‘Hey, that’s not a bad thing,’ Noah said. ‘She went into hiding by the time you and I were born.’
‘Went into hiding?’ Quinn asked. ‘You think she’s hiding?’
‘Don’t you?’
There was a meow and then a thud followed by the fluffiest cat Quinn had ever seen. Orange eyes contrasted with tortoiseshell fur, and its tail looked more like a fluffy brush. Without thinking, Quinn fell to his knees, like an olden day peasant seeing their king for the first time.
Mr Lavender the cat trotted straight past Quinn, because of course he did, and rubbed himself instead around Noah’s legs.
Never had Quinn been so jealous of a cat.
Quinn cleared his throat, getting to his feet. Noah was laughing.
‘I’ve never seen someone fall to the floor when they see a cat.’ Noah laughed. ‘What were you in a past life? An ancient Egyptian?’
‘Funny,’ Quinn said. ‘I’m always on my knees.’
Did he just say that?
Noah raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you?’
‘For cats,’ Quinn spluttered. That still didn’t sound good.
‘Of course.’
Mr Lavender left Noah and came to Quinn, a purr emanating from deep within. Quinn got to his knees again and scratched behind Mr Lavender’s ears.
‘Wow, he never does that to strangers,’ Noah said. ‘He won’t go anywhere near Matty.’
‘Oh, no way.’ Quinn tried to hide his pleasure that he was better at something than Matty.
Mr Lavender decided he’d had enough of saying hello to the humans, and trotted down the stairs, running to the kitchen.
‘I’m surprised he didn’t come for food.’
‘He’s only now realising there was any,’ Noah said. ‘By the way, I heard what Matty said to you about writing Hermione’s book – that’s bull. She didn’t ask him and he didn’t submit a thing.’
Matty lied? And if he lied, Noah was telling him this because…?
Quinn observed Noah’s crossed arms, the way his eyebrows knitted together. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Matty can be … difficult.’
Quinn clasped his hands together, the rush of adrenaline sending quivers through him. This seemed like dangerous territory. Him and Noah, alone, talking about Matty.
‘How so?’
He needed to play it casual, but he wanted to find out how Noah felt. Quinn thought back to Noah’s interview in his bookshop and how he’d mentioned heartbreak. Quinn assumed he’d been heartbroken, but if he was still with Matty, that wouldn’t make sense.
Unless something was happening underneath the surface.
And if it was, what did that mean for Quinn? Did it mean he stood a chance?
He pushed these thoughts away before they could fully form. Here he was at Noah’s side, and all he could think about was how he benefitted from it? No, that was bad.
‘We’re having a few problems at the moment.’
But those words couldn’t help but alight the hope within him. Problems? If there were problems, then there could be a potential breakup. And if there was a breakup, well … maybe that would mean he had a chance.
