“Sorry,” Rory says, taking his phone out of his pocket. “That’s mine.” He frowns at the screen. “It’s probably a spam call, but I’d better take it just in case. Carry on without me.” He answers the call. “Hello?” He pushes his chair back and starts to stand, then slams back into his seat, face pale.
I can hear a voice on the other end of the line. I think it’s a man, but the sound is muffled by Rory’s ear. I feel even more awkward than I did during Rubin and Hendrix’s kiss. We all look anywhere but at Rory.
“Why?” he asks.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so shaken.
“I don’t know,” he says. “I’d have to ask.” He puts his phone on mute, pinches his nose, and takes a deep breath. “I have a favour to ask, but it’s okay if you say no.”
“What is it?” Fraser asks.
“I have an old friend—Callan—who’ll need a place to stay for a few days in about a month. I know it’s a big ask.”
From the way he’s talking, it’s almost as if he doesn’t want his friend to stay with us.
“I don’t mind,” Fraser says. “Worst case, we can put a blow-up bed in Oscar’s old room.” Fraser gave me his room, moved into Beau’s, and transformed Oscar’s old room into a walk-in wardrobe.
“I bet he could borrow Stefan’s room,” Hendrix says. “He’s always in Quinn’s room these days.”
My legs fall asleep as my cheeks become hot enough to rival the sun.
“There’s space,” Preston agrees.
Rory nods. His cheek muscles flex. He takes another breath and goes to unmute his phone. He hesitates. “I should check with Stefan and Beau first. They might object.”
“Leave Beau to me and Stefan to Quinn.”
“You haven’t said either way yet, Quinn.”
That’s partly because I’ll sound drunk if I try to talk. I give him a thumbs up, even though I’m not sure it’s the reply he wants.
“Unless you don’t want him to stay?” Fraser asks softly.
“It’s not that.” Rory stares at his phone. “I haven’t seen him in years. Not since we were kids. I’m not sure why he’s calling me of all people.”
Fraser frowns slightly. “Is he the friend you told me about?”
Rory jerks his head back a fraction. “Yes.”
I know I’m missing something, and from the puzzled expressions on everyone else’s faces, so are they.
“Do what’s right for you,” Fraser advises. “He can stay if you want him to. But if you don’t, tell him we said no.”
“I’m not sure I could lie to him.”
“I’ll do it for you,” Hendrix offers.
“No. That would be a shit thing to do. No offence.”
Hendrix shrugs. “None taken.”
Rory sucks in another breath and then takes the phone off mute. “I’m sorry, Callan. I had to ask all my housemates.” He falls silent as the voice on the other end of the line speaks again. “There’s eight of us in total.” Another pause. “Ay, it’s a big house.” He runs his finger around the rim of his glass as he listens to Callan talk. I notice that his hand is shaking slightly. “There’s no need to stress. They said you could stay. But there is something you need to know if you’re going to stay here.” He clenches his hand and presses it against his thigh. “The guys I live with, they’re all into kink of one kind or another. This is a kink-positive house. No kink-shaming allowed.”
There’s a long pause where I hear nothing but silence from the other end. Finally, the voice says something brief.
“Aye, I am,” Rory replies. There’s another brief flurry of unintelligible words from the other end of the line. “I’ll see you soon, then.” He hangs up the phone and lays it on the table.
“Do you need to talk?” Fraser asks.
