Read Online Unplugged by Lisa Swallow - Free Book Online

“Shit-for-brains hasn’t called yet then?” she asks.
    “ Craig? No.”
    Louise makes a humph noise and picks up a saucepan to dry. “Do you know where Liam went?”
    “ No.” Liam, God that’s another problem. I inhale against the butterfly queasiness I get when I think about him.
    “ Liam came to the shops,” pipes up Ella. “I saw Santa.”
    “ Really? Liam went to see Santa?” Louise’s brow creases.
    “ No, he just took us down there to save us getting the bus.” I concentrate hard on the washing up, knowing my best friend will read any betraying sign of what I’m thinking.
    “ I like Liam,” says Ella, “he’s nice.”
    “ He is nice,” says Louise, walking over to Ella. “What are you drawing?”
    “ Santa. Mummy likes Liam too.”
    I watch the snow settle on the windowsill and brace myself for Louise ’s response. “Your mummy knows Liam from a long time ago.”
    “ But Mummy held Liam’s hand,” continues Ella.
    Heat creeps into my cheeks, Ella ’s words sound worse than they are. When Louise doesn’t respond, I place the mug I’m washing on the drainer and turn to her.
    “ You’re holding hands with Liam now?” she asks.
    I huff. “He was being nice to Ella and I squeezed his hand to say thank you.”
    My explanation sounds weirder than the truth and doesn ’t fool Louise. “Oh?”
    “ And he let me sit on his shoulders! He’s really tall and I could see for miles!” says Ella.
    “ Very cosy,” remarks Louise.
    “ We saw someone in town he knew and he wanted...” I sigh, refusing to justify myself. “Never mind.”
    Ella scribbles furiously with a red crayon. What misleading thing will she say next? “Ella, why don’t you go and choose a story for bedtime?”
    “ It’s not bed time yet!”
    “ You can still choose one, off you go.” I smile and wave her toward the stairs.
    “ Do you think Uncle Liam would read me a story?”
    Louise mouths ‘Uncle Liam’ at me with a shocked look on her face.
    “ I think Liam has done enough for you today, Ella. Anyway, he’s out.”
    “ He told me he would.”
    Louise giggles. “Here I am, worrying about you and my big brother, but I can spot who the new girl in his life is.”
    The surge of affection I have for Liam grows each time he does or says something kind to Ella. When he arrived here the other day, he was uptight and grumpy and I was sure I ’d be asked to leave. His understanding of the situation is strange and not what I expected of the man whose excesses I’ve seen and heard about over recent years.
    Ella hops off the chair and heads out of the kitchen, leaving her colouring behind. Louise leans against the kitchen counter and crosses her arms.
    “So...?”
    “ So?”
    “ What’s going on? I knew I saw something happening when you were drunk the other night! Cerys, this is a bad idea.”
    “ This? There’s nothing happening!”
    “ No, apart from the fact you two are acting weird. When he first arrived you made polite conversation, now you hardly speak or look at each other.”
    I can ’t tell her we kissed because I won’t allow myself to replay the moment or the hidden fantasies about rock stars.
    “ He’s engaged, Cerys! Okay, I don’t like her much, stuck up cow, but she’s who he wants.”
    I cringe at the talk of Liam wanting Honey. “They split up, that’s why he’s here.”
    “ Oh, right. Did he tell you that before or after you got into his bed?”
    “ Louise! I haven’t got into his bed! Give me some credit!”
    Louise sighs and shakes her head. “I know he’s my brother, but he’s also one quarter of Blue Phoenix. There’s a reason they have a reputation. If he’s dumped Honey, good; but I doubt he’s looking for someone new, more likely sex to make himself feel better. Sorry to say that, but it’s probably true. And you. What about Craig?”
    Louise has this all wrong and her tone riles me. I can ’t argue with her because if we fall out, I have nowhere to go. I take a