“Alex told you about us getting a flat?” Riley tried not to show how pissed off he was, but he kicked Jake under the table.For fuck’s sake.He clearly knew how Riley felt, but why was he trying to out him like this?
“Yeah, sorry. Was I not supposed to know?” He did look apologetic, and Riley hoped it was for more than letting it slip that Alex told him.
Alex waved him off and told him it was fine, then proceeded to fill everyone else in on their proposed plans. With Alex and the others distracted, Riley leaned close enough to Jake to whisper, “What the fuck?”
Jake sighed. “Sorry. I was just kidding, but….”
A quick glance round the table showed Alex was still holding court. “Butwhat?”
“It’s not a joke for you, is it?”
Riley closed his eyes for a second, debating denying everything, but he was so fucking tired of doing that. He shook his head. “No.”
“Thought not.” Jake picked up a chip, stared at it as though it held all the answers. “We can talk about it later.”
Oh, what fun!Before Riley had time to tell him “no fucking way,” he heard Alex mention his name and four sets of eyes focused on him. “What?”
Alex sighed as though Riley was the worst. “I was just saying that we should start looking as soon as we get back. I mean, I know nothing will happen before the New Year, but we should be able to get an idea of what we can afford and what sort of deposit we need. All that sort of stuff.”
Riley couldn’t look at any of the others. They probably all knew and were judging him right now. Or worse, feeling sorry for him. And then he immediately felt bad, because they were his friends.
God, Riley.
Instead he met Alex’s gaze and let himself be drawn in by those expressive dark eyes and thick lashes. He was a lost cause, might as well accept it. “That’s a great idea.”
Nick’s gaze felt like a laser on the side of his head. Riley wouldn’t look at him, but he felt the weight of the stare nonetheless. As far as Riley was aware, Nick was the only other person there who knew everything. He probably had plenty to say to Riley about this whole moving-in business, but nothing that Riley wanted to hear. He concentrated on his food and ignored everybody.
After dinner, with no pots to clean up, they all migrated to the sofa, beers in hand, and put on another film.
Full of food and pleasantly buzzed, Riley settled into the corner, not surprised when Alex sank down next to him.
Dylan was on Riley’s other side, TV remote in hand.
“What we watching now?” Riley asked.
Dylan grinned at him, as he pressed Play. “It’s almost Christmas. What do you reckon?”
“Good choice.” Riley returned his smile and clinked their beer bottles together as the opening scene fromDie Hardcame on the TV. None of them were even born when it first came out, but thanks to Riley—well, his mum, really, since she loved Bruce Willis—it had become a Christmas tradition. Not in the least original, but who cared?
For the next two and a bit hours, Riley got caught up in the action, fighting, and cheesy one-liners, his mind freed from everything usually swirling round in there. He’d forgot about it all until the film ended and Alex put his hand on Riley’s thigh to help him stand up.
It was over and done in a second, Alex thinking nothing of it as he walked into the kitchen, humming to himself. Riley sat frozen, the spot on his thigh still warm from Alex’s palm. It wasn’t low down near his knee either, that would have been too much to ask. It was high up near his groin. If he didn’t know better, he’d think Alex had done it on purpose.
If only.
Dylan got up, stretched, and announced to the room he was going for a piss.
Lovely.
Dylan had been gone no more than two seconds when Nick took his spot.
“All right?” Nick’s voice was low enough for only Riley to hear, so clearly this was one of “those talks.” The TV blared loudly in the background, now showingLaw & Order: SVUby the looks of it.
“Yep,” Riley answered, giving him nothing. Nick let out a sigh and Riley turned his head to look at him. “What do you want me to say? Yes, it sucks. Yes, I’m going to tell him. No, it won’t be this weekend.” Nick opened his mouth, then shut it again. “Anything else?”
“Er… I was actually going to ask what you thought about me and Abi moving in together.”
Oh. What a self-centred arsehole I am.“Sorry.”
