Respect (Mandasue Heller) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Leon’s eyes widened. ‘Giz it.’
    ‘Not here.’ Kermit stuffed it away again. ‘I just nicked it off me nan.’
    ‘Like your style, bruv.’ Leon grinned his approval and pulled a jumper over his head. Then, stuffing his sockless feet into his trainers, he said, ‘Come on, let’s get out of here before our kid gets back. Me mum went out last night and our Chan was in a right one. Bitch is lucky I didn’t slit her throat, the way she’s been talking to me lately.’
    ‘Yeah, but she’s fit,’ Kermit said as he followed him out of the bedroom. ‘I’d slip her a stiff one.’
    ‘Shut your gob, y’ mong!’ Leon pulled a disgusted face and shoved his friend out onto the landing.
    Chantelle assumed that Leon must still be sleeping when she got home a short time later. Glad of the peace, she decided not to disturb him and quietly put the shopping away, leaving out the two pieces of chicken she’d bought for tonight’s dinner. Leon claimed to hate her cooking, but he’d always loved her curried chicken and rice so she’d thought she would treat him to make up for their row yesterday. And if he was really good, she might make a batch of his favourite home-made macaroni cheese.
    Confident that there would be no more trouble from Leon once he saw that she was making an effort, she made herself a cup of tea and went to her bedroom to resume the revision that she’d fallen asleep over the night before.
    Leon had never tasted whisky in his life before. But he was a man, and men didn’t admit shit like that. So when Kermit – lying through his teeth and claiming to have done it loads of times – offered the bottle to him for first dibs, he fronted it out and took a big swig. His eyes watered when the sharp, bitter alcohol hit his tongue, and he almost choked when it went on to assault his throat. But he forced himself not to spit it straight back out and handed the bottle over to Kermit.
    ‘You all right?’ Kermit asked, eyeing him excitedly.
    ‘Yeah, course.’ Leon shrugged. ‘Go on – your turn.’
    Kermit took a tentative sip and pulled a face.
    ‘Ah, you fuckin’ lightweight!’ Leon crowed, snapping his fingers in the air in a gesture of victory.
    ‘I’m gonna get some pop.’ Kermit jumped up and rushed out of the room.
    Leon scraped at his tongue and coughed to clear the heat from his burning throat when his friend had gone. Composed by the time Kermit came back with a bottle of lemonade and two plastic cups, he gave a nonchalant shrug when Kermit asked if he wanted his next shot neat or mixed, and said, ‘Not bothered.’ Then, pursing his lips, he added, ‘But I suppose I’d best have a bit if you’re having it. Don’t wanna get pissed on me own while you’re having baby drinks, do I?’
    Kermit ignored the jibe and sloshed two large helpings of lemonade over the inch of whisky he’d already poured into the cups. Handing Leon’s to him, he grinned. ‘You go first.’
    Leon braced himself and downed his drink in one, then wiped his sleeve across his mouth and held out his cup for a refill. He might be the younger by two years, but he wasn’t about to let Kermit get one over on him.
    Light-headed by the time they had finished their second drinks, the boys fired up the PlayStation. But it wasn’t long before they started squabbling.
    ‘I haven’t fuckin’ cheated,’ Kermit insisted when Leon accused him for the third time. ‘Ain’t my fault I’m better at it than you.’
    ‘Are you fuck!’ Leon argued. ‘I’m way better than you, and if I had my own console and was on it twenty-four-seven like you, I’d mash you the fuck up.’
    ‘I’m hardly ever on it when you’re not here,’ Kermit lied. ‘I’ve just got skills – and you’re just jealous, ’cos you know you can’t touch me.’
    ‘That right?’ Leon punched him in the arm. ‘Touched you then, though, didn’t I? So what you saying now, shithead? Eh? Eh? Not man enough to fight back?’
    Infuriated when Leon