He stumbled into the kitchen to find his mum, Caroline, making a cuppa, and Charlie already slumped over at the table. Riley laughed at the sorry state of his brother, causing Charlie to shift his head to the side and glare at him.
“You and your fucking sambuca!”
His mum turned round and waved her spoon at the pair of them. “Language.”
Charlie mumbled his apologies and closed his eyes again.
“Sit down, Riley, before you fall down. God, how much did you two drink last night?” Caroline stood with her hands on her hips, waiting.
Riley shrugged and answered honestly. “I have no idea.” He took the chair opposite Charlie.
“Well, don’t make a habit of it, or you’ll rot your liver.” She walked over, ruffled his hair, and kissed the top of his head. “You look awful, want me to cook you a bacon and egg sandwich?”
Yes!“You are the best mum ever.” He smiled up at her and she rolled her eyes.
“More like the softest. Just don’t let it happen again this side of Christmas. I’ve got too much to do without looking after you two.” She ruffled Charlie’s hair next, and he mumbled something incoherent into his folded arms. “Do you want one, Charlie? Might do you good?”
“Yeah, okay” came the mumbled reply.
As soon as the smell of bacon filled the kitchen, Charlie took one sniff and rushed off in the direction of the bathroom. The slam of the door made Riley and his mum wince.
“I guess he changed his mind.”
Riley grinned and patted his empty belly. “More for me.”
Caroline smiled and shook her head as she set both sarnies on a plate in front of him. “I’m so glad my boys have such sympathy for each other.”
“You know he’d be the same.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Another ruffle of Riley’s hair as she passed, and she was gone, shouting back down the hallway, “Put your plate in the dishwasher when you’re done.”
Feeling almost human again, Riley fished his phone out of his pyjama pocket to see another text from Alex.
Did you see me get some guy’s phone number last night? Just found it in my jeans.
The food he’d just eaten turned to lead in his stomach. He’d forgotten all about that until then. Why couldn’t Alex have just lost the damn thing? And what was Riley supposed to say? The last thing he wanted to do was encourage him. But he couldn’t lie either.
Yeah. It was the bartender I think.
Was he hot?
Ugh. Riley so did not want to answer that truthfully. Twice he typed outNot really, no, but deleted it both times.
Yeah, he was just your type.
What’s that supposed to mean?
The image of the guy behind the bar came back to him far too clearly for his liking.
Slim, pretty, nice teeth, nice hair.Riley found himself sneering as he typed, and he quickly stopped, a more neutral expression replacing it.
Trust you to notice his fucking teeth. I’ve told you a hundred fucking times there’s fuck-all wrong with yours.
A smile tugged at the corners of Riley’s mouth. He both loved and hated how easily Alex saw through him. And all that swearing meant he was pissed off. Riley pictured him frowning at his phone. His fingers hovered over the keypad, debating whether to ask the question he really wanted an answer to—and also didn’t, at the same time.
Are you going to call him?
Do you think I should?
