Okay, more than likely. But at this point I think that’s inevitable, so I’m just going to enjoy the ride and deal with the fallout later.
Who knows, maybe we can pick it up at a later date when he’s settled in his new place. My gut tells me that once Reed moves out, that’ll be it. But I’ve been wrong before.
I reply, telling him I’ll see him in a bit, and get out of my car.
Christmas music greets me as I pull open the door to the Charnwell Inn. Shakin’ Stevens providing a cheery festive background to the laughter and conversation of a packed pub.
I glance around, finally spotting Sean and Vic in the corner near the open fire. Of course they’ve got empty glasses, and as soon as they see me, Sean lifts his then points to the bar.
Perfect timing, obviously.
Hailey’s behind the bar tonight, alongside Char’s sister. I snag a spot at the very end and wait for her to notice me. I’m in no hurry, so I take a seat and mess about on my phone.
“Hey, Jerry.” Hailey smiles when I look up. “What can I get for you?”
“I’ll have a pint and whatever Vic and Sean are drinking if you know it?”
“I do, because they’re creatures of habit. Like you. Back in a sec.” She moves away to get our drinks, and I go back to scrolling through the photos on my phone. I’m looking for a good one of my outside lights to send my mum, but a ton of the ones I took last night are blurry. I doubt any of them do it justice, to be fair, but surely one of them’s got to be okay.
The next one that pops up makes me pause, because I don’t remember taking it. The outside tree is front and centre of the photo, but in the background, Reed is leaning on the doorjamb of my front door.
I zoom in to see him better. He must’ve just come out of the shower, because he’s wearing sleep pants, and I remember him changing into them while I was outside. He’s resting his head against the frame, his arms crossed looking happy and relaxed as he watches something out of the picture.
Me, I think.He’s watching me.
“Ooh, what’s got you smiling like that?” Hailey sets three pint glasses in front of me,her eyebrows raised in question.
I’m too slow to zoom back out and she smirks as she sees what’s on the screen. “Your house looks lovely,” she says, and I give her a grateful smile for not calling me out.
“Thank you.” I pay and carry the drinks over to Vic and Sean.
“Perfect timing, as usual.” Sean laughs at my scowl, taking his and Vic’s drinks from me.
“Thank you,” Vic says, and I send him a smile, because unlike my best friend, Vic has manners.
“Where’s Reed?” Sean asks as I settle into my seat opposite them.
“Running late. He’s just finishing off some work.” I take a drink of my pint and savour the taste. It’s been a long week, but thankfully I’ve got the weekend off.
Sean tsks softly. “He works too much.”
I snort, thinking about Reed’s text message. “He said you’d say that.”
“Did he now?” He leans forward, studying me. “I will also say that he seems a lot happier now he’s moved here and switched jobs. Or...” He pauses and shares a look with Vic. I barely refrain from sighing because neither of them is subtle. “Maybe it’s something else putting that smile on his face.”
I frown, because I’m pretty sure Sean hasn’t seen him since Reed and I got together. “When did you see him last?”
His smile is sly, like he’s caught me out. “Why? Have things changed between you?”
This time I do sigh, because I’m not falling for that lame trap. “You implied you’d seen him smiling.” I shrug. “I just wondered when that was.”
Sean huffs. “Are you seriously not going to tell me?”
I smirk at him. “If there was anythingtotell, it wouldn’t be just me who’d have to agree to other people knowing.” As much as I love Sean, and if it was anyone other than Reed, then I’d tell him in a heartbeat. But itisReed, and that makes the situation a little more complicated with Sean also being his friend. We’ve not had the conversation about people knowing about us, and I’m not about to tell anyone until we have.
Sean looks like he’s about to argue, so I meet his eyes and turn serious. “Let it go for now, yeah?”
As soon as he realises I’m serious, he gives me a nod and drops the subject entirely. “So,” he says, “tell me about your week. Rumour has it you’ve been out of the clinic for most of it.”
