Read Online The Booby Trap and Other Bits and Boobs by Dawn O'Porter - Free Book Online Page A

announced to Sean and Kev that she was stealing their friend for a while, he let himself be stolen without a single word of protest.
    Grace led him up the stairs and into Sean’s sister’s room. One of Ben’s hands was enveloped inside one of hers, the other clutching desperately onto the can of lager he had been drinking before she appeared; at that precise moment, as she pushed him into the bedroom and closed the door, it seemed to be the only thing that made any sense to him.
    â€˜So,’ she said, turning to face him. ‘Hi.’
    Ben burst out laughing. ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘You all right?’
    â€˜I am,’ she replied, setting the wine bottle on the bedside table and hopping gracefully up onto the bed. ‘I’m having a perfectly lovely time. You?’
    â€˜I am now,’ he said.
    Smooth,
whispered his quest-brain.
That’s the stuff. More of that.
    â€˜Are you just going to stand there?’ asked Grace.
    â€˜Course not,’ said Ben, and settled onto the bed with as much elegance as he was able, keeping a respectful distance between them.
    â€˜Cool,’ she replied. ‘So. Ben. Why exactly did you call Mrs James your mum?’
    A black hole of shame opened up inside Ben’s stomach, and his skin began to tingle with embarrassed heat. ‘What?’ he managed.
    â€˜Come on,’ said Grace. ‘Like we were going to be able to get away with not mentioning it? It’s not that big a deal, Ben, really it isn’t. I don’t know why you let everyone give you so much shit about it.’
    â€˜I didn’t
let
them,’ said Ben. ‘I couldn’t stop them.’
    â€˜You let it bother you, though. That’s what feeds them. That’s what kept it going.’
    â€˜I know,’ said Ben. ‘But … I called a teacher Mum. Seriously. Out loud. There didn’t seem to be any way I could get out of it.’
    â€˜You did, didn’t you?’ said Grace, and started to giggle. ‘You called your English teacher Mum.’
    Ben felt himself start to smirk. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Right in front of everyone.’
    Grace burst out laughing, and he felt himself surrender to the infectious sound, felt himself begin to laugh about something that he had believed had come to define him but now felt utterly insignificant. He howled with laughter, rolling onto his side and clutching at his ribs, feeling months of misery and self-hatred spill out of his open mouth. Grace had buried her face in a pillow and seemed to be having trouble breathing, she was laughing so hard; Ben hoped she was all right, as there was absolutely nothing he could do to help her if she wasn’t.
    Eventually, the tidal wave of laughter began to subside. He gasped for air, as Grace slowly lifted her head and looked at him.
    â€˜Bonnie talked to you,’ she said. ‘Right?’
    Ben nodded.
    â€˜What did she she tell you?’
    Ben swallowed hard. ‘She told me that you were looking forward to seeing me at the party … ’
    â€˜And?’
    â€˜ … and that she thought you might still like me. Although I don’t think I was supposed to tell you she said that.’
    Grace smiled. ‘It’s all right. I won’t tell her off too badly.’
    Ben was suddenly very aware of the temperature in the bedroom; it was as though someone was steadily turning up the thermostat, sucking all the moisture out of him. He was incredibly aware of his tongue, and his mouth felt as dry and rough as sandpaper. ‘Okay,’ he said.
    Grace tilted her head to one side. ‘
Are
you okay?’ she asked. ‘You’ve gone a bit red.’
    â€˜I’m fine,’ he said.
    â€˜Are you nervous around me?’
    â€˜Course not.’
    â€˜Because you don’t have to be.’
    â€˜I’m not nervous.’
    â€˜You are. I can tell. Maybe this will relax you. Or maybe not.’
    Grace