Page 103 of Squad Ghouls

“Who’s there?”

“Hm?” she said innocently.

“Is that Bob again?”

“Well you weren’t around and the tap was leaking. You know how that thing is.”

“Mum!”

“Yes, dear.”

“Tell Bob to get out of the flat.”

“He’s helping me out, darling.”

“He’s helping you out of your knickers, you mean!”

“Ryan!” she scolded me. “Don’t be so silly.”

“I’m not being silly. Bob is a rake! He’s been divorced three times!”

“Poor thing.”

“Mum!”

There was another murmur and Sharon giggled. “Got to go, love. Bob said he’d stay for dinner.”

“You’re giving Bob my food!”

“It’s not your food if you’re not coming, now, is it?” she said.

“Mum!”

Owain walked in and smiled at me. “Is that your mum? Tell her I said hi!”

“Who’s that?” she asked and I shook my head.

“Gotta go, Mum.” I hung up, ignoring her screeching that turned into playful giggles. I held the phone away from me, dangling between two fingers, closing my eyes against the mental image.

“Popty!” I called, and with a cheerful ping, a dark shadow scooped up the phone and disappeared.

Owain looked at me, head tilted and a smile on his lips.

“Good talk?” he asked, and I frowned at the teasing tone.

“Bob needs to die.”

“I’m sure there’s no need for such extreme measures.”

“You don’t know him! He’s a playboy.”

“So are you.” Owain shrugged and I sputtered, spit taking the wrong turn down my throat and making me cough.

“Yeah, well, I’m not trying to sleep with your mum,” I said, only realising how weird that sounded halfway through the sentence.

“Ew.” Owain fake retched into a potted plant standing next to him.

“He’d better not be there when I go back,” I said, and Owain’s face fell a bit but he didn’t say anything. I knew him well by now, though. I’d learned the little signs that he was hurt. That he was confused and wondering.