Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages (Silence #3)(4)

“My sister’s clothes stay on.”

“Yes, Jasper. Everleigh was an immaculate conception.”

I nodded my head. “That’s what I thought.” I was even more protective with my little sister than my mum, but then I had never caught Oakley and Cole, so it was easier to pretend it didn’t go on. I shuddered at the future therapy memory.

“Seriously, what’s going on?” Brad asked, checking his phone again.

“Who’re you sexting?” Ben asked.

My eyebrow arched. “Did you just say sexting? Are you fifteen?”

Ben held his hands up. “That’s what it’s called.”

“Stop trying to keep up with the kids, man, it’s over.”

“Alright!” Brad said. “I’m not sexting anyone. My sister’s home from uni for summer and doing my head in. She’s bored and apparently has no friends here any more. Well, not any that are in the country until next week.”

“Invite her to join us,” Ben said.

“I don’t think I’ll be doing that.”

“Either invite her or keep replying to her all night,” he replied.

I was going to point out how this was a boys’ night, but we technically hadn’t said anything about it only being us guys.

“Is she even old enough to get in?” I asked.

“She’s twenty, Jasper.”

“You’re shitting me! Holly’s twenty now?”

“I shit you not.”

I sank back in my chair, feeling like a grandad. The last time I saw her was shortly after I met Brad when we moved back to England, about five years ago. She was a teenager that wore too much eyeliner, spent her life glued to her mobile and was so painfully shy she barely spoke to anyone outside her friends and family. Now she was twenty and at uni.

“She’s coming,” Brad said as his phone beeped again.

I turned my nose up.

“Great, we’re babysitting tonight.”

“She’s twenty, Jasper,” Cole said.

“Right, five years older than my sister was.”

“What the fuck does that have to do with Holly?” he asked, shaking his head.

“It has everything to do with everything whenever I want to bring it up.” He laughed and took a swig of beer. “Now can we please get me shitfaced?”

“What’s going on with Abby? Kerry said you’re pissed off she’s always out,” Ben asked, eager to change the subject.

“Your wife talks too much,” I replied. Did everyone know about Abby barely staying at home in the evenings anymore?

Ben nodded. “Spill.”

“No. Women talk. Men drink, so, Cole, it’s your round.”

“I’d ask why it’s my turn first, but I have a feeling it’s to do with the fact that I’m sleeping with your sister.” He smirking as he got up and walked to the bar. “You need to get over that, by the way,” he called over his shoulder.

Not likely.

Ten minutes later, Brad pulled out a chair. “Hey, Hol,” he said.

I looked up and apart from being a bit older Holly hadn’t changed much at all. She still wore dark eye make-up that would scare the shit out of you if you woke up beside it – the panda eyes would be immense. She did have a rockin’ body though – mostly hidden under a long top – and no longer dressed like she was on the set of a Marilyn Manson video as much.

“Holly,” I said. Good job growing up, minus the make-up thing.

She smiled and blushed. Still just as shy.

“Hi, Jasper. Hey, Ben.”

“Alright,” Ben replied and stood. “What’re you drinking? Cole’s just gone up.”

“Um, vodka and lemonade, please?”

He nodded and took off to the bar.

“Thanks for inviting me; I was going crazy at home with mum and dad.”

“Just don’t embarrass me,” Brad replied.

“Whoa, let’s not be so hasty,” I said. “Share with the group, Holly. Has he ever done anything like getting his old chap stuck in a hoover?”

Holly’s cheeks flamed, and Brad frowned.

“Jesus. What’s wrong with you, Jasper?”

I laughed.

“That’s a yes. So, what’s uni like? I really hope it’s all American Pie. Do you get a lot of action?”

Her eyes widened.

“Oh, are you a virgin?”

“Jasper, for fuck sake!” Brad punched my arm. “You are, though, aren’t you?”

I couldn’t help the big grin on my face as Holly looked down at the table. I couldn’t work out if she was and embarrassed – which she shouldn’t be anyway – or she wasn’t and didn’t want to talk about it in front of her brother.

Cole – inadvertently becoming Holly’s saviour – returned to the table with a tray with far too many drinks for five people. Holly blushed again.

“Thank you,” she said as she took her drink from Cole.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, not even noticing her pink cheeks.

“Shots. Three for Jasper and two for the rest of us. Holly, I got you some too but if you don’t want to take them Jasper will.”

“Oh, will he?” I replied sarcastically.