Bang Gang

“Thanks.” She smiled. “I mean, she’s fine, it’s just sometimes she gets a bit dithery. Her pills are above the sink, the green bottle. Mia’s got a spare key.”

“I know,” I said. Ruby beeped the horn, let out quite a racket. “I promised them a drive out,” I said. “Told them we’d get some lunch up on the Beacons.”

“Nice,” she said. “You’d better go.”

You could come, if you wanted. You and Nanna. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t say them.

“I’ll be seeing you,” I said. “Have a good night.”

“You, too,” she said.

I was glad I’d had a couple of glasses before we’d hit the town. The place was so much louder than I remembered. Girls that didn’t look much older than Mia drifted about the streets in miniskirts and no sleeves without a care – even in October. I was absolutely freezing in my bodycon dress, my legs goose-pimpled to hell, even though I was wearing a coat.

Lorraine laughed at me. “You feeling your age?”

“I’m feeling something,” I said.

“Get another drink down your neck, you’re still in your twenties, still young enough pull off young, free and single with authentic flair.”

“I have mere months left of my twenties,” I said. “It barely counts.”

She leaned in, wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we crossed the road towards Club Crystal. “I’m forty-nine years old,” she said. “Forty-fucking-nine. What I’d give to be thirty all over again. I sure wouldn’t waste it being married to a dickhead like I did last time round.”

Tonya laughed, flashed a grin over her shoulder. “You should go on the pull, Lorraine, plenty of guys love a cougar. You’ll be hot property in here.”

I looked at Lorraine, checking her out as cougar material. She’d definitely pass. Her dress was tighter fitting than mine, her heels higher than mine, too. Her hair had thick blonde highlights over shades of mahogany – a posh salon job, for sure. Her makeup was dramatic but not over the top.

Yes, Lorraine was definitely cougar material.

“I might well pull me a hot young stud,” she laughed. “Or two.” She nudged me. “How about you, Jodie, are you out to meet yourself a fine young man?”

“No, I don’t think so,” I said in a beat.

“No?” she raised her eyebrows. “Why ever not?”

Tonya smirked back at me. “She’s already taken, mentally if not physically.”

I wished she hadn’t had that extra vodka on the way in. I shot her a glare to stop her running her mouth off.

We arrived in the queue, and Lorraine wouldn’t let it go. “You can’t surely mean Trent?” she said. “Please tell me you’re not still pining over that useless imbecile.”

“I’m not pining,” I said. “I’m over it.”

She stared at me. “You’re sure about that?”

I nodded. “Yes.” No. “I have the girls to think about, we’re all good as we are. No point rocking the boat with any of that.”

“And that’s putting aside the fact the guy’s a man-whore. For heaven’s sake, Jodie, he’s fucking every paying woman within driving distance. He’s hardly daddy material, is he?”

I met her eyes. “Darren’s a great dad. He’s a lot of things, but a crappy father isn’t one of them.”

“If you say so.” She laughed. “I admire your loyalty, but the guy’s nothing more than a filthy waster. Those girls would be better off without him.”

I stepped away from her. “Those girls would never be better off without him, Lorraine, that’s too far.” And neither would I.

She held up her hands. “Jesus, Jodie, I’m only half serious. You know how I feel about Darren Trent. You know how I feel about what’s best for you.”

Yes. Yes, I did know.

“Trent’s alright,” Tonya chipped in. I could have hugged her. “Got his issues but show me someone who hasn’t. Ain’t not one of us angels, Lorraine, you included. I’m sure your shit stinks just the same as the rest of us.”

“Point taken,” she said, but she didn’t look like she’d taken any point on board. She lit up a cigarette and flashed Tonya a smile that was clearly false. “You must have been there when it all fell apart, Tonya, as I was. You must have seen how much better things were for Jodie and the girls when it was all over.”

“I saw two people breaking their hearts over losing each other. Two people breaking their hearts that their girls wouldn’t have their daddy at home. That’s what I saw, Lorraine.” She lit up a cigarette herself. “No winners in a situation like that, only losers.”

I wished I smoked. I could have happily puffed away on a whole bloody pack.

“It’s all over now.” I smiled. “Let’s just get dancing, shall we? Forget about Darren and the bloody village for one night, at least.”

I didn’t even wait for a consensus, just hit the bar as soon as we’d checked in our coats.