Free Irresistible by Liz Bankes Page A

‘Mom.’”
    Dan laughs politely. “Can I give you a hand?”
    Jeff says, in his stuttery, awkward way, that it’s terribly kind of him to offer, but when I catch Jeff’s eye, his face clouds over and it’s obvious he’s still annoyed about my late-night text. Dan and Mom go into the house laden with bags, and I sidle up to Jeff.
    “Sorry. About, you know … last night and stuff.”
    He sighs. “It’s fine, love. Just … I felt a bit taken for granted. You know I want you to enjoy this job, but give me a little more notice next time, eh?”
    “Yep,” I say, not looking at him and concentrating on picking up bags of oranges. Why does he have to be so frigging nice? I feel tears well up for the second time today. This hangover is making me weirdly emotional.
    Dan stays for a long time, chatting away to my family, and Matthew even shows him his collection of flags from allthe countries in the world. He comments pointedly that it’s nice I’m not going out with a moron for a change. I think he overheard Kieran calling him a weirdo the one time I ever brought him over to the house.
    We get forced into a family game of Taboo, instigated by Matthew, who by then has his friend over, Karen with the big eyes. I get stuck with Mom, who always overcomplicates everything. For instance, when I’m trying to describe the word “house,” I say, “Thing you live in,” and she starts going, “Studio? Maisonette? Igloo?” Then I say, “NO, just the normal one!” and she says, “Semi-detached?” and the timer runs out. She’s no better when she has to describe the words, because she says stuff like, “You know, the little thing.”
    Jeff and Matthew are together and storm ahead, because their rounds sound like this:
    Jeff: “He was the—”
    Matthew: “HITLER.”
    Jeff: “The place w—”
    Matthew: “LEBANON.”
    Dan does well with Karen with the big eyes, in spite of her unsettling habit of linking lots of her descriptions to death. Even though I’d usually rather spoon-feed myself vomit than play a family game with a boy I like, I have a really good time.
    In the evening, when I’m going over to Han’s, Dan is still there, so he comes with me. He doesn’t seem fazed by being the only boy, and definitely makes a good impression by offering up the rest of the leftover food.
    “Never turn down a free sausage,” says Han wisely, and everyone nods in agreement. I try to ignore Gabi, who has started winking and pointing at Dan.
    Later, when I get up to go to the bathroom, everyoneexcept Dan “needs it too” and they all file out of the room after me. Then everyone is whispering to me in the corridor about how much they like him. I’m enjoying all the attention, but at the same time it feels a bit pressured. I’ve only just met him, and people are already labeling us as “together.” When the excitement dies down a bit, they go back into Han’s room, but Gabi hangs back.
    “It’s good to see you, you punk.”
    “Sorry I’ve been crappy.”
    She grins. “Whatev. Come on. Danny’s waiting.”
    While we’re watching the movie, I sit between Dan’s legs with his arms around me. My eyes start closing as the night before catches up with me, and I’m faintly aware of him moving his finger along my arm as if he’s writing something.
    It makes me think of bare legs touching.

Chapter 16
    Walking along the river in the morning has a way of clearing your head. I breathe in and feel the cool, fresh air bombard every part of me. There are no clouds in the bright sky; it’s gearing up to be another hot day.
    I had the day after the picnic off, and Gabi came over. We sat outside in the yard talking and then in the evening watched DVDs in my room and ate our weight in cookies. Gabi’s mom told her the other day that she should have a “life plan,” so most of our conversation was taken up with trying, and failing, to think of one. Gabi’s main ambition when she grows up is to be able to “stalk