Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“You’ve been here before, then?”
“Only once. I don’t know Rupert all that well,” Dev admitted. “We work together. I do some part-time IT support at the uni, and he’s my manager. He was always nice to me, but then when everything went wrong with the guys in my corridor, I was still upset the day after at work. Rupert noticed. He took me back to his place that evening. He and Josh were awesome. They made me dinner and got me to tell them everything, and then he helped me find the place I live in now.”
They reached Rupert’s doorstep. Dev located the bell—one of the top ones—and pressed it.
A tinny voice came through the intercom. “Hi, is that you, Dev?” It didn’t sound like Rupert; Rupert had a posher accent.
“Yes.”
“Come on up.”
The door buzzed, allowing them access.
“They’re on the top floor. Do you want to get the lift?” Dev asked.
“Might as well. Looks a long way up.”
Ewan’s stomach swooped as the lift rose. He wasn’t sure if it was gravity or nerves about the evening. The whole thing was weirdly date-like, yet not. He wanted to make a good impression on Dev’s friends even though he told himself it didn’t really matter.
The guy who greeted them at the door of the flat was cute. His floppy dark hair fell into his eyes, and he swept it aside as he beamed at them. Slim built like Dev, he was a little shorter, but he moved with grace and confidence that was very unlike Dev, who tended towards the clumsy.
“Dev, hi.” He pulled Dev into an affectionate hug, which Dev returned awkwardly. “And you must be Ewan. I’m Josh.”
“Hi.” Ewan offered his hand, and Josh took it, but then he leaned in to kiss Ewan on the cheek anyway.
“It’s great to meet you. Rupert didn’t tell me you were another redhead. You could almost be brothers!”
Josh looked at Ewan appreciatively, and Ewan flushed at the attention. He and Rupert were quite similar in colouring, although Rupert was taller and considerably more muscular than Ewan.
“Anyway, speaking of Rupert, he’s stuck stirring white sauce, so come through to say hi, and I’ll get you a drink.”
“We brought a bottle.” Dev offered the carrier bag containing the wine.
Josh took it. “Great, thanks.”
Josh guided them into a large living area with an open-plan kitchen where they found Rupert standing at the cooker, a glass of red wine in one hand as he stirred something in a pan with the other.
“Wow, it smells good in here,” Ewan said. “Hi, Rupert.”
Josh took Rupert’s place at the cooker while Rupert greeted them—shaking Ewan’s hand and hugging Dev. Dev looked much more comfortable hugging Rupert than he had Josh, and Ewan fought down a twinge of jealousy. Rupert was only Dev’s friend and was quite obviously taken.
“How’s that sauce doing?” Rupert put a hand on Josh’s hip and leaned in close to look over his shoulder.
“Thickening up nicely.” Josh’s tone was suggestive, and he turned his head to give Rupert a dirty grin.
“How do you manage to make the most innocent phrases utterly filthy?”
“It’s a special skill, babe. You should be used to it by now.”
Rupert chuckled and smacked Josh lightly on the arse, then moved away to get a large ovenproof dish out of a cupboard.
A pang of longing flooded Ewan. Not jealousy, but envy for Rupert and Josh and their easy relationship, their togetherness. Just from that small interaction, the love between them was obvious. There were no doubts about what they were to each other.
Ewan’s gaze was drawn to Dev. Dev watched them with the same kind of wistfulness written all over his face. Ewan’s heart flip-flopped. Was it possible Dev might want the same things he did? Would Ewan screw things up if he asked?
He moved a little closer to Dev, who caught the movement and turned to give him a shy smile. Ewan smiled back, longing to touch him but unsure whether he should.
“Can I get you guys a glass of wine?” Josh asked. Rupert was busily assembling what looked like lasagne. “Or there’s beer, or lemonade if you prefer.”
“I’ll have some wine please,” Ewan said.
“Um… me too, thanks.” Dev sounded uncertain.
Josh poured out large glasses for each of them and then picked up his own glass from the kitchen counter. It contained something clear and fizzy rather than wine. “Is everything under control here, babe?” he asked Rupert, who was pouring the last bit of white sauce over a layer of pasta.
“Absolutely. Go and chill, I’ll join you in a minute. Dinner will be ready in about half an hour.”
Josh led them out through large glass doors onto a balcony. “Our garden.” He grinned. “It’s not very big, but it comes with a view.”
“Wow, this is so cool!” Ewan went straight to the railing and looked out over the sea. “You’re so lucky to live here.”