“He was beyond happy that you’d been kicked out,” Joe told him.
“Why? Surely he would have been upset if Jacob was no longer there,” Christine reasoned.
“No idea, but he was. I stayed out of his way. I didn’t even tell him I was leaving.”
“Joe, eat your dinner before it gets cold,” Robbie ordered. “What about you, Fran?”
Joe walked to the table and took the covers off both plates. “There’s a plate of sandwiches or chicken pie.”
“Sandwiches for me please,” Fran replied.
Joe carried the plate over for Fran. “Here. Does anyone mind if I sit over there and eat?”
“Nope, go for it,” Ezzy replied.
“Right, I need to get to bed as I’m at the hospital tomorrow. Jacob, Fran, if you need me just phone,” Robbie told them.
“Thanks, Robbie,” Jacob said, smiling shyly at him.
Robbie stood, touched his shoulder and nodded.
“I’ll come with you,” Finn said, patting Jacob’s leg. “I’ll come back and sit with you tomorrow. Night everyone,” Finn said.
“I’ll be going as well,” Christine added.
After a round of goodnights, the three of them left.
“Fran, you should eat,” Jacob said softly to him, looking concerned and unconsciously rubbing his thumb over the back of Fran’s hand.
Fran smiled at him. “Honestly, I’m not that hungry. More tired than hungry.”
“You can go to bed if you want, Cuz, I’ll stay and keep Jacob company,” Ezzy offered.
Fran shook his head. “Nope, I’m good here.”
“Fran ...” Jacob started to protest.
“Give it up Jacob, looks like your mate is planning to stay a while,” Joe said, walking back over, grinning at them.
“Oh I like you,” Ezzy said. “You can join our ghost hunt and our hunt for the missing secret passages and priest holes.”
“So there really are ghosts here? Awesome sauce and secret passages and priest holes, there must be a lot of them in this castle,” Joe replied, happily.
“When Jacob is better we’ll have fun showing the ones we know and looking for the missing ones,” Fran told him.
“How did you like your room?” Ezzy asked Joe.
Joe grinned again and sat on the side of Jacob’s bed, sitting so he could see the others. “It’s amazing and massive, like seriously huge. Also—” He suddenly paused.
“What’s wrong?” Jacob asked him.
“It’s nothing, ignore me,” Joe said, blushing a little.
“If you’re sure,” Ezzy said, a little uncertain.
Joe nodded but didn’t reply.
Just then Ezzy’s phone pinged. He picked it up and looked at the message smiling. “Emory’s on his way home. I’m going to go down and meet him. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” And with that, he jumped up and walked out of the room.
