Star-Crossed Read Free Page A

later. She was out early this morning and she’s got a client this afternoon, so it’ll be some time tonight.”
    Your mum nods and pours the boiled water into her cup, just as your dad appears in the kitchen and smiles cheerfully at Rubes and you in greeting.
    â€œSounds great,” your mum says. “I’ll wait for her call. We’re not out tonight, right, Will?”
    Your dad looks out from the fridge. “Nope, tonight’s a night in, thank goodness. But we’re out tomorrow. The hospital’s benefit … thing.” He waves his hand in a vague gesture, searching for the right word.
    Your mum puts down the kettle and turns to her husband, fiddling with her rings. “There is one thing about tomorrow…” she says, with a hint of anxiety in her voice. You look up, picking up on your mum’s tone.
    â€œWhat, love?” your dad says, oblivious, and still ransacking the fridge.
    â€œI was chatting to the girls at the fundraiser the other night, and they said that all the sponsors of the hospital can make it to this one…” She trails off uncertainly.
    Your dad’s back stiffens, and he stops looking through the fridge. He straightens up, and the sunny smile that covered his face a few seconds ago has clouded over with a mist of anger and hurt. His lips are thin, and he doesn’t do anything for a second. Then, without taking a breath, he speaks just one word, but his icy tone says it all.
    â€œBanner?”
    You shoot a quick glance at Reuben that you hope says “Pretend you’re not here”. He recognizes the look and immediately looks down into his glass. You stare into your own juice blankly, waiting for the argument to begin.
    You mum stops twisting her rings and puts her arms by her sides, looking back at her husband with an understanding but warning gaze. She takes a deep breath.
    â€œYes, Ethan will be there,” she states calmly. Your father shuts the fridge door sharply and glares at it for a second – as if it’s the fridge’s fault that Ethan Banner will be attending the party – before turning back to his wife, who continues steadily. “But so will hundreds of other people. You will have no need to speak to him whatsoever, and if you see him we can turn around and just walk away.”
    Your dad’s face darkens. “He should be the one to walk away. After all, that’s what he’s good at: leaving people behind—”
    â€œWill, please !” your mum says sharply, cutting off your dad. “Please, just be the bigger man this time?” Your dad stays silent, but he isn’t glaring any more. He just looks a little sad. He sighs, and nods at your mum, who squeezes his hand.
    â€œIt seems like we’re never in these days,” she says to you apologetically. “Will you be all right tomorrow?”
    You shrug. Your parents are busy people and they are out quite a lot, but you’re used to it. Usually it’s good because you get the house to yourself to sing loudly, dance around or watch your favourite film without being asked, “Have you done your homework, Jen?” or “Could you turn it down a bit, love?” Chocolate and pizza are always on the menu when the parents are at some benefit or another, so you don’t usually mind, but sometimes it does get a bit lonely. A thought comes into your head and you smile. “Will Maddy be home?”
    As her university is just in the next city, about an hour away, your big sister Maddy often comes home to see you all and get in a home-cooked meal if she’s lucky. She brings home her dirty washing and her sense of humour, and if she’s around, she’ll keep you company when your parents go out.
    Your dad shuts the fridge and heads into the hallway. “Hopefully – she said that she was setting off from campus tomorrow morning,” he calls, pulling on his coat and coming back into the