Chapter Thirty Si
Si’s mum had made an occasion of lunch with wine at the table and proper coffee afterwards. Even a box of chocolates she’d got in the Secret Santa at work. It was a real shame Zig hadn’t been able to come.
Mum didn’t say word one about Zig once Si had explained he was working, so maybe Dad had been having a go at her again. Si found himself wanting to bring up the subject out of sheer perversity, but he wasn’t quite that daft. Instead, he talked about work, and family, and Mum’s Pilates classes.
It was a while before Si was able to leave for home.
And okay, maybe he hadn’t fancied going back to the empty flat too soon anyway.
When he finally left, Mum gave him a big hug and told him to take care with an emphasis that showed she hadn’t forgotten about Zig.
Or maybe he was reading too much into it.
Would Zig be working the evening shift as well? Si wondered as he walked along the street, his comfortably full belly a contrast to the weird emptiness in his chest. He might only get to see Zig for an hour or so between shifts. Or not at all. It didn’t feel right, after yesterday.
Sage I’ve always had terrible taste in men.”
“I’ve never seen you with a man,” Si said without thinking.
“Never let it be said I don’t learn from my mistakes. Now, finish your tea and away with you. I’ve got a till to cash up.”
Si chugged the godsawful stuff down in one and headed up to his flat, trying not to gag.
When eight o’clock rolled around and Zig still wasn’t back from work, Si had to face the fact he’d be spending the evening alone. Maybe it was a good thing, though? It felt like they needed some space from each other. Time to think about what they both wanted.
Trouble was, Si missed him. Was worried about him too. It couldn’t be good for him to work such long hours. Was Ange taking advantage of him? Course, he’d have the week to recover, assuming he didn’t pick up any more extra hours. He could sleep in while Si went to work.
It was like tag-team flat-sitting, this was, Si thought with a sigh.
When Adam rang, it was a welcome distraction.
“All right, mate?” Si answered eagerly.
“Yeah, I’m good. How about you? Still got your house guest?”
“Yeah, but he’s working tonight.”
“How’s it going?” Adam’s voice sounded a bit off, but Si couldn’t work out what the subtext was. Assuming it wasn’t just a bad line.
“His job? Good, I think.”
“I meant you and him.”
“You know we ain’t together, right?”
“Right.” There was a pause. “Had a good weekend?”
“Yeah. Took Zig out for a ride on the Harley.” Si decided not to mention the honeymoon hotel and the giant dick pic.
“Uh-huh.”
Si was suddenly tired of trying to read Adam’s tone of voice without any accompanying visual input. “You fancy going out for a quick pint?”
All right, maybe the flat was a bit depressing tonight with only him in it too.
“Bit cold, innit?”
“Don’t be a wuss. A bracing walk’ll do you good.”
“Fine. Where?”
“Prince of Wales?” At least he’d get to see Zig. Check he was okay.
“If you want.” Adam didn’t sound exactly keen, and Si could guess why, but sod it, it’d been their local for years. If Adam didn’t want to see Zig there, he could sit with his back to the bar.
“See you there in twenty.”
In the end, Si bumped into Adam on the corner before the pub. He was on his own. “No Corin?” Si asked as they headed down the street.
“No, he’s working out.” Adam looked into the middle distance and smiled, presumably at the thought of his bloke with his muscles all pumped up.
Guilt twinged in Si’s chest. “Sorry to drag you away from him.”
“Hey, you’re my best mate. Course I’m going to be here for you. Let’s get inside, though. It’s bloody freezing.”
Pushing open the door of the pub, Si was hit with warm, beer-scented air and the buzz of conversation. Even on a Sunday night, the place was busy, although not packed. His gaze darted to the bar, but he couldn’t see Zig there. “Pint of Becket’s?” he asked Adam.
“Cheers, mate.” Adam followed him to the bar, where they got served almost immediately.
The barman was tall, blond, and fit in a lithe, skinny way. The sort of bloke Si could easily see Zig with, which hurt a lot worse than it should have.
“Oh, it’s you.” He looked at Si strangely. Unhappy, but resigned, maybe? Si was still wondering what that was all about and if he was imagining it, when the barman spoke again. “Zig’s out back. I’ll tell him you’ve come.”
Then he loped over to the door to the back and called out, “Zig? Your boyfriend’s here.”
Beside Si, Adam went still. “Boyfriend?”
“What? No. I told you, we’re just mates.” Si wasn’t sure how convincing he sounded, which was rich seeing as it was the truth, but hearing himself called Zig’s bloke had done weird things to his insides that were putting him off his game.
“So why does Blondie seem to think you’re an item? Mate, you know it’s a bad idea. I can’t believe you—”
He broke off as Zig appeared behind the bar, looking flustered. “All right, Si? Adam? What can I get you?”
Si took a breath, but Adam got in there first. “How about an explanation of what your mate there called you?”
Zig smiled nervously. “What, Zig?”
Adam darkened, leaning over the bar to get in Zig’s face. “Don’t try to be funny. He said you were Si’s boyfriend.”
“And what did Si say about that?” Zig’s gaze turned to Si, so intense it made him totally lose his train of thought.
It didn’t help that Blondie, as Adam had called him, was standing two feet away staring at the lot of ’em. Gods help anyone who wants to get served in this pub tonight, Si couldn’t stop from thinking.
It seemed he wasn’t the only one. Ange marched over from the other end of the bar.
“Is this a pub or some kind of reality soap opera? No, don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.
You”—she glared at Blondie—“get back to work. And you”—she turned her steely eye on Zig—“if you’re having a domestic, you have it outside. You’ve got five minutes.”
Zig nodded and left the bar. Si stared after him, then roused himself. Zig would be going out the back, so if Si nipped out the front and round the side, he could meet him in the back alley. He hoped.
Adam’s hand caught his arm before he’d gone two paces. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Having a domestic?” Si tried to smile. “I dunno what’s going on, all right? Gonna talk to Zig.”
Adam shook his head wildly. “Why would you tell me you’re not—”
“Cos it’s true! Cross my heart. Look, I gotta go. He’s only got five minutes.”
This time, Adam let him go, and Si made it out of the pub and round the corner fast as he could.