When I got home that evening, dinner had already been cooked and most of it had been eaten. A plate of spinach lasagne had been saved for me, and even though vegetarian food had never interested me, this meal was nice. Coral had made it more than a few times and it was an all-round success. 

“Congratulations on your jobs, both of you!” Coral clasped her hands together as she beamed so brightly, the sun could have been shining from her face.

I squinted as if she were blinding me and turned back to my food.

“Thanks,” Landon answered, giving a mock bow. “It was no big deal. I mean, the interview went so smoothly.”

“That’s lovely,” Walter said sarcastically. “And what about you Phoenix? I’m tired of hearing about Landon and his new café job. Where are you working, exactly?”

“Clothing store,” I answered before my next mouthful.

Walter widened his eyes and a teasing grin slid onto his face, “You work in retail now? Really?”

I rolled my eyes at his words, even if they were true.

“I work with the brother of a friend from jail,” I said. “He has his own fashion business.”

“Fashion business?” that caught Coral’s attention, her eyes were practically sparkling.

“Yep,” I nodded, taking another bite of pasta.

“Friend from jail?” Giovanni widened his eyes. “Forget the fashion. Phoenix has never spoken about any friends from jail before.”

“One friend,” I muttered. “It’s unimportant.”

“Well, where is he now?” Gio looked confused. “Still inside?”

“Dead,” I answered.

That quietened everyone, and I continued to eat whilst avoiding all gazes.

“So,” Coral cleared her throat lightly, before changing the subject. “What kind of designs does his brother do?”

“Simple stuff,” I shrugged a shoulder. “He prints his designs onto t-shirts and hoodies. It’s nothing fancy. Anyone could do it.”

“Well, he must be successful if he’s got his own store,” she was impressed. “That’s costly.”

“Mmm,” I murmured in agreement.

“Wouldn’t that kind of business do better online?” Gomez asked. “You don’t need a physical store for that.”

“You could say that about mostly anything in retail,” Coral countered.

“There’s a dance studio too,” I added. “For kids. His friend teaches dance.”

“Aww,” Coral cooed.

“That’s pretty cute,” Landon grinned. “Maybe I could take Melody there when she comes to visit next.”

“Maybe,” I said.

“Maybe in the future, I could do work experience there?” Coral suggested, almost shyly. “Just to see what it’s like.”

Of course. That’s why she was so interested. Her own passions were in fashion and design.

“I’m sure he’d say yes,” I said. “But it’s nothing major, like I said. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“I’m sure it’s better than you think,” she smiled to herself. “You don’t have an eye for these things, Phoenix.”

I sensed she was teasing, but I still arched my brows.

“I could do anything better than anyone,” I answered.

“Yeah right,” Walter chuckled darkly.

His laugh was always like that. Deep and dark.

“So, when are we going to get the drinks out?” Gomez asked, leaning across the dining table feigning boredom. 

“Drinks?” I frowned at him.

“The celebration,” Landon reminded me.

“You weren’t kidding about that?” I scoffed quietly.

“Hell no,” Gomez shook his head. “This place is so dead. There are like three nightclubs in town and most of them are filled with middle aged people.”

“No way!” Gio started laughing.

“I’m not kidding,” Gomez said gravely. “I miss London.”

“You’re too young to get into the club anyway!” Walter pointed out.

“Ever heard of fake IDs?” Gomez rolled his eyes.

Of course. I didn’t know why that hadn’t crossed my mind earlier. The triplets had probably gotten fake IDs a while ago, not that it bothered me. As long as they didn’t go near drugs, then fine.

“I think things will get more interesting when school starts in September,” Severn mulled aloud.

“Really, Severn?” Gomez looked at him dryly. “You’re so bored that school is what interests you now?”

“There are girls at school,” came his response.

“Girls that you can’t be bothered to get with anyway,” Gomez rolled his eyes.

“Getting with a girl doesn’t mean sleeping with her,” Severn smirked.

They were both silenced when Landon placed a hefty bottle of Irish whiskey on the dining table.

“Wow,” Gomez’s eyes glossed over.

I looked at Landon with a frown. That kind of drinking would knock the triplets out.

“In moderation,” Landon assured me.

“Beers would have been just fine,” I said.

“Who can be bothered to carry twenty cases of beer when you can just carry one huge bottle of whiskey?” Severn was eyeing the bottle up as if it were a lover.

I sighed and looked at Landon.

“Okay,” Landon grinned and held his hands up at the youngest ones. “I’m sure you guys have drank spirits before, but don’t go over the top.”

“It’s the summer holiday though,” Gomez looked perplexed.

“So?” I snapped at him. “If you overdo it, I’m the one who’s going to have to drive you to the hospital to get your stomach pumped.”

He grimaced at the idea, and I nodded to myself.

“We won’t go over the top,” Giovanni looked between his triplets in turn, then he grinned. “Or at least the winner of the game won’t.”

“What game?” Walter arched a brow at him.

“Dare or dare.”

Landon sent him a look, “I think you’ll find it’s called Truth or – ”

“I know what I said,” Gio cut him off with a wild grin. “Truth or Dare is for wusses. Dare or dare is what us Simpsons play.”

“You’re right,” Gomez was nodding to himself. “Something to spice up the shit life of this new place.”

“I’ve got you,” Gio hooked an arm around Gomez’s shoulders. “We’re playing Dare or dare, Neighbours edition.”