‘It’s going down at the steakhouse opposite Alien World. And the way she was talking … Well, let’s just say that she sounded like the kind of girl who’s going to provide us with some good photo opportunities.’
‘But if we’re all in Alien World, who’ll be there to take photos?’ Kyle asked.
‘Oh …’ James said. ‘We’ll need another couple to go in with us.’
‘Me and Rat could do it,’ Lauren said.
James shook his head. ‘No offence, but I can hardly turn up on a date with my little sister and her pee-wee boyfriend.’
Rat scowled at James. He didn’t appreciate the description.
‘Kerry’s only sitting in her room sulking,’ Bruce said. ‘I could try persuading her.’
‘That’s gonna make my life awkward,’ James said. ‘Isn’t there anyone else?’
Kyle looked at his watch and shook his head. ‘We haven’t got much time. Bruce, you’d better run upstairs and invite Kerry to dinner.’
‘Beg if you have to,’ Lauren added.
*
The steakhouse was busy for a Monday night, but James was underwhelmed by the crushed velvet seating and carpet dotted with shiny black patches. He was even less impressed when he found out that the £6.99 buffet didn’t include drinks. It might have been Kyle and Lauren’s plan, but he doubted they’d be queuing up to refund his twenty quid.
Bruce wore chinos and a smart black shirt, while Kerry had made a quick change into a denim micro-skirt and a figure-hugging top. James could hardly stand being in the same room with Kerry these days, but she was still sexy and he couldn’t help feeling jealous when Bruce felt up her bum while they waited for Hayley, Dean and Rosie to arrive.
Rosie was cute, with rows of straight teeth and big red hair. Dean was older, maybe seventeen, and he held a carrier bag containing a McDonald’s uniform. He said that he’d have to leave early because his shift started at nine and he had to get two buses across town to reach work.
Hayley herself looked surprisingly good. Not eyes-out-on-stalks beautiful, but she wore a green flower-print dress that suited her curvy figure and white pumps. She was too bulky for James to fancy her, but he reckoned she was only a couple of hours a week on the Stairmaster away from being quite attractive.
Everyone exchanged hellos while the waitress found a table for six and the three girls commented on how much they liked each other’s outfits. They all headed off to the buffet and Bruce sneaked a tiny low-light camera out of his trousers and snapped a couple of pictures as James and Hayley bantered in the queue.
Kerry, Bruce, Dean and Rosie were all relaxed as they ate their roast meat, shrimp and salads. But James felt awkward facing Hayley across the table. Her plate was stacked with slices of roast lamb and she’d built a dam out of batter pudding and rice to hold up the teetering mound of veg and pickles in the middle.
‘You’re not eating much,’ Hayley noted gruffly, as she crunched on a large pickled onion.
‘It was all a bit last-minute,’ James explained. ‘I ate already.’
Hayley burst out laughing. ‘So did I, but that doesn’t stop me.’
As everyone around the table laughed, James reached across the table and slid his fingers over Hayley’s chunky wrist. ‘I’m really glad we got together and I completely dig the way you look.’
‘That’s nice, James,’ Hayley smiled. ‘I always say that I’m fat and proud of it. And you know what? I never have any problem getting boys.’
James nodded and smiled. He remembered that when his mum was alive she was always on diets and got depressed about her weight. He was glad that Hayley was confident about herself, but it didn’t alter the fact that she wasn’t his type.
Rosie nodded as she bit on a slice of garlic bread. ‘You’ve been out with way more boys than me, haven’t you Hayley?’
Hayley wagged her fork at her friend. ‘Don’t say that, Rosie. You’re making me sound like a slapper.’
Kerry spoke when the laughter calmed down. ‘I’m just so glad that James has met you, Hayley. He’s always a disaster around girls …’
Hayley nodded. ‘You know James, getting your little sister to ask me out was dead creepy. I thought she was on a wind-up. I almost battered her.’
As Hayley said this, James felt her foot sliding up his calf. He leaned across the table and smiled to show that he liked it.
‘Kerry’s right though,’ James said. ‘There’s only one girl I’ve gone out with for