‘Coffee would be good, thanks.’

‘Still milk n no sugar?’

‘Still sweet enough,’ she says wae a wee smile. A’m away boilin the kettle n A feel like a silly wee laddie, pure excited cos a nice lassie is in yir hoose. Some lassies always make yi feel like this, the good wans. She’s different in almost every way tae Patricia. They looked n carried themselves differently. A feel different aboot each. A think back tae Tam n Michelle earlier. Could A ever imagine maself dain that wae Patricia? Nae chance. But Monica? Maybe.

‘Stacey told me you were back.’

‘Did she now? Two ae yooz huv always been pally.’

‘Just cos we both care about you.’

‘Ma two favourite lassies.’

‘And Patricia?’

A gee hur a wee sad look n she returns the serve. Monica isnae askin if we’ve finished. She’s askin me tae acknowledge the fact that A wis a dick leavin wae hur in the first instance. ‘Ah, that wan is over A think.’

‘Why?’

‘Because, Monica. She wis asking, n back then she was ma only way oot ae here. We wur never that suited.’

‘I’m not denying she did you a favour! Why did you split up, then?’

‘Because … A realised it wisnae tae be.’

‘Patricia never got you, Azzy. All she seen in you was the means to escape as well, and a guy who was nice enough to treat her well.’ Monica’s eyes drift doon like she’s said too much. She husnae come here tae go over eld ground. A’m no naive enough tae think that. ‘Anyway, that’s your life, boy. What are you going to do now then?’

‘A’m only stayin fur the summer, then A’m away again.’

‘Where you going to go?’

‘Anywhere. Everywhere.’

Monica smiles. ‘Sounds like the makings of a plan.’

‘And wit aboot you?’

‘Just finished uni. Graduate at the end of the month.’

‘Wow, congrats! Where did you go again?’

‘Thanks! Stirling. Did English n French, joint honours.’

‘How did yi get on?’

‘Got a 2:1. I did an English dissertation so going to organise my own year abroad starting in September. Going to go to Paris and live for a year, work as an English teacher.’

‘That’s amazin, Monica.’

‘What about you? Stacey said you were at college. Did you do your HND?’

‘Aye, still waitin fur results. Means A kin go tae uni as well eventually. Straight intae third year dain suhin. No sure wit A want tae dae really.’

‘Aw, Alan, you should. Changes your life, honestly.’

‘Haven’t applied fur any courses fur this year. Probably will at some point. Need tae work n git some money behind me before A kin dae anyhin.’

Monica glances downwards. She’s heard aw this nonsense fae me before aboot changin ma life n dain suhin. Tae this point, at twenty-wan, aw A’ve managed is an HND. It’s definitely better than nuhin but isnae enough tae show somebody ae hur achievements that A’m fur real.

‘You should get into a course n work part-time. Doesn’t cost up here to do one anyway. With that and a student loan, you can survive and live a wee bit.’