Jack swished his straw around in the milkshake they’d bought in the same diner as months ago. It was still bright pink and very fifties and still had the best milkshakes Cora had ever tasted.

“Thanks to you. And Frazer.” He was still wearing the huge hoody, now not clinging to him so much. A little of the weight he’d gained had started to go.

“We only helped. You got yourself here.”

He gave the awkward shrug she’d started to realise was pure Jack. “Still…”

“And you’re happy with what you chose?”

“Yeah, I always liked pulling apart appliances when I was a kid. May as well learn how to put things back together.”

“Being an electrician’s a great job—and you’ll get paid for your apprenticeship in a few years.”

He stabbed his straw in his drink again, nodding. “My, uh, my uncle asked me to move in with him.”

Cora grinned. “Really? That could be great.”

“I said no.”

Cora’s grin fell. “Really, why?”

“I don’t know. I like it now, living alone. And I appreciate all of his help, but he has two kids. I like my cousins but…”

“You want to do it alone.”

He nodded. “Yeah. It… I didn’t like that my parents had that control, you know? To make me feel like they did, to kick me out when they wanted. Now, I’m kind of in control. And I like that.” At Cora’s face, he quickly spoke again. “I don’t think my uncle would lord any of that over me, but it’s just…nice to be in control of what I’m doing.”

“I get it.”

Jack smiled at her. “Good. But he said he wanted to help, later, when I start hormones. With the money. To help me by paying half. And I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure—I got a job.”

This time, Cora’s grin didn’t fall. “No! Really? Where? Doing what?”

“Nothing fancy, but it’s part-time, stacking shelves for a supermarket after hours and mostly on weekends. It means it won’t interfere with studying, and once I start doing practical work, it won’t get in the way then either.”

“Jack. That’s fantastic.”

His cheeks were tinged pink. “Thanks.”

“And you’re okay to do that kind of lifting?”

“I start in two weeks and I asked Frazer.” he said, watching her carefully. “She said I’ll be fine by then.”

“That’s great.”

Taking a long sip of his milkshake, Jack cocked his head. “Why do you go red whenever I mention Frazer?”

“What? I don’t go red.”

A grin was taking over his face. “Yeah, ya do. Always.”

“I don’t.”

“You’re bright red.”

Cora was; she could feel it. “It’s because you talked about me being red, it’s psychosomatic.”

“You like her, don’t you?”