‘Dancing and drinking. Nothing big. Just some of my closest friends and family.’
Ria’s idea of big is not mine. ‘How many people is that?’
‘About a hundred,’ she says airily.
‘You have a hundred close friends?’
‘Don’t you?’ she asks curiously.
I struggle to keep a straight face. ‘No, Ria. I don’t.’
‘Oh!’
‘So, where’re you having it then?’
‘Laissez-faire.’
A warning tinge swirls up my spine. ‘Isn’t that one of BJ’s clubs?’
‘Yup. Free drinks all night! Until last week I was going to keep it family only and have a party at my mum’s house, but then BJ offered his club and I couldn’t believe it.’
‘Look Ria. I didn’t realize that your birthday was going to be held in London. I am spending the weekend at my Ma’s.’
Ria waves my objection aside. ‘No problem. BJ has already agreed to pay for cabs for all my single girlfriends.’
I feel trapped. I can’t very well tell her I can’t go now after I have already agreed. ‘Um … will BJ be there?’
‘Well, he promised to drop in, but he said he won’t be able to stay for long.’
I breathe a sigh of relief. ‘What time?’
‘People are going to start arriving around nine but the party will really only get going about ten.’
‘OK.’
‘When you get to the club just tell them you are there for Ria’s party. Oh! And for ID you have to wear red shoes or a red hat.’
‘Got it.’
‘So what’re you up today then?’ she asks with a smile.
I shrug. ‘Not much. Unsuccessfully looking for a job.’
She frowns. ‘Why? Can’t one of your brothers give you one?’
‘They can but I want to make it on my own.’
‘What for?’
‘Just to try.’
She looks at me as if I am stupid so I quickly change the subject. ‘And where are you off to dressed like that?’
‘I’m off to a watch a bit of bare-knuckle fighting.’
‘Who’s fighting?’ I ask, even though it’s not too hard to guess.
‘I’m putting a hundred quid on BJ,’ she says with a cheeky grin.
‘What are the odds of him winning?’
‘‘BJ’s never lost so the money will be shit. I’m just gonna bet on the amount of punches he has to throw or the minutes the other guy will last. That sort of thing.’
‘Sounds exciting,’ I say carefully, even though an underground fight where the opponents go on battering each other until one of them can’t take it anymore is not my idea of fun. ‘And where is it being held?’
‘Some godforsaken barn in the sticks. Patrick’s taking me. You remember Patrick, my second cousin, don’t you?’
‘Yes, vaguely,’ I say politely. Then words I never intended appear on my tongue. ‘Can I come?’
She looks at me sideways. ‘Will your brothers be all right with it?’
I know Jake won’t be okay with it. Lily told me how he wouldn’t even let her watch him fight BJ. But after my humiliating experience in Italy, I’ve decided that it’s time for me to grow up and experience things for myself. Take a few knocks if necessary. I don’t want to be the sheltered baby of the family for the rest of my life. I want to see what a bare-knuckle fight looks like. Besides, I’ll be with Ria. What can possibly happen to me?
‘I won’t tell them if you won’t,’ I tell her.
She giggles conspiratorially. ‘My lips are sealed.’
‘When are you going?’
‘Now.’
I look at my shopping basket. A carton of milk and a pot of Greek yogurt. I take the basket to the check-out counter and give it to the cashier. ‘I’ve changed my mind. Could you please ask someone to put them back on the shelves?’
‘Ready?’ Ria asks.
‘Yeah. I’m ready.’
At that time I am just glad for a new experience. It has not yet occurred to me to do any mischief.
TEN
Layla
In the middle of someone’s farm we find a barn that is alive with music and people. We pay our entrance fee and enter. Inside, I gaze around in surprise. The barn is packed to the rafters with far more people than there are cars outside. At a guess, I would say there are at least 300 people. Mostly men, but women of all ages too. Ria tugs my hand.
‘Let’s place our bets then get a drink. I want to be up front.’
I nod and follow her as she pushes her way through the crowd.
A man in a green sweatshirt and two missing teeth grins at her. ‘What’ll you have, love?’