Read Online Blueberry Wishes by Kelly McKain - Free Book Online Page B

obviously. Not in front of his mum. And dad. His mum and dad. Wow, that sounded weird.
    Luke emptied a bag of rocket into a bowl and got some salad servers from a drawer, then pulled a few bottles of wine from the rack on the counter and looked at them before choosing one. I couldn’t help thinking that Mum would kill Dad if he just started helping himself to this or that (she barely even let him have a coffee when he came to our flat), but Sienna acted like everything was normal. I guess it was, for her. The way Marco had explained it, his dad came and went like this.
    â€œYou didn’t tell me he was coming,” I said softly to Marco, as he poured orange juice for us two.
    â€œI didn’t know,” he said. “I walked in after rehearsal and…” He motioned towards Luke.
    â€œWhat, with no warning, nothing? Isn’t your mum annoyed?”
    Marco shrugged. “She’s used to it.”
    At that moment, Luke came over to put the salad and the wine on the table then, so we couldn’t talk about him any more. Next, Sienna put a huge pot of risotto in the middle and we all sat down to eat.
    I thought it would be really awkward, trying to think of things to say, but Sienna mentioned Rainbow Beauty to Luke, and he asked me about it and soon I found myself telling him about the problems we were facing with the new spa on our doorstep, and how we’d come up with our own promotion to counter it.
    I tried to stay on my guard, but when he said how much he admired us for starting our own business I couldn’t help smiling, and he beamed back at me. “I’m sure that Haven Spa issue’s just a blip,” he added. “People like to try new things – but they’ll soon find they prefer your personal service and home-made products.”
    â€œAbsolutely,” said Sienna. “No one can resist the kind of introductory offers they’re making, but they can’t possibly afford to keep that up. You’ll soon be able to compete with them on an even footing again.”
    â€œI hope so,” I said.
    â€œAnd you can create more new offers all the time,” added Marco. “We can help put posters up and stuff.”
    I smiled at him. “Thanks.”
    â€œThat Avocado Body Butter I bought last time I was at your place was amazing,” Sienna enthused. “You could give one away with each treatment.”
    â€œThat’s an idea,” I said, giving her a smile. “And you’re right, you all are. We probably shouldn’t be too worried about it. After all, plenty of people are coming in because of our offer already.”
    By the time we got to the panna cotta (this yummy Italian set-mousse thing) I found myself liking Luke despite trying not to. Well, he was so like Marco, it would have been hard not to warm to him.
    Then we started talking about the band, and Luke was really keen to hear all about their last gig at the cafe and all the website and Facebook and SoundCloud interest they’d had. “Next time you rehearse, I’d love to come and have a listen if that’s okay,” he said.
    Marco looked at the table, but I didn’t have to see his eyes to know there was hurt in them. I could feel it radiating from him. I knew he was remembering all the times Luke had promised to come to things, then not turned up, and all the times he’d seemed interested in him, then dropped him like a stone and gone off again. “We’re not booked into the studio until Friday so you probably won’t—” Marco mumbled.
    â€œI’ll be here,” said Luke. He sighed. “Look, I know I haven’t stuck around in the past, but it’s different this time. I wanted to come down and be closer to you while I’ve got the chance. In a couple of years, you’ll be all over the place doing who knows what, touring with your band, probably. You’ll be way too busy to see your old man.”
    Marco