“I don’t mean in my house. In Leeds. Why are you in Leeds? You knew I was here.”
“I didn’t think I was going to run into you. Leeds is a big city. What were the chances you would be friends with my boss’s son? I needed a job, and I got offered one. I couldn’t refuse on the off chance I might run into you. Besides, you’re graduating soon, aren’t you? I figured you might go home once you did. We’d be more likely to run into each other there.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m being an arse. I didn’t expect to see you again, especially not here.”
“Don't worry, I won’t tag along on any more nights out with Angus.” Now I’m being a jerk. I finish my drink. “Thanks for the water. I’ll send for a taxi and get out of your way.”
We sit in awkward silence while I wait for the taxi. Jimmy gets us another refill of water. It’s helping a lot. So is the paracetamol, which must be starting to kick in, judging by how the pressure in my head is easing. My phone beeps, telling me the taxi is almost here.
“That’s my ride.”
Jimmy, who’s dressed now, escorts me to the door and waits until the taxi pulls up outside. He puts his hand on my shoulder, stopping me from leaving. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
He drops his hand to his side and nods. “Take care.”
“You too.”
With that, I get into the taxi. I resist the urge to gaze out the window at him as the taxi pulls away. Instead, I rest my head against the headrest, close my eyes, and do my best not to throw up during the journey to the farm.
3
JIMMY
SIX WEEKS LATER
Finals suck. My friends are too busy studying to go out. Most of them aren’t even turning up to Barbell Soc, so I’ve stuck helping out the first and second-year students, rather than doing a proper workout myself. I’m stressed. I haven’t done enough revision. I need to do something to chill out.
I text around my friends, one at a time, but the replies all come back the same. They’re too busy revising. Even Angus, who doesn’t need to do any more revision, blows me off. Then again, if he’s not revising, he’ll be blowing Professor Dick. He has stress relief on tap. Lucky him.
I could go to a bar without my friends. Dress up, make it obvious I’m looking to pull. Leeds has some great gay bars. I won’t have any trouble if I wear something that hugs my muscles. Or, I could skip all of thatand use a hook-up app. Sex delivered direct to my door. Nice.
I grab my phone. It rings before I can navigate to my favourite hook-up app. Mum.
With a sigh, I answer. “Hi, Mum.”
“How are you?”
“Uh, fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Not too stressed out with finals?”
“No…”
“Oh, good. Billy got very stressed during his finals last year. I'm worried you will, too.”
“No. I’m fine.” Just bored, and itching for a fuck.
“When did you last call Billy?”
“I don’t remember.” Which is true.
The last time we saw each other was Christmas. It was weird, because it was the first Christmas Flynn hadn’t been part of our family celebration in years. Billy was the centre of attention. Everyone made sure he was okay and that he wasn’t finding his first Christmas after breaking up with Flynn too hard. He lapped it all up, playing into it. He was insufferable.
“Would you call him, please? It would mean a lot to him.”
If that’s true, why doesn’t Billy call me? Not that I want to speak to him. I’d blurt out that I fucked Flynn out of guilt. Has Flynn told him? Does Billy even realise Flynn is in Leeds? Well, on a farm near Leeds, at any rate.
