Nick smiled, his gaze flicking over to where Abi was now deep in conversation with Alex, Jake, and Dylan, about how awesome Detective Benson was. They both listened in for a few seconds before Nick spoke again. “It’s just, you and Alex talking about it got me thinking. We’ve been together for almost three years now.”
“Seems so much longer.” Riley grinned at him and Nick rolled his eyes. “Sorry, go on.”
“We both live in shared houses, so we might as well share one together.”
Riley blinked and just stared at him. “Wow, Nick. If you put it to her like that, I’d say your chances of her agreeing are nil.”
“God, yeah, that came out all wrong.” He laughed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “So, if I ask her in a way that doesn’t sound like it’s just for convenience, do you reckon she’d say yes? And do you think it’s a good idea?”
The look on Nick’s face was so earnest, as if Riley had all the answers. “I’m so not the one to ask for relationship advice.”
Nick snorted. “Good point.”
“But for what it’s worth, I think it’s a great idea. Anyone can see you two are crazy about each other. If you just tell her how you feel, then I think she’ll say yes in a heartbeat.”
“Thanks.” Nick met his gaze, and Riley had the uncomfortable feeling he was about to hear something he wouldn’t like. “You know, that’s great advice.”Oh, here it comes.“Maybe you should—”
“Yeah, I get it. And no. At least not yet, anyway.”
Nick shrugged. “Sorry. Worth a try.”
“Have you been talking to Charlie?”
“No, should I?”
Riley shook his head quickly. “God, no. Anyway, back to you and Abi. I wouldn’t ask her about it while we’re all here, maybe do it when you’re on your own.”
Nick’s smile immediately turned soft, and he glanced her way again. “Yeah.”
Riley’s friends’ happiness took the edge off his own wishful thinking, and he was content to sit there and let the conversations wash over him, chipping in here and there as he drank his beer. The evening stretched out, easy and laid-back, and Riley was just contemplating whether to fall asleep on the sofa or make his way upstairs, when Dylan ruined the mood with one sentence.
“Hey, Alex, did you ever call that guy from the bar?”
Immediately Riley was wide awake. Neither he nor Alex had brought that up after their weird text conversation, and he really had no desire to hear the answer. Unless, of course, it was “No, no way.”
In which case, Alex should hurry up and say it.
Riley caught Abi and Jake glancing his way, and he wished they could at leasttryand be subtle.
Alex yawned, and Riley did a little internal fist-pump. Clearly he didn’t find it the most exciting topic. “Nah. I couldn’t really remember what he looked like, so I didn’t bother.”
A chorus of “he was really hot, though,”—or something along those lines—erupted in response to that, and Riley wanted to slap them all. Especially when Alex hummed—whether in agreement or not, Riley had no idea—then pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, and fished out a crumpled napkin.
He kept it? What the fuck, Alex?
At least he managed to keep those words inside. He had to say something though, or he’d have to drastically rethink his plans of telling Alex after New Year. “I doubt you’re the first or last person he gave it to that night.”
Alex turned to look at him, and Riley met his gaze, not wanting to face the other four people he could feel staring at him, no doubt wondering what he was up to.
Alex smirked. “If he’s as hot as everyone says, Ri, then I don’t care if I’m the first or the last as long as he gives it to me.” He clinked his bottle with Jake next to him, and then, making things worse, added, “I’m not looking for a boyfriend, just a little Christmas fun.”
With a shrug and a grin, he carried on chatting about their plans for the next day as though he hadn’t just stomped on Riley’s hopes with his size-eleven feet.
All the beer in Riley’s system did nothing to soften the blow of that throwaway comment. He had to get out of there before what he felt inside began to show on his face, if it wasn’t already. He stood, maybe a little abruptly if the look of concern Nick shot him was anything to go by. Riley gave him a short, sharp headshake and hoped Nick understood it was nothing he wanted to talk about. “I’m off to bed. It’s been a long week.”
He ignored the look of surprise on Alex’s face. They didn’t always share a fucking bed, and he had no right to look hurt.
The twin bedroom he now shared with Jake had never felt so welcoming. Riley closed the door behind him, leaned back on it and rested his head against the wood. “Fuck it all,” he whispered to the emptiness.
