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pointedly. ‘Seeing as the money’s better, and we need every penny we can get while I’m the only one making any effort to clear the debts.’
    Narrowing her eyes, Leanne said, ‘Oh, so now I’m a gold-digger, am I? Well, thanks for that, Tez. At least I know what you really think of me.’
    Instantly regretting the words, Terry flopped his head back against the pillow and ran a hand over his eyes, murmuring, ‘I didn’t mean that. And you know I don’t mind the shifts, but would it kill you to show a bit of gratitude?’
    ‘ Gratitude ?’ she repeated scathingly. ‘What, like I’m supposed to thank you for keeping me, or something? Like a fucking dog.’
    ‘All right, consideration, then,’ he corrected himself. ‘I’m wiped, Lee, and all I want is a bit of peace and quiet when we get the chance of a night in together, instead of you fetching these idiots round all the time.’
    ‘They’re not idiots. They’re my friends.’
    ‘They’re kids.’
    ‘They’re exactly the same age as me, actually ,’ Leanne said sharply. ‘Or is that your real point?’
    Glancing up at her, Terry let his raised eyebrow answer the question.
    ‘Christ, anyone would think you were my dad,’ she snarled. ‘It’s your problem if you’ve forgotten how to have fun, but I’m not letting you turn me into a boring old woman!’
    ‘As if,’ Terry muttered, closing his eyes. His head was starting to pound, and the beers were beginning to churn in his stomach. ‘All right, can we just drop this now?’ he said wearily. ‘I’m too tired for—’
    Before he could finish, one of the girls knocked on the door and called through that Leanne’s mobile was ringing.
    Telling her to switch it off, Leanne waited until she’d heard her go back into the living room, then said, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you lately, Terry, but you’re turning into a right miserable get, and it’s getting right on my nerves.’
    ‘And you’re a selfish bitch.’
    ‘Bollocks! You’re not the only one who’s had to make sacrifices, you know. I lost all my mates, too.’
    ‘Oh, so the girls aren’t really here, then?’ Terry said sarcastically. ‘Well, shit, Lee, I wish you’d told me earlier, ’cos I wouldn’t have had to go out in the fucking rain to get away from them, would I?’
    ‘If you think you’re going to bully me into making them feel unwelcome, you can piss off,’ she hissed. ‘I’ve already lost me dad over you. I’m not losing them as well.’
    Terry had had enough. Looking up at her coldly, he said, ‘Get out, Leanne.’
    ‘You what?’ she squawked, glaring back at him. ‘Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?’
    ‘I’m talking to you,’ he snarled. ‘So, go on, piss off back to your mates before we both say something we regret.’
    ‘The only thing I regret is getting myself hooked up with a tosser like you,’ she spat, marching to the door. ‘And don’t think you’re touching me again till you stop acting like a dick, ’cos you’re not!’
    ‘Thought I was acting like your dad,’ he reminded her, but she’d already flounced out of the room.
    Groaning when he heard the karaoke starting up again a few seconds later, Terry glanced at his watch. It was one in the morning, but to hell with the neighbours. If he had to suffer, so could they.
    He turned the TV up and had just rolled a cigarette and was reaching for his lighter when he noticed that his mobile was lit up on the bedside table. He hadn’t heard it ringing because of the noise – and when he saw Leanne’s mum’s name on the screen, he wished he hadn’t seen it, either.
    He felt like switching it off, like Leanne had done hers. But, knowing that Carole would come round to see what was going on if she couldn’t get hold of at least one of them, and she was the last person he wanted to see right now, he reluctantly picked it up.
    ‘About time!’ Carole gasped. ‘I’ve been trying to get hold of our Leanne but her