Sinbound

(25) Stars

"Where the fuck have you been? You can't just leave without telling anybody, Lex," Polly states, hugging her niece as she walks into the betting den.

"I had something urgent to attend in Blackpool,"Alex responds.

"You still need to tell us, Lex, we've been worried," Polly says, "what did you need to attend in Blackpool?"

"A funeral."

"A funeral? Whose funeral?" Polly queries.

"A friends," Alex states.

"No shit, I wouldn't assume you're going to a strangers funeral," Polly says, "I get it was urgent, but you could've left a note, you could've found a phone to call us, let us know."

"I'm sorry, Pol, I had a lot on my mind, funerals tend to have that effect on people," Alex replies.

-

"You're back," Amari beams, rushing round the bar to embrace Alex, "where have you been? Are you okay?"

"Mar, I'm fine," Alex replies, "I just had to leave for a couple of days."

"You didn't tell anybody, Lex, they thought something bad had happened, I thought something bad had happened," Amari says.

"To me? Once more you underestimate my capacity for violence," Alex smirks, "don't worry about me."

"Then don't disappear without a word, how does that sound?" Amari remarks teasingly, "is that a deal?"

"It's a deal," Alex nods, "now what are the chances of me finding a pretty barmaid, with a big smile to pour me a whiskey."

"Extremely high," Amari blushes, going back behind the bar, "you never did answer my question about where you went."

"A guy I used to know, it was his funeral," Alex states.

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss," Amari frowns, "are you okay?"

"I am now," Alex says.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Amari asks.

"No, not right now," Alex sighs.

"Well, you know where to find me if you change your mind," Amari says.

"Do I? You might need to send me your new address," Alex replies.

"I've spoken to my father, he agrees that it wouldn't be kind to make such a big move whilst Sammy and Danté are still young, he wants to move house, but not too far, I'll still be here whenever you need me, Lex, don't you worry about that," Amari says.

"Thank god, I'd hate to find a new barmaid to talk to," Alex teases.

"Got other barmaids on your mind, Alexandria?" Amari tuts, leaning on the bar, Alex hums thoughtfully.

"Wrong answer," Amari says.

"I'm joking, Mar, you know you're the only barmaid for me," Alex states, "I promise there's no other barmaid."

"Better not be, otherwise I just might forget to pour your drinks," Amari says.

"You wound me," Alex responds.

"How ever shall you survive?" Amari jokes.

"Another double of whiskey?" Alex asks.

"So persuasive," Amari laughs, grabbing the whiskey bottle and topping up Alex's drink.

-

"So how is London?" Alex asks, as she pours her sister and aunt a cup of tea each.

"It's big, there's so many people, Freddie seems to know a lot of them," Ada says.