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.I went into the bathroom and started brushing my teeth.I’ve always been a bit obsessive about brushing my teeth – when I was little I used to do it after every meal and snack until Mum told me it would wear down my gums and my teeth would fall out.Toothbrush in mouth, I wandered down the hall to Jamie’s room and opened up his wardrobe.There was a jacket of his I’d always liked and I was pretty sure he’d left it behind.I started rifling through the clothes on the rail, picking out a couple of old shirts that could work for me.Then a sleepy voice behind me said, ‘And what the heck do you think you’re doing, missy?’ I jumped a mile and spluttered on the toothpaste, spraying white gunk on to the shirts I was holding.Jamie was sitting up in his bed, hair all over the place, yawning wide like a walrus.I scarpered back to the bathroom to rinse the foam out of my mouth and try to clean up the shirts.‘Nice one, sis.’ Jamie stuck his head round the bathroom door.He was wearing an old faded T-shirt that was way too small for him and a pair of board shorts.He had a creased red mark on his face from the pillow.‘Jesus Christ, Jamie! Are you trying to kill me?’He smirked as he elbowed me out of the way to get to the mirror.Jamie’s always been a big fan of mirrors.‘What kind of a welcome home is that?’‘Sorry.Um … welcome home.’ I remembered I had the bandages on.What would Jamie say if he realized my boobs had magically disappeared? The shirt was fairly baggy, at least.And Jamie wasn’t exactly renowned for his powers of observation.It had taken him two weeks to notice that Dad had shaved off the moustache he’d had for seven years.I just had to make sure I kept Jamie talking to distract him – and get out of there as quickly as possible.‘Do Mum and Dad know you’re here?’‘Nah, I thought I’d surprise them.It was a bit of a last minute thing – a mate was driving down this morning, so I thought I might as well get a free ride.Get some decent food, get some washing done, spend some time with my favourite sister.’‘Only sister.’He swiped the beanie off my head and ruffled my hair.‘And that’s what makes you so special … So, are you going to explain what you were doing rummaging through my wardrobe? Missing me so much that you wanted to find a jumper to keep under your pillow?’‘Yeah, that’s exactly what I was doing.’ I grabbed my beanie off him and put it back in place, making sure my fringe was just right.‘Actually, I was looking for that jacket of yours? The black one?’‘Jeez, I’ve only been gone a few weeks and already you’re scavenging my stuff! You’re out of luck with the jacket though.I gave it to Camilla – a little something to remember me by.’ He grinned.‘Now … are you going to make me a cup of tea or what?’‘You’ll have to get your own tea, you lazy waster.And while you’re at it, you could do your own washing too.This is the 21st century, remember?’Jamie slung his arm around me and we walked through to the kitchen.‘Ah, sis, you have so much to learn.Mum likes doing my washing.It makes her feel like she’s the mum off the gravy advert or something.Like she’s being a proper mother.So it’s really very kind of me to allow her to do it for me … you see?’I burst out laughing.‘You are so full of shit!’ He didn’t really believe that stuff; he just liked winding me up.He smiled like he’d achieved something.‘Pleeeeaase make me a cup of tea, Alex? You have no idea how much I’ve missed your tea-making skills! No one at uni makes a decent cuppa.’‘I thought uni was supposed to be all beer and cocktails and shots that can put you in a coma?’ I checked my watch – just enough time to stick the kettle on for Jamie then I’d have to motor.Jamie hopped up on to the kitchen island.It was his spot.He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and started munching away.‘Yeah, well, that’s true … but you’ve got to have tea and toast after that – to soak up all that booze.Tea prevents comas, don’t you know?’I rolled my eyes as I put just the right amount of milk in his favourite mug and chucked in a tea bag.‘Right, I’m sure you can manage pouring the water … just remember to wait till the kettle’s boiled, yes? I’ve got to get going.’‘But I was hoping for a bit of quality brother-sister time before the parentals get back! You’re not going to leave me here all alone, are you?’ He pouted and you could see how he used to get away with murder when we were little.‘Don’t blame me! You should have texted to say you were coming! I’ve got plans … and if I don’t get a move on I’m going to be late.’‘Can’t you wait ten minutes and let me tag along? I’ve got no one to hang out with – everyone’s away! God, look what I’ve been reduced to … begging my baby sister to let me spend time with her.How the mighty have fallen!’ His words were garbled as he talked around a mouthful of apple.‘No can do, brother dear.Let’s do something tomorrow though, yeah? A walk up Arthur’s Seat or something?’Jamie sighed.‘Don’t want me cramping your style, is that it?’ He looked at me slyly.‘Or … do you have a hot date?’ My face must have reddened immediately because he leaped off the counter and wagged his finger at me.‘That’s it, isn’t it! I knew it! I can read you like a book, sister dear, so there’s no point in lying to me.Come on, spill.I want details.’There was no point in denying it.Despite being spectacularly unobservant, Jamie really does know people.He can almost always tell what I’m thinking, and one of my favourite things about him is that he’s always been able to cheer me up when I’m down.He just needs to crack a joke or do his Blue Steel Zoolander face.‘I’m saying nothing.But you’d better not tell Mum and Dad, OK?’He mimed locking his lips and throwing the key over his shoulder.‘My lips are sealed.This secret will go with me to my grave.Or at least back to Aberdeen.’ He smiled.‘I’m happy for you, sis.Really.And if you ever do want to talk about it, you know where I am.’‘Hundreds of miles away?’‘Smart arse.You know what I mean.’The kettle had boiled so I poured the water myself.‘Thanks, J.’Jamie took the teaspoon from my hand and gave me a gentle shove.‘Now off you go.But make sure you’re not early.You never want to be the first one there otherwise you look desperate.Have fun, OK? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’There wasn’t much Jamie wouldn’t do.But I’m pretty sure pretending to be a member of the opposite sex fell into that category.On the way into town I mulled over the fact that Jamie hadn’t pushed to know more.He hadn’t asked who the ‘lucky’ boy was [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]