Unconditional Read Online Free Page A

that Dean Smith, the one that works at Rileys.’
    Rianne pulls a face and I laugh. Clearly she thinks as much of Dean’s credentials as a boyfriend as I do. Before I can stop myself, I ask her, ‘Do you know his friend Joe? He lives round here somewhere apparently. I met him at hers the other day, but he was like, really rude.’
    Rianne’s eyes light up.
    ‘The new guy who’s moved in to Mr Roger’s old house with his mum? Yeah, he’s like seriously hot.’
    ‘That’s the one. It’s his aunt, he said.’ I wonder again what his story is. Maybe his parents disowned him after his stint in jail.
    Rianne raises her eyebrows at me knowingly.
    ‘You like him.’ It’s a statement, not a question. I squirm in my seat, feeling uncomfortable.
    ‘I only met him the once. I think he’s got an attitude problem.’ I sound snappy, and wonder why I’m being so defensive. Rianne just smiles.
    ‘You do like him,’ she says again, a bit triumphantly. I ignore her and coo at Gabriel, who’s looking at me over his bottle. He gives me a look of disdain and closes his eyes, gripping his bottle as if he thinks someone might take it. He’s so adorable, at least now he’s stopped crying.
    ‘He’s bad news,’ I say. ‘Dean said he’s just got out of juvy.’
    ‘I didn’t know that. Still’ —Rianne looks thoughtful—‘you don’t know what he’s done. You shouldn’t judge abook by its cover and all that. You want to see some of the looks I got when I was walking around here with a big belly on me. As if I’m some skank and don’t know who the dad is.’
    I suppose she’s got a point. Whether it’s teen pregnancy or delinquency, people are always too quick to point the finger.
    ‘My mum and dad got married; maybe that’s what you and Mitch should do,’ I suggest, and Rianne squeals with laughter.
    ‘Babe! It is the twenty-first century you know! Besides’ —she looks thoughtful again—‘we couldn’t afford it.’
    She goes quiet, and I’m grateful that all I have to worry about financially is saving up enough tips from the café I work at twice a week to afford new jeans. Rianne sits the baby up to pat his back, and as soon as she touches him he lets out a massive burp then hiccups up some milk, making us both laugh. He’s asleep within minutes, and Rianne lets out a sigh of relief. She looks so exhausted I think I should head off and let her get some sleep, but when I suggest it she looks at me in horror.
    ‘I need some company,’ she pleads, ‘and conversation other than babies.’ Though after twenty minutes of talking music and boys we’re talking about Gabe again, his sleeping patterns – or lack of them – and the teething remedies she’s tried. I don’t even think she realises she’s doing it, so I nod and smile and try to look like I’ve got a clue what she’s talking about. Gabriel wakes up after an hour or so and Rianne starts running a bath, so I say my goodbyes feeling guilty that I’m glad to go. I wish there was more I could do to help, but it’s all so alien to me. Maybe I could ask Mum to babysit and get Rianne out for a bit; though by the look of her she’d probably prefer a few hours sleep.
    Walking home I’m glad I’ve left before dark; usually walking through the Estate doesn’t bother me but for some reason this evening it feels creepy, looking grimy and foreboding in the evening half-light. It used to be nice round here, Dad always said, but now every few houses there’s a broken down car or a boarded-up window. I should have got a cab, and I pull out my phone to call one but realise my battery has gone flat. I dither for a minute, wondering whether to go back to Rianne’s and ring one but not wanting to disturb her in the middle of putting the baby to bed. Instead I decide to take the short cut through the park, reasoning that it’s no less dangerous than walking through the whole Estate and at least it’s quicker; the other side of the park is only twenty