Chapter 57

“Sure.” Darren’s scepticism was almost a living, breathing thing in the room, settling itself comfortably at Jayden’s window and filing its nails. It would look, Jayden decided, a little bit like Charley. Maybe with Darren’s curls.

“We still on for Saturday?” he blurted out, desperate to get off—get away, away!—from the topic of Darren’s…habits. And what he did with his hands when they had spare time.

“I am,” came the flat reply.

Jayden took a deep breath, pushing his worries out from the inside, like Darren had showed him. Forcing them out of his lungs. It would be fine. Even if Mum and Dad didn’t like this, they weren’t going to…to kick him out or anything. And there’d be Saturday.

“I can do this,” he said, half to himself, and Darren made a noise of agreement. “I mean. I should.”

“I’ve met your mother, Phillips. I’m pretty sure she already knows. About you, at least.”

“What, and not about you?”

“I doubt she cares about me,” Darren replied. “But she’ll know about you.”