Nick had gone suspiciously quiet, but when Alex nudged him, he sighed in defeat. “Get him to stay, and just talk to him.”
Alex’s heart stuttered a little before picking up speed. “About?”
Nick met his gaze but said nothing for several seconds, as though trying to see what was in Alex’s mind.Well, good luck with that, because I’m struggling myself.“I think you know.”
Jesus Christ, was I right last night? Is Riley jealous? Fuck.
A tiny flicker of hope uncurled inside him, but Alex tamped it down. There was a time when he would have jumped at the chance to have Riley interested in him, but that was over two years ago now. He’d got over it, moved on. And he had no idea if he could go back, or even if he should. It might be a passing phase for Riley, a fleeting attraction because it was Christmas. Riley always got a little softer, a little sadder at this time of year. No way could Alex handle dredging all those feelings to the surface only to have Riley decide it wasn’t real.
He watched Nick and Abi make and eat breakfast, joined by Dylan and Jake. No one spoke much. Riley was conspicuous by his absence.
Alex couldn’t bear the elephant in the room any longer. “What’s he doing up there?”
“Packing,” Jake said around his mouthful of toast. “Well, muttering under his breath and packing.”
Well, that settled it. Clearly, Riley didn’t want to spend two days at the lodge alone with Alex, so that probably answered his question. His friends were all fucking wrong.
“What? Why?” Abi turned to Nick, but he shrugged. “For fuck’s sake.”
Alex pushed away from the worktop and headed for the stairs.
Abi called after him. “And where are you going?”
“To pack.” Alex didn’t bother to turn round.
By the time he came back down, dressed and with his rucksack full, Nick, Dylan, and Jake were stood in the kitchen, staring out the front window in the direction of the cars. He set his bag down. “What are you looking at, and why are the decorations still up?” The tree still stood in the living area, and all the fairy lights were in place too. Only the candles had gone. “Are we leaving them for the next guests?”
Raised voices sounded outside as Nick replied. “Riley started packing them away, and then that happened.” He pointed outside.
Alex moved until he could see Riley and Abi facing off outside Abi’s car, gesticulating wildly.
Alex turned back to the rest of them. “Shouldn’t someone go out there?”
Nick shook his head. “Give them a minute.”
He didn’t want to give them another minute, though. From this angle, Alex could only see the side of Riley’s face, but even that was enough to realise that whatever they were arguing about was upsetting him.
Alex moved towards the door and Nick called after him. “Alex, I don’t think—”
But Alex didn’t listen. He shoved his feet into his boots and had the door open before Nick could stop him. Neither Riley nor Abi noticed him come out; they carried on unawares.
Riley sounded sad and desperate. “Just drop it, Abi,please. Let me get in the fucking car.”
“I can’t.” She raised her hands in the air. “Anyone with eyes can see how you feel about him. I know Alex has started to suspect, though how it’s taken him so long is beyond me.”
“What?” Riley’s head snapped up.
Alex stood rooted to the spot, his heart hammering in his chest. He should either go back inside or let Riley and Abi know he was out there. Riley wouldn’t want him to hear this, Alex knew that, but for the life of him, he couldn’t bring himself to move.
“Come on, Ri. Alex isn’t stupid.” She took a step forward and put a hand on his arm, her voice so soft that Alex had to strain to hear. “And the two of you are on about moving in together, for fuck’s sake. You need to talk this through before then. It’s not fair on either of you.”
Riley sighed and looked up at the sky. “I already told him.” He laughed, bitter and broken. “Well, ‘showed him’ would be more accurate.”
“When?”
Yes, Riley. When the fuck didthathappen?Alex leaned against the door frame, his heart hammering.
“Last time we were up here.”
