Chapter 28

“Is he being particularly bad this year?”

“Nah,” Tav said. “No worse than usual. Just, you know, I’m on thin ice at school ‘cause of Jack, and Mam’ll disown me if I get expelled, so—I dunno, man. Just toughing it out until Christmas.”

“You’ll do fine,” Luca’d said, and kissed him on the cheek, holding his hand, in the middle of a busy supermarket, on a Saturday morning.

Tav had nearly believed him.

* * * *

“Luca!”

Luca groaned and put his magazine over his face. Tav, sprawled out on the sofa playing Grand Theft Auto—whatever version, the one with the mouthiest hookers—with Tomas, sniggered.

“Busted,” he said.

“Shut up,” Luca grumbled.

“Busted!” Tomas echoed cheerfully, not taking his eyes off the TV.

“Luca!”