Page 11 of The Sound Between Us

“Not a problem.” His voice is low. Unbothered. He doesn’t turn.

I let the door swing shut behind me.

“That’s it. Hot drinks are cut off,” Flick declares, slapping her tea towel on the café counter.

“You can’t cut off hot drinks. That’s supposed to be for tequila and poor life choices.”

“Nope. Caffeine is ageing. You’re going to have skin like your dad’s by next year.”

I grimace. “One last coffee. I need to detox from the stupidity I just witnessed.”

“Yours or someone else’s?” She raises a finger. “Or—wait—Simon’s? It was Simon, wasn’t it? What’d he do this time?”

I laugh. “No. Just a flock of girls. Saying objectively horrifying things.”

“Girls saying stupid things in a record shop?” Flick gasps. “Unheard of.”

I give her a half-smile. “So. Are you excited for your birthday diiiiiner?” I shimmy my shoulder like a drunk aunt.

“Jack and Mel said they’ll be late.”

“Babysitter issues?”

Flick grins. “No, actually this time it’s... yeah. No. I can’t lie. It’s the babysitter.”

“We could’ve gone there, then. Would’ve solved the problem.”

I don’t mean it. I hate their house.

Flick side-eyes me. “We could go to your house.”

“Uh. No.”

“Oh, but come on. You’ve got the space. The lush cushions. The ridiculous throws. And then, well, maybe your dad could wander downstairs and play us something?”

“My dad won’t be wandering anywhere. And anyway—I could play something. We don’t need his crumbling legacy.”

She brightens. “Still. Would be funny.”

“For you.”

I grin, but it disappears too quickly. “No. I don’t want to fall out with your other friends if someone says something. Or if anything gets out.”

Flick softens, but presses. “You ever think maybe no one cares? Like—just because Hailey and Felix are in the press every five seconds doesn’t mean you would be.”

She pauses. “Unless you wanted to be. Because you kind of should be.”

“No.”

Just that. Flat and absolute.

She pouts, doesn’t push. “What are we drinking?”

“Hot chocolate for Simon. And a—” I wince. “Strawberry milkshake for me.”

“Wow. Dangerous order.”

“I walk on the edge.”