fingers on a mug when his ten companions arrived en masse. Lauren – who had her race winner’s rosette pinned on her hotel robe – was wheeling a snazzy Samsonite case, which she placed on James’ bed before giving him a kiss.
‘Happy birthday, bruv.’
‘Is this my bag?’ James asked, slightly confused.
‘It is now,’ Meryl nodded, as the kids poured out cups of coffee and cocoa. ‘Compliments of CHERUB. You’ve only got that tatty backpack you use on training exercises and I thought you could do with something decent when you go on short missions.’
‘If I’m ever allowed on another mission,’ James sighed, as he leaned over and unzipped the bag.
‘Of course you’ll go on more missions,’ Meryl grinned, ‘The investigation will be over in no time.’
James was slightly stunned as he flipped back the lid. He’d expected to find a present on top of his stuff, but he didn’t recognise a single thing inside the case.
‘Whoah,’ James gasped, as he pulled out a bag of expensive-looking gents’ toiletries, complete with a fancy shaving brush and mirror. ‘Body Shop toiletries and Paul Smith eau de toilette, very chic.’
‘I know you don’t shave yet,’ Kyle grinned. ‘But it won’t be long.’
‘Cheers.’ James began removing a neatly pressed white shirt and a pair of chinos. They were pretty nice, although they weren’t the kind of things he’d usually wear.
‘Us girls got together and decided that you needed a makeover,’ Lauren explained.
‘And we’re going down to the restaurant for a meal later,’ Kerry added. ‘We didn’t want you lowering the tone by sitting there in an Arsenal shirt and a pair of Nikes like you usually do.’
‘Thanks,’ James said with a grin, as he took out some new pairs of socks, a striped silk tie, a couple of Gap T-shirts, a pair of lairy swimming shorts and a pack of Calvin Klein briefs. None of the items were hugely expensive, but it made him feel good because all his friends had clearly got together and planned out the best way of making his birthday celebration special.
‘I know you wear boxers, but I think you’ve got the right kind of body for those,’ Kerry explained, as James inspected the briefs.
‘You can come over to my room in them any time,’ Kyle offered.
‘I’m sure I will, Kyle,’ James said, shaking his head as Bethany and Lauren made eww noises. He wasn’t quite sure if the noises were because Kyle was gay or at the thought of him in a pair of CK briefs.
The last items in the bag were a pair of shoes and a 2007 Manchester United album.
‘They’re your shoes,’ Kerry explained, ‘but we gave them a polish.’
‘The first they’ve ever had, judging by the state of them,’ Gabrielle added.
‘And this thing,’ James said, his voice full of mock disgust as he held the Manchester United album between his thumb and forefinger at arm’s length.
‘That’s from me,’ Bethany grinned innocently. ‘I thought you liked Man United.’
James huffed. ‘I suppose it might come in handy if I ever have to scrape up some vomit.’
*
The dinner in the Lake Lodge restaurant was a bit fancy for James’ taste. He usually counted cheeseburger and chips or a good breakfast fry-up as his favourite meal, but it was a nice setting with candles on the table in a dining-room overlooking a lake. He liked the fact that everyone was dressed up, especially Kerry in a black off-the-shoulder dress and the gold necklace he’d got for her birthday earlier in the year.
After profiteroles and hot chocolate sauce, Meryl said she was going to the bar and told the kids that she trusted them to behave themselves. They all decided to try out the plunge pool on James’ balcony.
As they headed upstairs, James found himself behind Lauren and Rat. Lauren – who wouldn’t have been seen dead in a dress six months earlier – wore green stockings and a black micro skirt and Rat had his hand around her waist.
Lauren was only twelve, but her bra had a purpose these days, and her hips had started to widen out so that she was beginning to get a proper woman’s bum. James didn’t like it one bit. It was OK when he used to tease her about having a boyfriend, but he felt differently now that she actually had one.
They were stepping off the third-floor landing when James realised why it made him uncomfortable. Until now, he’d been able to go after girls and rely on the fact that his little sister