Page 87 of In the Same Boat

‘Right,’ Hank says slowly, like he just witnessed something truly cursed. ‘Should we be worried?’

‘Definitely,’ Nico says with an evil smirk.

‘Ignore him,’ I add quickly. ‘Just dress for a night out.’

Mum raises her eyebrows.

‘A night out?’

‘Yeah, don’t worry, I’ll help you pick out an outfit,’ I tell her.

‘I’m excited,’ she says. ‘Why don’t we go pick something out now?’

‘Okay,’ I say with a smile.

‘It will be nice, to get some mother-daughter time. I’m hardly seeing you…’

There’s a sincerity in her voice, like she does miss me, but she doesn’t sound like she minds because she thinks I’m happy.

I still don’t know exactly where we’re going tonight, I left that to Nico given that he’s been here before, but judging by the deeply sinister excitement in his expression whenever I ask, I’m assuming it’s somewhere our parents are going to absolutely hate. Which will be perfect, for what we want.

‘All right,’ Mum says brightly, standing up from the table, ‘let’s go see if I have anything glamorous enough.’

‘You already look glamorous,’ Hank tells her, which you’ve got to give him brownie points for, because he said it so quickly, so sincerely too.

Mum laughs softly and touches his arm.

We retreat back to our cabin (if I can still call it mine, given that I’ve sort of moved out) to get ready while the boys hang out.

Our cabin is warm from the sunlight spilling through the little round window, turning everything gold around the edges. Mum starts immediately rummaging through her suitcase while humming quietly to herself, which feels suspiciously cheerful. She seems so pleased with herself – as she should; she has seemingly met a good man at a dating event, and who would have predicted that? Although I think part of her smugness comes from thinking she’s found me a man too.

I sit cross-legged on the bed watching her for a second. She really is happy. The plan is no longer about breaking them up (if it ever really was about that), it’s about giving them the space to give it a go, without their kids getting in the way.

I know Mum might think she needs me as a crutch but she doesn’t. Look at her, look how well she’s doing. I couldn’t be prouder.

Mum pulls out a navy dress and holds it against herself thoughtfully.

‘Too stuffy?’

‘I’d go brighter,’ I suggest.

‘I’ll see what I’ve got,’ she replies. ‘So…’

‘So?’ I echo.

I catch her watching me in the mirror.

‘What?’

‘What’s it like waking up with Nico every morning?’

My eyes widen with horror. We don’t really talk about boys – I mean, men – not like that.

‘What?’ she repeats innocently. ‘It’s a reasonable question.’

‘It absolutely is not.’

Unfortunately, now I’m thinking about it. If I’m being honest with you, and I’m not about to admit this to her, I quite like it. I’m used to waking up alone, usually cold, and I’ll grab my phone and look at it through one eye, dozing in and out of sleep, not wanting to get up. With Nico next to me, I don’t know, it’s like I have someone to wake up for, someone to see, someone to make an effort for – even if it is only so I don’t embarrass myself. Plus, it’s been a little chilly at night, and just between us, he’s great for putting your cold feet on. I sneak them on him, while he’s fast asleep – careful not to accidentally snuggle him again, because that was mortifying. Kind of nice though.