Gut Feeling by Victoria Browne Page B

curse Leon in her usual fashion, tidying them into the bin, listening to him as he told her of his conquests. At twenty-seven Leon looked mature and could definitely act mature, for instance, if he needed to close a deal. But when it came to his private life and lifestyle Glenda saw her own son of twenty-one in him. The same boyish behaviour, the same sore head after a night out, his indecisiveness over girls… It was as if he were stuck in transition from boy to man, from adolescence to adult.
    Later Leon switched on the surround-sound in the living room which simultaneously played in every room in the flat. Gemma bounced to the sound of the music as she sat on the loo while pulling tissue paper from the holder to wipe herself dry.
    Ash and Jules walked out on to the balcony that over looked London Bridge and lit a cigarette.
    ‘So what do you think of Gemma?’
    ‘Umm, bit excitable but nice girl. Ibiza should be fun.’
    ‘Oh my God, Ash.’ Gemma slipped out on to the wooden balcony. ‘The music plays in the loo, this place is bloody fantastic.’
    ‘Here drink this—get pissed,’ Jules handed Gemma a glass of wine, smiling and whispered in her ear, ‘Come out with me some time and I’ll show you some nice places.’
    ‘So the party’s out here, is it?’ Leon burst through the french doors. ‘Right. Sit, sit—let’s play some drinking games.’
    Ash protested, offering to be official adjudicator as she had work the next day. Rachel and Gemma both sat without a minute’s thought while Jules seemed to glide over, then take her place, contemplating on whether or not to participate in Leon’s immature pastimes or side with Ash and play an observer role while in her case getting quietly sloshed.
    ‘OK, fine Ash, be boring. Jules you in?’ Leon topped up her glass.
    ‘No honey, I’ll just watch.’
    ‘Oh Jules, please play ,’ Gemma pleaded.
    ‘It’s OK. Once she’s drunk she’ll be making the games up for us.’
    ‘I will do no such thing, Leon, but yes I may join in later after I’ve wet my throat.’
    Leon winked at Gemma.
    ‘Right so what are we playing, game man? And remember, I don’t have work, nor does Gem, so unlike some we can pretty much beat you at your own game, so to speak.’
    ‘Is that so? Rachy darling. Let’s see about that then… Umm how about a game of “I have never”?’
    ‘How does that work then?’ said Gemma.
    Leon took the lead in explaining before Rachel had a chance. ‘Someone will say “I have never”, and say something they have or have never done, then if you have never done it, you simply take a large mouthful of your drink and that means you have never done what they are asking.’
    ‘Oh God, Gem will get so drunk,’ Ash wailed.
    ‘No I won’t. I get it, so if I say have you ever—’
    Leon raised his hand. ‘Wow wow, save it girlfriend, don’t be giving away vitals as an example. We know how to play and you may just need that “I have never”.’
    ‘Go easy on Gem,’ Ash chipped in quietly to Leon but both Gemma and Rachel overheard.
    ‘Gem you know what you’re doing, don’t you?’ Rachel asked plainly.
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘You’re an adult, aren’t you?’
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘Good, then no problem.’
    Ash looked at Gemma, smiling naively at her.’
    ‘OK, all I’m saying is Gem has been married for the last few years and may not have—’
    Leon raised his hand again. ‘What? Done dirty shit? Shagged around like us lot? She’ll be fine—we won’t just ask questions about sex—well, not for the first two questions anyway.’
    ‘I’ve done dirty shit, and I’ve played a game like this before called ‘Liar Liar’, so don’t you worry, sunshine. I think I know how it works. Come on, let’s play’. Ash pipe down and stop worrying. ‘I’m good, honey.’ Gem smiled at her.
    Jules topped up Ash’s glass, laughing at her as she observed her instincts to mother people.
    ‘OK, let me go first,’ Gemma volunteered. ‘I have