murdering spree if I thought it would help.”

“Oh my god! And you won’t let me cut off Darren’s dick, how’s that fair?”

“Can I come to it with you?”

I rustle up a small smile. “Liv. You need to focus on you. Please.”

“You’re asking for something ridiculous.” She pauses. “Have you thought about work?”

“No. I can’t afford not to work. And I don’t want to stop. Why would I?”

“Jules, twelve months…” She drops her face into her hand.

“The only thing I ask is that you promise to have Barney. That’s all I want to talk about, discuss.”

She looks in alarm at her cream carpet and I snort a laugh.

“Okay. I’ll do it because it’s your dying wish, but I can’t guarantee I won’t shave the bastard.”

“Don’t you dare. His fur is his pride.”

We grin at one another. A voice shouting in the back of my head to make all these smiles count for something. Anything really.

“So. Next question.”

I groan. “What now?”

“How did you turn up here this morning in an outfit I’m pretty sure you wore to work yesterday morning?”