Of course he did. Apart from agreeing with the sentiment, Brix had noticed the blossoming camaraderie between Lee and Calum, and the mutual interest they had in each other’s skills. It was the kind of collaboration he usually encouraged at the studio, but he couldn’t deny the uncomfortable stab of jealousy in his gut this time. He wanted to be the one hunched over sketchbooks with Calum, drawing up a storm like they used to, a couple of cans, a spliff, and not a care in the world between them. Shame we had to grow up.
“Speak of the devil.”
Lee looked over her shoulder. Calum joined her a moment later, his hair tousled, his T-shirt just tight enough to show Brix that the washboard abs he remembered were still fucking glorious. Brix’s heart did a tiny flip. It had been a fortnight since Calum had helped him lug crates up the cliffs to the Lusmoore cave, and with each day that passed, the air between them had lightened, like the series of dark confessions Brix had slung Calum’s way had broken down a barrier they hadn’t known was there. Brix smiled at Calum now, and the shy grin he got back in return was like a tiny glimmer of sun on a cold winter’s day.
“All right, mate?” Brix said.
Calum shrugged. “Can’t complain. Who’d listen, eh?”
“I would.”
“I know.” Calum broke their stare and rubbed his fist on Lee’s head. “I’ve got that stencil for you, squirt. Wanna come take a look?”
“Sure. I’ll put the kettle on first.”
Lee ducked under Calum’s arm and disappeared. Calum watched her go, and Brix watched him, fascinated as always, until he noticed the bandage wrapped around Calum’s left hand.
“What’s up with that?”
Guilt made an unwelcome return to Calum’s face. “Er, the gun kinda blew up on me this morning. Took the skin off my fingers. Sorry, mate. I’ll replace it.”
“As if I give a shit about the gun. How bad is your hand? Did you get Kim to check it out? He’s pretty good with stuff like that.”
“He dressed it for me. Said it wasn’t serious. Want to see?”
Calum tugged the edge of the bandage. Brix froze halfway to him. “No! Shit. No, don’t get it out. Keep it away from me.”
“What?” Calum frowned. “Since when are you squeamish?”
Brix caught his overreaction in its tracks and reeled it in, heat flooding his cheeks. “I’m not squeamish. Just don’t like burns. Did you call the bank back from last week?”
If Brix’s abrupt change of subject gave Calum whiplash, it didn’t show. “I’ve been dodging that call for two weeks actually, but yeah, I did. Had to haggle like a motherfucker, but they’ll accept two-hundred a month for now and hold off on the CCJ.” Calum glanced around the disarray of the storeroom. “Anyway, enough about me. What happened in here?”
“Lena took a day off, and the world fell apart.”
“Need a hand putting it back together?”
“Nah, go with Lee. If I’m not out in a few hours, bring me a curry.”
“Deal.”
Calum left Brix to his muddled thoughts and disordered shelves. He’d forgotten their parting words until Calum reappeared sometime later clutching a paper bag.
“It’s not exactly a dhansak from the Akash in Shoreditch, but the one I scoffed on the way back from the shop was fucking amazing.”
Brix looked up from the box of spare tattoo machine parts he’d somehow found himself sorting through. He sniffed the air. “Is that a keema pasty from Belly Acre Farm?”
“You can tell that by smell alone?”
“Course I can. Me and Kim lived on those for a week when they first started making them. Best things ever, just don’t tell any locals I said that. We’re all bound by blood to the traditional Cornish one.”
Calum grinned and relinquished the paper bag, along with a small polystyrene tub of mango chutney. Brix dug in, then held it out. “Wanna bite?”
“No, thanks. Told ya, I had one for my own lunch.” Calum’s eyes glinted mischievously. “And a Cornish one too, so I can back you up on saying the spicy one’s the best.”
The humour in Calum’s too-often brooding gaze warmed Brix’s heart, or maybe it was the spicy meat on its way to his belly . . . Yeah, it was definitely the spices. Right. “How did it go with Lee?”
“Erm . . .” Calum shrugged. “I’m not sure she has the patience for dot work just yet, but we’re making progress.”
