183 Times a Year by Eva Jordan Page A

best-looking boy in the whole entire world, has joined them too.
    â€˜You ok Cas?’ Ruby asks. ‘Only I’m guessing that one of those delicious looking young men is Joe?’
    I clench my teeth. ‘Sssshhhhh,’ I reply. ‘How do you know?’
    â€˜Well, given that you’ve slumped down in your chair, your hand is now over your face as if trying to hide and the colour of your cheeks perfectly matches the tomatoes on your plate, I’d say it’s a bit of a dead giveaway.’
    I try to smile but I feel sick inside. This wine has given me a headache. Ruby and I keep talking, in very hushed voices and I try to explain to her who everyone is.
    â€˜Hummph,’ she says, ‘so they’re Ronnie Divine’s kids eh? Scummy little man.’
    â€˜What do you mean? He’s still married to their Mum you know, not divorced like my Mum and Dad. I thought they were perfect? They look like the perfect family to me.’
    â€˜ Yeah well, mark my words Cassie, appearances can be deceiving. Look,’ Ruby continues, ‘I can see you’re eager to get away but just follow my lead, ok?’
    â€˜What? What do you mean?’ I ask slightly alarmed.
    â€˜What are you going to do?’
    â€˜Something that helps,
I hope
; something that raises your kudos with these fake big fish in their little pond.’
    â€˜Raises my Q what?’ I ask nervously. She calls the waiter over and is talking quietly in his ear. He places his hand gently on her shoulder. She pats his hand and they both laugh.
    I sneak a look at Joe and the others and they’re all laughing too. Everyone’s laughing except me. I look back at Ruby and the waiter. The waiter looks at me, winks again and disappears. Ruby grins at me. I stare at her.
    â€˜What then?’ I ask, feeling a little uneasy.
    â€˜You’ll see,’ she says mischievously.

Chapter 10
    BO-HO CHIC
    LIZZIE
    I can hear laughter before I reach the front door. I throw my bag
    down under the stairs in the hallway and kick my shoes off. God it feels good to get some air to my poor aching feet. Romeow our tabby cat is sitting half way up the stairs, proficiently washing behind his ears. He stops mid lick and looks down at me. His expression is one of contempt and lends itself to the words, “Oh – it’s you”. He’s a temperamental cat to say the least, social but not particularly sociable, his grumpy demeanour the perfect complement to the other teenagers in the house.
    â€˜Hey Romeow. Bad day?’ I ask. He continues to stare at me before reluctantly managing a small, very lethargic meow.
    â€˜I know, I know,’ I continue. ‘C’mon.’ I pat the stair above me. ‘Romeow – c’mon, come and say hello.’
    Romeow now wears a look of scorn suggesting I really must be as stupid as I appear. Finally, he manages another low meow before promptly completing a one eighty degree turn, whereupon I’m left to look at the backside of a ginger fur ball.
    â€˜I’ll take that as a no then shall I Romeow?’ No movement, no sound. ‘Thanks,’ I exclaim, ‘I love you too.’
    I open the kitchen door and am greeted by two very giggly teenagers. Well, one real one and one middle aged woman acting like one. Ruby’s holding a glass of wine, Cassie a glass of water – I hope? They both turn to look at me. Cassie is actually smiling.
    See, miracles do happen.
    â€˜Oh, hey Mum,’ Cassie says, eyes twinkling. ‘We’ve had a great time. Ruby’s like aaammaaaaazing. She’s so sick and so funny and clever, and like, well, everything really. We have soooooo much to tell you,’ she gushes.
    â€˜Yes, she is pretty amazing, isn’t she,’ I reply. Ruby catches the sarcasm in my voice and casts me a look. I feel slightly ashamed at the small stab of jealously running through me.
    â€˜And,’ Cassie continues, ‘here’s