Page 106 of Crave

Lennon frowned, dragging his gaze over me from head to toe. The tension eased a fraction. He’d decided I wasn’t a threat, just an idiot. Probably thought I was some prick from the department of work or pensions on a walkabout, catching those claiming benefits who could work. Which, if Razor had been honest about him, Lennon shouldn’t be worried about.

“Are you following me?” he asked.

“No.” I stepped forward, winced. “Sorry. Yes. Maybe.”

“Fucking hell, that’s clear, innit?”

“Are you Lennon?”

He frowned. “Yeah. What of it? And you are?”

“I…I heard you in the café just now.”

“And?”

“About Richie.”

He blinked. “What d’you know about Richie?”

“Not much. Hardly anything, really.” I stepped closer, testing the water, trying to find a scrap of courage. “I know a little about Razor.”

Lennon gave a short, humourless laugh. “If you’re a customer, mate, you don’t need to go ghost-hunting. Half the lads round here’ll sell you whatever you’re after.” He gestured at the high street with his hard hat. “Pick a corner.”

I could hear the resentment beneath the words. The wound unhealed.

“No… I’m not a customer.” I almost laughed, because technically, once upon a time, hadn’t he started that way? “I’m a friend.” The word felt wrong in my mouth. “Sort of.”

“Friend?” He looked me over again, disbelief in his eyes. I couldn’t blame him. Razor didn’t collect friends who looked or talked like me.

“Briefly,” I said, the truth of hitting harder than I expected

Lennon straightened. Exhaled. Something seemed to click. “You know him as Rich?”

“Yeah.”

“He told you his name?”

“Yeah. And yours.”

Lennon cocked his head, narrowed his eyes. “Razor don’t do that.”

“I know.” I inhaled, shakily. “But Richie did. Once. He…also told me about Levi.”

Lennon jolted. Swallowed. Went to turn away. “Fuck this.”

“He told me how guilty he was,” I called before Lennon could scarper. Lennon stopped, but kept his back to me. Waited. “And how it’s eaten him up inside and how much he cares about you.”

Lennon turned. Slowly. “Those ain’t Richie’s words.”

“Paraphrased. For haste.” I stepped closer. “Sparing you the long version I was given. But he meant it.”

Lennon breathed out through his nose, shaking his head.

“He told me you have a beautiful girl with twins on the way. That he misses you.”

Lennon lifted his gaze, eyes glassy. “I can’t hear any more of this.”

“Tell me he’s okay. Please.” The break in my voice caught me off guard. I hadn’t meant for it to sound like that. Hadn’t meant for anything to show.