Jerry sets his empty glass on the bar, then shrugs. “Nope. Thought about it? Yes,” he adds before I can feel too happy about it. “More than once. But no, me and Pete have never hooked up.” Curiosity fills his gaze, and I just know he wants to ask me why I wanted to know, but he seems to think better of it.
“You ready to head back?” he asks instead. “I’m on call, so I want to get an early night just in case.”
Ahh, that’s why he had a soft drink instead of beer. “Yeah, course.” I drain the last of my lager, then say my goodnights to Hailey and a few others near the bar, which is a bit weird, but I guess something I’m going to have to get used to, and follow Jerry out.
“Jesus,” I hiss as soon as we get outside. “How did it get so cold?” It was chilly when we got here, but now it feels like ten degrees colder. My coat really isn’t cutting it against the biting wind that seems to have come from nowhere.
In response, Jerry pulls a woollen hat out of his pocket and slots in onto my head. It’s rainbow coloured with a big pink pompom on the end and probably looks ridiculous on me, but I don’t even care because it’s so warm.
“Thank you.” I tug it a bit lower over my ears, making Jerry laugh. I give him a quick once-over, noting the thick fleecy lining of his coat where he has the collar zipped right up to cover most of his neck. He’s also slipped on a pair of gloves, and he looks extremely snug, apart from his head.
Because you’re wearing his hat.
I should probably feel guilty about that, but I don’t. Instead, I feel a little fluttery inside, a small smile curling my lips. It stays in place all the way back to Jerry’s house.
Jen meets us with a welcoming bark, and as soon as we get inside, the warmth hits us. The sigh I let out borders on pornographic, and Jerry stumbles over his own feet, almost taking me out with him, but we manage to right ourselves before going over.
“You sure there was nothing in that coke you had?” I toe off my boots before looking up at him to see his cheeks flushed pink.
“I’m not the one making sex noises,” he mutters, wrestling with his laces. He finally gets his boots off and stands. We endup facing each other, far too close, and when I breathe in, I’m hit with the subtle scent of his aftershave.
He smells so good, it’s an effort not to lean forward and bury my nose in the crook of his neck. Pretty sure he’d let me if I asked, and I already know from experience he gives the best hugs. But we can’t go down that road. If Jerry wrapped his arms around me now, in the moody lighting of the hallway, I don’t think I’d have the willpower not to kiss him.
Once again Jen comes to the rescue, weaving between us and looking up at Jerry like he’s the best thing she’s ever seen. Can’t argue with her there.
Andwhoa... I need to nix those thoughts right now or the next few weeks are going to be excruciating.
“Come on, then,” Jerry croons as he bends to stroke her. “Let’s take you out the back.”
I try to hand him his hat back as he passes, but he shakes his head.
“Keep it. I’ve got plenty of hats, and that one suits you more than it ever did me.” He’s gone before I can utter more than a quick thank you, Jen at his heels as they head through the house to the back door.
My heart is beating way too fast for my liking. He gave me a hat, not declared his undying love. But as I look down at the soft, colourful wool in my hand, I can’t stop my smile any more than I can stop the flutter in my belly.
I’m so fucked.
JERRY
“So... how’s it going with Reed?” Sean asks, relaxing back in his seat like he’s settling in for a long chat.
We’re in the pub for our usual after work meet up—when our shifts align—and while it’s normal for us to fill each other in on how our week’s been, Reed’s lived with me for all of five nights, so I’m not exactly sure what he’s hoping for.
Yeah, right. Because nothing’s happened since he arrived.
My subconscious can fuck off because nothinghashappened, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t spent every night imagining what it would be like.
My heart rate kicks up as I think about how close we stood in the hall his first night here—the look in his eyes told me he’d come willingly if I reached out and tugged him to me. Thank god, I’ve been in work early every day this week, because the sleep-rumpled version of Reed I was treated to on Sunday morning was no fucking better.
I run a hand over my face, forcing the images from my head, and mutter, “It’s going fine.”
Sean laughs, of course he does, because he knows me better than anyone else and can read me like a book. “That good, eh?”He leans forward and sets his glass on the table. “I take it that’s not because Reed is a shitty housemate?”
I roll my eyes at that. “You know it’s not.”
He meets my gaze but doesn’t comment, waiting me out. And fuck, if I can’t talk to Sean about it all, who can I talk to? But... “I’m not sure I feel right talking about this when you’re Reed’s friend too.”
He reaches over the table and catches hold of my hand, eyes fierce. “Fuck off with that. We’ve been best mates for years. We tell each other everything.” His expression softens and he sighs. “You know whatever you tell me won’t go any further. I won’t even tell Vic if you don’t want me to, and I definitely won’t be breathing a word of it to Reed.”
