Girl Heart Boy: No Such Thing as Forever (Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

fair share of WAG wannabes – he is, after all, a fit blond footballer. He’s just a bit like me, I suppose: discerning.)
    Jack’s mum had asked me, Cass, Ashley, Donna and our other friends Rich – Jack’s best mate – and Ollie to help blow up balloons, set out the buffet and generally get the place looking like her idea of a dream party venue. Which is to say not exactly
our
idea of a dream party venue, although to be fair Jack would have loved it whatever she did. If he ever makes it big he’ll make a rubbish celebrity footballer. He’s far too nice and sensible.
    We put the last plate of pineapple and cheese on sticks on the table, symmetrically placed between a pile of napkins and a stack of paper plates, while Jack’s mum stood in the middle of the room, hands on hips. ‘It’s great,’ she sighed. ‘Well done, everyone.’
    Ash caught my eye and gave me an
aw, bless
look. Jack’s mum was so welling up. I suppose it’s a big thing when your only child turns eighteen.
    I sneakily checked my phone. Still no messages. There were only a few days left till Joe’s deadline, and I wasn’t having any luck emailing him. (My plan had changed slightly, in that I’d decided to try emailing straight away while giving him a two-week deadlineto get in touch. Kind of nearly the same as plan A, but with the added bonus of pandering to my total lack of willpower.) Every possible permutation of his name and his uni’s web address bounced back. But I wasn’t going to think about that tonight. The DJ had just arrived, and he was wearing an actual powder-blue tux over an actual cream ruffled shirt. If anything was going to take my mind off Joe, it was a comedy DJ who didn’t realize he was comedy.
    While DJ Cheese was setting up, the birthday boy arrived. He sidled in, looking uncomfortable at being the star of the show. So of course we cheered and leapt on him in a birthday bundle before breaking into an impromptu rendition of ‘Happy Birthday To You’, complete with harmonies. Rude not to.
    ‘Thanks for that, guys,’ said Jack, smiling and straightening his shirt. ‘You going to give me the bumps next?’
    ‘Don’t tempt us,’ said Rich, handing Jack a drink. ‘Happy birthday, mate.’
    Cass did little lady jumps and clapped her hands. ‘Adam’s waiting outside, so, quick, give him his prezzie, give him his prezzie!’
    Rich ran back to our table and fetched a gift bag from where he’d hidden it under his coat. ‘Carefully wrapped by
moi
,’ he said, handing it over while we all stood jittering with present-giving trepidation.
    ‘Aw, thanks, guys.’ Jack reached into the bag and pulled out an original programme from the 1982–83 FA Cup Final between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United. Rich had won it on eBay for £30, and we’d all contributed.
    Jack’s face broke into an enormous grin. ‘Shit, that’s awesome!’ He laughed with delight and flicked the pages. ‘Man. It’s brilliant … Seriously, thanks so much.’
    Rich thumped him on the back. ‘You’re welcome.’
    It was lovely. Even miserable me couldn’t help smiling at how much Jack loved our present. Then a squeal of feedback announced that the DJ was about to start his set, and the moment was broken. Cass ran off to fetch her man and the rest of us gawped at DJ Blue Tux.
    ‘Evening, pop-pickers – I’m Alan and I’ll be spinning the platters that matter to celebrate Jaaaack’s eighteenth birthdaaaaay! So let’s start as we mean to go on … with a funky slice of puuuure disco. Iiiiit’s …’ [dramatic pause] ‘the Bee Geeeees!’
    By this point the girls and I were falling all over each other in joy. ‘Oh my God, I LOVE this man. I want to HAVE HIS BABIES!’ whooped Ashley, dropping to her knees in ecstasy.
    Donna stood up and straightened her top in a businesslike manner. ‘I’m so going to make a request.’And we all trotted after her as she marched over to Alan, who was biting his bottom lip and