Black Girls and Bad Boys: Changing his Tune by Neneh J. Gordon Read Free Book Online

walked out of the restaurant.
    “Angie, wait.”
    She ignored him and carried on walking. Once she got outside, she
reached in her pocket for her cigarettes before she remembered she didn’t smoke
any more. If she’d had a pack, she would have lit one up right there and then.
    “Angie.” Noah came out into the street and stood beside her. “You
didn’t have to come out here.”
    “Yes, I did. I couldn’t take it, Noah. How do you feel now you’ve
had a taste?” She could see the thirst all over his face. “How hard was it to
walk out here without bringing that can?”
    He rubbed at his jaw. “I can handle it.”
    “That’s what I used to say. When I tried to take that beer off you...”
She hesitated, unsure she could share the truth with him. “I didn’t know if I
could pick it up without taking a drink.”
    “But you didn’t.”
    “I didn’t. You didn’t give me the chance. And then I took myself
away from the temptation.” Maybe she should apply that to the bigger picture
and hand in her notice.
    “Come back inside. I’ve told him to behave himself.”
    “And what about you? I mean it, Noah. You can’t drink.” He was
fooling himself if he thought he could.
    “I’ll stop. I won’t have any more.”
    “You promise?” There was still a chance they could salvage things.
    He nodded.
    If she wanted to keep this job she had to make sure he didn’t do
anything stupid. “Okay. But you have to stop. And if he starts up again—”
    “He won’t.”
    She wasn’t so sure about that, but she went back inside anyway.
    ***
    L unch went by without any further drama. No one commented on the
fact that Noah didn’t drink any more of the beer in front of him. But he gave
it more than the occasional glance. Dave was subdued – he clearly didn’t trust
himself to speak if he had to be non-confrontational. Angie said even less than
Dave did. Which left Noah carrying the conversation. He tried to keep it
positive and talk about how the new material was going. He even mentioned some
potential stops on the tour. But nobody had anything to say.
    Eventually he gave up and finished his food in silence.
    “Be back in a minute.” Dave got up and walked out of the restaurant.
    Noah turned around and watched him through the front window. Dave
pulled out his phone, pressed the screen a few times and put it to his ear.
“Well, that was awkward.”
    “Yes, it was.” She didn’t look up from her plate.
    “I’m sorry about all this. If it’s any consolation, I don’t think
he’ll be staying for dinner.”
    “I know he’s your friend, but I hope you’re right.” After eating her
last meatball, she put down her cutlery and met his eye. “You’re doing so well.
Please don’t throw it away.”
    A waiter came by and Noah asked him to take the can off the table.
It was a relief not to have to look at it. He’d only got through the meal
without chugging it because he wanted to prove her wrong. But it had been the
hardest thing he’d ever done.
    He hadn’t taken more than a few sips, but he could still taste it.
And he wanted more. The worst part of it was the fact it had taken the edge of
his shakes – he felt better than he had in days. She was right. He couldn’t
have a drink and stay in control.
    “It helps to know that you understand what it’s like.” In spite of
himself, he found he was warming to her. In fact, he was finding it really hard
not to put a friendly hand on hers. But she didn’t want him to touch her. He
hadn’t realised how much he relied on little gestures of affection like that.
He even hugged John when he was in a good mood.
    Dave came back in and asked for the bill. “All sorted.” He had one
of those looks on his face. Like he was up to something.
    “Who was that on the phone?”
    “You’ll find out.”
    He didn’t like the sound of that. By her sour expression, neither
did Angie.
    The waiter brought the bill and they all chipped in some money.
    “Back to yours?”