Three's a Crowd Read Free

every morning. I still couldn’t believe I was going to have to sit inside and study while everyone else had fun by the pool.
    “Never mind,” Eve had said. “We’ll still have all afternoon and all evening.”
    This was true. In fact, the thought of it was what was keeping me going.
    A soft rap on the door. “Luke?” Matt stuck his head into the room. “Can I have a word?”
    I shrugged. My usual way of dealing with Matt was to pretend he didn’t exist. I avoided speaking to him unless it was absolutely necessary, and we hadn’t talked at all since I’d found out about the baby.
    What was there to say?
    The bottom line was that I hated the fact Mum was with Matt. None of the rest of it seemed real yet. Certainly not the idea of an actual baby. The one thing I had wanted to know was whether Mum getting pregnant meant Matt would move in with us. But Mum had said no – that they’d come to terms with the baby, blah, blah, blah, but that it was too soon after Dad for them to think about living together, blah, blah, blah, and that Matt still wanted his own space.
    I’d said nothing, but inside I was deeply relieved. Matt coming round was bad enough. Matt in the house full-time didn’t bear thinking about.
    “Your mum wanted me to talk to you before you left.” Matt strolled across the room to the table in the corner. He picked up a pen and, turning to face me, rolled it in his hand.
    “What about?”
    “You know,” he said. His face flushed a little.
    I stared at him. No. I don’t.
    Matt tapped the pen against his hand.
    “I don’t have kids,” he said, looking down at the floor.
    “Yet,” I added, pointedly.
    Matt glanced up at me. “Er . . . right . . . yet. But I was your age once so I know what it’s like.”
    What was he going on about?
    “When you’re on holiday, it’s easy to get . . . er . . . carried away and well. . .” Matt’s face went a deeper shade of red. “Your mum wants you to be careful.”
    It suddenly hit me.
    Sex.
    Jesus. He was talking about me and Eve having sex.
    Which we weren’t. Unfortunately.
    Which was none of his business.
    “Why didn’t Mum talk to me herself?” My chest tightened.
    God, the nerve of him. Lecturing me on “being careful”.
    “I guess she thought it would be easier for you to hear it from me.” Matt tapped the pen faster against his hand. “Man to man.”
    “You mean she thought you’d be a good person to talk to me about . . . about . . . being responsible ?” I raised my eyebrows.
    Matt looked a little confused. “Well . . . er . . . yes, I. . .”
    Unbelievable.
    “Yeah. Well,” I said sarcastically. “I can see why she thought you’d be a good person to explain how to avoid getting my girlfriend pregnant.”
    Matt shot a look at me. His face was almost purple. “Look, there’s a big difference between you and Eve and what happened with us. We’re adults, for a start, so—”
    “Oh.” I glared at him. “So getting someone pregnant by mistake’s okay if you’re old, is it?”
    “Fine.” Matt pushed himself away from my table. He clenched his fists, still holding onto my pen. “I’m sure your mum’ll be pleased to hear about your attitude. Maybe she’ll have a rethink about letting you go.”
    Bastard. How could you have ever been my dad’s friend?
    I itched to punch his stupid face.
    Matt strode to the door.
    No. Shit. No way was I going to let him stop me going on this holiday. “Wait.”
    Matt stood in the doorway. He turned round slowly and tapped my pen against his cheek. “Yes?”
    “I’m sorry.” I swallowed down my rage. “Tell Mum I’ll be careful.”
    Unlike you were, you disgusting, pathetic excuse for a man.
    A triumphant grin spread across Matt’s face.
    God. I hated him.
    “Good.” Matt chucked the pen at me and left.
    I told Eve about the conversation with Matt while we waited for our flight at the airport. She looked totally amazing in this little strappy top she was wearing. Deeply sexy and