Read Broke for Free Online Page A

gave him a disapproving look. But Mark was too busy feeling sorry for himself to notice.
    ‘About time,’ he grumbled, making a show of getting up stiffly. ‘I’ve been sat here for hours. Can’t even feel my arse, it’s that cold.’
    ‘Should have stayed at home in the warm, then, shouldn’t you?’ Steve said coolly.
    ‘Don’t you start,’ Mark groaned. ‘I’ve had enough shit off Amy already. Just make me a coffee and give us a fag. And hurry up with the door – I need to thaw out.’
    Steve felt like telling him to go home. But there was no point, because Mark never did anything until he was good and ready. So he kept his mouth shut and let him in, then left him to wallow on the couch while he got changed and made a brew.
    ‘Stan’s a right cunt,’ Mark complained when Steve handed his cup to him. ‘I should have smashed his fucking head in. Should have seen him, sitting there giving it the big I am. You’ve had your warnings ,’ he mimicked. ‘I’ll give him fucking warnings.’
    ‘You were warned,’ Steve said bluntly, sitting on his chair by the window. ‘You had more chances than you deserve, if you ask me, and you’ve proper taken the piss these last few weeks. I’m surprised he didn’t do it ages ago.’
    ‘Oh, cheers.’ Mark flashed him a hard-done-by look. ‘Nice to know I’ve got your support.’
    ‘It’s not just about you, though, is it?’ Steve reminded him. ‘You’ve got Amy and the kids to think about, an’ all. Don’t you think it’s time you knocked the gambling on the head if it’s causing this much grief?’
    ‘Fuck off!’ Mark sneered. ‘Making out like I’m some kind of junkie, when all I’ve done is had a few bets on the horses. Everyone does that – even you.’
    ‘Yeah, once a year on the Grand National. Hardly the same thing, mate. Anyhow, it’s not just the horses with you. I’m always trying to get you off the fruit machine when we’re at the pub. And what about all the scratch cards you left in your locker? There must have been about fifty when I looked, and they’re all duds. How much did that cost?’
    ‘Jeezus! What are you, my fucking therapist?’ Mark sniped. ‘If I wanted a lecture, I’d have stayed at home.’
    ‘Maybe you should have,’ Steve shot back. ‘Amy sounded really upset when I spoke to her.’
    Mark pulled a dismissive face. ‘She’s always upset about something. She does my head in, moaning all the time. And she wonders why I can’t stand being around her.’
    ‘Don’t make out like this is her fault,’ Steve berated him. ‘She’s put up with a lot of shit off you over the years, and she’s stuck by you when plenty would have walked.’
    ‘Careful, you’re starting to sound like a woman,’ Mark sneered.
    ‘Say what you want about me.’ Steve shrugged. ‘It don’t change the fact that you’ve messed up again. And that’s not Amy’s fault, it’s yours.’
    ‘Since when did you care about her?’ Mark asked. ‘If I remember right, you were the one who kept telling me to break it off with her before we got wed.’
    ‘Only ’cos I knew you were messing around, and I didn’t see why you couldn’t just be honest if you didn’t want to be with her.’
    ‘Oh, yeah, ’cos you’ve never cheated on a bird, have you?’
    ‘I’m not saying I haven’t, but at least I’ve always finished with them before they found out. I haven’t married them and made their lives a fucking misery.’
    ‘Well, aren’t you the shiny little saint?’
    ‘This isn’t about me. It’s about you , and that problem of yours. And you can deny it all you want, but it must be a problem if you’ve gone and lost your job over it.’
    ‘I’ve had enough of this.’ Mark slammed his cup down on the table and jumped to his feet. ‘You’re supposed to be my mate, not my bleedin’ mother. See you when you remember where you left your dick.’
    ‘You’ll have to face up to it sooner or later,’ Steve called after him as