Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE
Gem
The Lost World’s three-year anniversary party was in full swing, and the tiny bookshop was packed to the rafters, which, considering there was two feet of snow outside the door, was no mean feat. Winter had turned Steep Hill into a skating rink, and I’d been worried we’d open the shop and spend the whole day by ourselves with a mountain of cake and signed books. But it seemed like nothing would stand between our regulars and the prospect of free food.
I was currently shoving more stock onto the shelves while the store’s owner, Jay, chatted to a few people and Edward, his best friend and Lincoln’s walking fae prince, manned the counter. Both of them were in their elements, and a small nugget of pride lodged in my chest to see the store packed with people. I’d been coming here since The Lost World had first opened, and over the past three years I’d watched it go from strength to strength.
While the start might have been rocky, at least according to Jay, it was now a thriving indie bookstore with a long list of regulars and a strong online shop that kept the pair of us incredibly busy. I hadn’t been sure what to expect when I’d started working for Jay part-time just over eighteen months ago, but since then the shop had pretty much become my whole world. Especially since the game design business I’d been trying to get off the ground for the past ten years still showed no signs of taking off. At that point, it seemed dead in the water, and I was starting to wonder whether it might be better to call it quits just to save myself the heartache of watching my dream slowly decay.
“Hey, Gem,” said a familiar voice from behind me. I stood up from where I’d been bent over a drawer, retrieving a couple of fantasy novels, and turned, a frown already etched onto my face. Standing there, and not looking at all sheepish while holding the hand of another man I didn’t recognise, was the guy I thought I’d been dating. Jesse.
Thought was the operative word because the bastard had ghosted me two weeks ago and now I knew why.
And after I’d bought him a really nice fucking Christmas present too. There was thirty quid I wasn’t going to get back, and the epic blow job I’d gotten when he’d unwrapped it felt like a cheap distraction instead of the gesture of affection I’d assumed it to be.
“Jesse,” I said, trying to sound casual and like I wasn’t upset by the fact the man I’d given half of the last year to stood there cosying up to someone new. Like it didn’t feel like a situation I’d lived a thousand times before. Like I didn’t really feel surprised. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“We thought we’d surprise you.” He smiled at me waspishly, and I knew he was trying to provoke me. Why I’d hooked up with him in the first place was something I still couldn’t figure out, given the mile-wide mean streak it turned out he possessed, but these days anyone who showed interest in me was enough to make me jump. Apparently my self-esteem really was that low.
“We?” I glanced between the pair of them and raised an eyebrow. “I’m assuming this is your new flavour of the week?”
“This is Link,” Jesse said, ignoring my comment. “We met at New Year.”
That made sense. I’d gone back to Scotland to see my family and indulge my nephew, and apparently not giving Jesse enough attention for three days had made him find someone else who would. I sighed internally. What was it about me that made me pick men who couldn’t seem to function unless I was worshipping the ground they walked on twenty-four-seven? Was I really that desperate?
That wasn’t a question I wanted to answer, at least not right now. Even if I already knew the truth.
I glanced at the other man. He was your traditional tall, blond, and handsome with bulging muscles and tiny clothes that clung to every part of him, despite the freezing weather. He was the complete opposite of me, and Jesse was staring at him with a hungry expression.
“Link? From The Legend of Zelda ?” I asked, still holding my stack of books.
“ Ocarina of Time ,” Link said with a wide smile. I wondered if he realised what he’d been dragged into—he looked too sweet to be malicious. “Mum played it a lot when I was born because I didn’t sleep much.”
Christ on a fucking cracker. How fucking old was I? This guy was at least eleven years younger than me given that reference. Which was probably why Jesse was drooling over him. Young, sexy, muscular—he probably had stamina for days, and if there was one thing Jesse loved, it was sex.
The more I thought about it, the more I wondered how the fuck Jesse and I had even made it to six months. My closest guess was that nobody else had been available or that I’d been one of several men Jesse was stringing along for his own amusement. I was such a fucking sucker.
“It’s a good game,” I said, trying not to smile at the fact that talking to Link was clearly pissing Jesse off. It was like he’d been expecting a different reaction, but if he thought I was going to cry and scream, he had another thing coming. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing I was hurt. That could come later when I was alone with a decent bottle of whiskey, and even then I’d be more upset that I’d once again been used rather than nursing a broken heart. “I used to play it a lot at university.”
Jesse rolled his eyes. “Fascinating.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I bothering you? Is there something I can help you with?” I heard the sarcasm and disdain dripping off every syllable. Usually, I’d never speak to someone like that, but I figured I could make an exception for this prick.
“No, we were just passing by,” Jesse said as he grasped Link’s arm. “We should go.”
Link looked almost sad for a second, and I watched his eyes wander over the bookshelves and the stack of epic fantasy novels we had on display on a tiny table in the centre of the room. Poor bastard probably didn’t know what the fuck was going on, and I wasn’t angry at him for getting suckered into whatever Jesse was doing.
“Hey, listen,” I said, unable to resist the temptation to fuck with Jesse. “If you’ve got five minutes, I can get you some cake, and I saw you looking at our fantasy display. I can give you some recommendations if you like.” I held my breath for half a second, wondering if my gamble would pay off. If not, I’d just look like I was doing my job, but if it worked, it might lessen the ache in my chest a little. I could be a spiteful bastard when I wanted to be.
“We’re fine,” Jesse said and turned to leave, but Link stayed still, his eyes fixed on the books.
“Er, you go ahead,” he said. “I’ll meet you there.”
“What?” Jesse hissed. “I can’t go by myself.”
“It’s fine,” Link said, not looking at him. “I’ll catch up.”
“How dare—”
“I think it’s time you leave now,” I said, stepping forward before Jesse threw a screaming fit in the middle of the store. I still didn’t know what I’d seen in him, and I probably never would, but I didn’t want him to make a scene. If it was my shop, I’d have let him get on with it, but The Lost World was Jay’s baby, and today was a celebration of three years of hard work, and I wasn’t about to let this bellend ruin it.
Jesse looked me up and down. “I don’t know why I bothered. You’re pitiful.”
“Yeah, well, the feeling’s mutual.” I tilted my head towards the front of the store. “There’s the door. I suggest you use it.”
Jesse huffed and stalked off towards the exit, and I let out a breath. Link was looking at me with a curious expression like he was thinking something through. “So how do you and Jesse know each other?”
I burst into laughter, the sudden sound causing a few people to turn as I shook my head. “We were… together? I don’t even know if that’s the right word come to think of it.”
“Fuck. I didn’t know.” Link looked absolutely crushed, and like I’d predicted, the poor bastard hadn’t had a clue. “Jesse told me you were someone he worked with.” He frowned. The expression looked almost painful. “But that doesn’t seem right.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “But if I were you, I reckon I’d stick well clear.” Link nodded, and over his shoulder, I saw Edward looking at us curiously. He was both the first and last person I wanted to get involved—because while he was definitely as spiteful as me, Edward was more likely to act on it. Although he’d mellowed out a little over the past few years. I nodded to him, hoping he’d get the hint and wander over. While Link was a sweet guy, I didn’t really want to deal with him.
“Is everything all right?” Edward asked as he appeared behind Link, his platinum hair rippling under the lights. Edward’s clothing was somewhat legendary, and today, he wore a heavy blue-and-gold brocade frock coat that fell to his knees with a ruffled cravat and knee-high laced boots that elongated his perfectly shaped legs. The first time I’d met him, I’d been a little in awe. And a little turned on. But Edward only had eyes for one man—his partner Izzy, who knew just how to temper Edward’s exuberant personality.
Link turned and stared at Edward, his mouth practically hanging open. “Hello,” he said quietly, a pink tinge suddenly appearing across his nose. Aww, bless the wee lad. Not that I could blame him, Edward had that effect on a lot of people. “I’m Link.”
Edward looked between the pair of us, and I tried to give him a look that said I’d explain later. He must have gotten the hint because he slipped on a charming smile. “Hello, darling. Would you like some cake?”
“Yes, please.”
“Perfect. Why don’t you follow me?” He turned and walked towards the stairs that led down to the shop’s basement where we’d set up cake and drinks. Link followed him like a lost puppy.
That was that then.
I sighed and looked down at the stack of books that were still in my hand. They needed to go on the shelves. As I began to put each one in place, the reality of the situation hit me. Here I was again—thirty-six, single, and working a part-time job while trying to resurrect a dead business. All I’d ever wanted was to be a game designer. When I was younger I’d dreamt of designing the perfect role-playing game, something that would become the next Dungeons and Dragons. But despite my best efforts, nothing had worked.
The feeling of failure that lived in my chest stirred, reminding me of its ever-growing presence. These days, I tried to think of it as a monstrous pet I was forced to carry around me like some sort of kraken with hooked tentacles that sank further into my flesh with every passing day. And not in a good way.
I shoved the last book onto the shelf with more force than necessary, looking around for more gaps to fill. At least if I was busy, I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone. There was only one person I wanted to be around right now, and that was Finn.
Finn and I had met last year when his brother Lewis, who was Edward’s personal assistant, had introduced us. I’d been looking for some test players for my RPG in the vague hope that running some live sessions would kickstart some interest in the game, and Lewis had dragged Finn along. He’d been quiet at first, but when he’d settled into it, I’d discovered there was a sharp, witty side buried beneath his quiet exterior.
We’d ended up going out for food a couple of times and had hit it off as friends. Now, I was closer to him than anyone else and considered him my best friend.
Finn had never said anything about Jesse, but having seen the pinched expression on his face whenever I’d mentioned him, I didn’t think he’d be too surprised when I told him what had happened. I didn’t think he’d rub it in. He’d probably just offer me food.
The heavy ache in my chest intensified. I pulled my phone out of the inner pocket of my tweed jacket and fired off a message, hoping Finn would be free to help me wallow in self-pity. Then I bent down to open another drawer, hoping the rest of the day would pass without any more surprises.