Unconditional Read Free Page B

I’ve been over, but things will be different now.’
    I bite back a retort, but can’t help thinking that it shouldn’t take him splitting up with Anya for him to bother making an effort.
    ‘What happened?’ I ask. No point beating around the bush. Dad drives off and doesn’t answer until we’ve turned onto the main road.
    ‘I think she’s met someone else.’ He says it in a matter offact way, like it’s all fine, but I know it’s not. He must be devastated. I always thought if something like this happened I would say he deserves it for leaving Mum, but now I just feel desperately sad for him.
    ‘I’m sorry.’
    He just nods and pats my knee. It’s not enough, but I don’t know what else to say. Asking too many questions would just be insensitive, and anyway, what do I know about relationships?
    We get to McDonalds and on a whim I order the nuggets, fries and doughnut I always had as a kid. It’s nice to just be here with Dad again. I find a booth in the corner and settle in while Dad comes over with the food. I’m really looking forward to my nuggets.
    ‘Have you thought about which university you want to go to?’ Dad asks. I nod and start to tell him I’m thinking Birmingham, but then realise he’s looking out of the window and not really listening. His face has gone all tight, and I bet he’s thinking about Anya. His next question though is definitely not about Anya.
    ‘How’s Keira? Your mum I mean. She looks as fantastic as ever, and I hear the design work is going well?’
    I laugh. ‘You know Mum, she’s always got a million projects on at once, but yeah, I think things are pretty good for her.’ I don’t bother mentioning that we’re finally back on our feet after he left and forced Mum to sell the house.
    ‘Good, I’m really pleased for her.’ He looks it too, in fact it’s the most animated I’ve seen him since he picked me up, and again I can’t help thinking that this isn’t good. He seems more interested in her than me.
    ‘So you’ll be sticking around for a while then?’
    ‘Possibly. I have a meeting on Monday about a vacancy that may be coming up not too far away.’
    Like Mum, he’s a designer, but of really boring stuff likecar parts and machines. Guy stuff. I know that’s sexist, but still.
    ‘It will be nice to be able to see more of you, Ash. I’ve missed so much of your life these past few years.’
    ‘You didn’t have to,’ I point out then feel immediately awful as he just looks devastated. I concentrate on my doughnut. ‘This is really good,’ I tell him even though it tastes like cardboard. I’m trying to think of something cheery to say but then Dad speaks first.
    ‘Any boys on the horizon?’ His tone is jokey but his eyes, over the rim of his coffee, are serious.
    I shake my head, even as Joe’s face pops into my mind. I don’t know why I’ve thought of him, he barely said two words to me the other night and couldn’t have been less interested. A couple of intense looks, but they could have meant anything. Maybe he just didn’t like my hair.
    He’s hardly the type of boy I would usually go for anyway, he’s got trouble written all over him. He’s gorgeous, but that’s as far as it goes. He probably knows it too, and has girls after him left, right and centre. Definitely more Dannii’s type than mine, though he would probably be too high maintenance for her if that surly attitude is typical of him.
    I can’t deny it though, as much as I may want to, he’s been on my mind a lot the last few days since I first saw him. I caught myself daydreaming about kissing that gorgeous mouth in a class I’m usually really interested in and had to stop myself quizzing Dannii for more information about him. Perhaps it’s the challenge, the whole unobtainable thing, like with my previous crushes. Yet it feels different. I don’t want to think about him, I’m actively trying not to, and he certainly doesn’t seem like someone I would even get on