“One glass won’t hurt.” She held it out to him.
River shook his head. “No, thanks.”
“Just hold it for the picture,” Xander said.
River took the glass.
“Does anyone else want a coffee?” Newt asked.
There were no takers. River noticed no one had offered Newt champagne. Or maybe they had before he’d walked in.
“Shall we watch one of your films?” Dila suggested.
“Fine.” River was feeling pleased with the way he was speaking. As long as he didn’t attempt anything complicated.
It was only him and Dila who went up to the media room. He let her pick what she wanted to watch, not one of his films as it turned out, but that was fine. It was some romantic comedy he’d not seen before. She didn’t even watch. She was too busy on her phone.
~~~
By the time Newt had finished his coffee, only Sai and Andy were left in the kitchen. Sai was cooking and Andy was on his phone. Newt didn’t want to go and sit in a cold room, so he put on his jacket, hat and gloves, and went out into the garden, taking the leaf blower, the rake and a large rubble bag.He gathered up as many leaves as he could and dragged the bag to the bottom of the garden.
He’d hoped he’d be able to do the front as well before it was dark, but he didn’t manage it. By the time he was back inside, hanging up his jacket, the light was failing and he was tired. There’d been no text from River so Newt assumed he was coping.
As Newt passed the dining room, he saw the table had been set for two with candles and flowers, ready for more pictures. When he walked into the kitchen, the other four were eating at the counter. Some sort of chicken dish. He made himself a peanut butter sandwich, added a piece of Manchego cheese and a tomato to the plate, and was just leaving the kitchen when River came in.
River looked from the four who were eating, to the plate Newt was holding and a muscle twitched in his cheek.
Newt shook his head in warning. “I assume you’re eating with Dila. So you don’t need me to cook for you tonight.”
He was trying to signal with his eyes for River to let this go but the set of River’s jaw told him he wasn’t going to. He could almost see River forming the words in his head.
“Couldn’t feed…Newt too?”
“I just wanted a sandwich.” Newt shook his head and mouthedplease.
“Not kind,” River said and left the kitchen.
Newt took his food to the room above the garage. It was quite possible that Dila’s crew hadn’t known he was staying at the house. Sai might only have brought enough to feed them. Newt really didn’t mind. It saved having to make conversation with people with whom he had nothing in common. He sat curled up under the blankets reading hisbook about the Romans and hoped River was coping.
Newt felt something touch his face and his eyes flew open. River sat on the floor at his side twirling a tiny feather between his fingers.
“I thought you were a spider. I nearly screamed.”
River grinned.
Newt sat up. His book had fallen to the floor. “You okay? What time is it?”
“One.”
River pulled back the blankets and climbed on top of Newt. “Cold.”
Newt wrapped the blankets over them.
“How was dinner?”
River growled. “Angry.”
Newt slid his hands under River’s T-shirt onto his back. “Don’t be angry. I love peanut butter.”
