Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 62 part ii

Second part of today's double update :)

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(No Control - 62. Little Things, second part)

By the time we get back, dinner is almost ready. Gemma is helping Mum plate everything up, so Jess and I sit down at the table with Robin.

"So are you going to any of the boys' concerts, Jess?" Mum asks as she finally sits down and we begin to eat.

"Um, yes, Cardiff and London," Jess replies.

"Have you been before?" Robin asks.

"Yes, twice," Jess nods, and tells the story of how she first became a fan of One Direction.

"What do your parents do?" Mum asks.

"My dad is an accountant and my mum works part time at a primary school in the office," she replies.

"So you get your passion for numbers from your dad then?" Mum asks.

"Um... yes, I suppose so," she says uncertainly.

"Harry said you're a bit of a whizz with figures," Mum explains, smiling at me, and I feel myself turning pink at this revelation. I'd told her that months ago after I'd first stayed over at Jess's flat. As if she remembered.

Once everyone has finished, Gemma helps Mum clear the plates and I lead Jess back into the lounge and set up the Scrabble board. Gemma joins us not long after, and then Mum and Robin bring some wine through.

Jess seems to have relaxed a bit now, and this makes me relaxed. I enjoy taking the piss out of Gemma for most of the evening, and the moment I lay down 'zebra' on a triple letter and double word score is possibly one of the finest of my life.

"That will be... oh yes, seventy-two points to me," I gloat as Robin writes my score down. "See that, Gem? Seventy-two points. That's more than you've scored this whole game."

"Harry, stop gloating," Mum says, but she's smiling at me as she says it.

"What's that?" I say, cupping my hand behind my ear. "You all wish you were as good as me? Well, you've either got it or you haven't."

"Got what, an over-inflated ego?" Gemma replies. "Yes, you definitely have that."

"Tut tut, jealousy is an ugly emotion," I scold Gemma, wagging my finger at her.

"Go and plait your hair or something," she says, rolling her eyes, and Jess giggles.

I win the game, and Jess comes last.

"Tales," I remark, studying the board with an exaggerated expression of interest. "That was one of yours wasn't it, baby? Six points... well done."

"Harry, fuck off," Gemma mutters in an undertone.

"Muuummmm, Gemma swore at me," I call to Mum loudly, as she comes back into the room with a new bottle of wine and tops up everyone's drinks.

"And why did she swear at you, Harry?" Mum asks.

"I don't know!" I say, sadly. "I was just sitting here, talking about how much I miss you all when I'm away from you for such long periods of time, and she just started swearing and shouting."

Mum shakes her head and Gemma rolls her eyes.

"No, what actually happened, was Harry was gloating over his Scrabble win," Gemma explains. "So I stuck up for Jess, because he was taking the piss out of one of her words."

"See?!" I exclaim. "There she goes again with her foul language!"

Everyone ignores me.

"I think Jess had her mind on other things," Mum smiles at Jess, who smiles shyly back.