Chapter Fifteen #2
“Sorry,” Oliver said a little sheepishly. At least he had the decency to look embarrassed. “We’re just a bit surprised. But that’s on us, not you.” He smiled and turned to Henry. “How’re you finding Heather Bay so far?”
“What I’ve seen of it is gorgeous,” Henry said. “I haven’t been able to explore that much, though. We’re on rather a tight filming schedule, so it doesn’t leave much time for anything else.”
It was strange to see him in movie star mode and it sat uneasily on my chest for a reason I couldn’t pin down.
Maybe it was surprise that I could easily tell the difference between the real Henry and the fake one.
Maybe it was because I hadn’t expected to be able to, especially not after only a few weeks together.
“Why the fuck do you keep coming to bother me then?” I asked. Henry turned and grinned.
“Simple, you’re cute and you have coffee.”
“I’m useful then. Thanks, that’s so charming.”
“You’re welcome.” He winked at me and turned back to Oliver, leaving me stunned in my seat. “I’ll try to get out a bit more, but I have to say the house is lovely. The gardens in particular are beautiful. I can’t wait to see them in full bloom.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen the gardens,” Oliver said. “Not for a long time at least. Last time we went up to the castle was October when they did a Halloween fright fest and we accidentally gatecrashed Noah and Spencer’s first date.”
“In our defence,” Lane said, looking pointedly over at Noah and Spencer. “We didn’t fucking know it was their first date.”
“We didn’t tell you because we didn’t want you interfering,” Noah said with a soft smile as he sipped his Coke. “Lot of good that did us.”
“Either way, I think we were screwed,” Spencer said forlornly. “It could have been worse, though.”
“Definitely,” Noah said. He looked over at me and frowned, and I knew he was concerned about something. I’d probably get a text later. Either that or he’d just turn up at my flat tomorrow and stay there until I told him exactly what was bothering me.
Except I didn’t know what was bothering me.
Beyond things like watching Henry being interrogated, wanting everyone to like him, knowing I’d seen more of the real Henry than a lot of people and starting to feel weird as fuck whenever I was around him, and not wanting everyone to make a big deal out of this.
Okay, so maybe there were a few things bothering me.
That didn’t mean I wanted to talk about them.
Theo and Laurie reappeared with a tray of drinks, handing out a couple around the table to people who’d needed a top-up before passing me a pint and Henry a large wine glass, or something that looked like one, filled with clear liquid that bubbled slightly, ice, and lime.
“Thanks,” Henry said, taking his drink from Theo, who beamed at him. “I’m sorry, I don’t know everyone’s name.”
Fucking Christ. I’d forgotten to fucking introduce everyone to him. Lane had given Henry his name, but I didn’t know if anyone else had and now I felt like a fucking idiot.
“I’m Theo,” Theo said as he fluttered his eyelashes.
“This is Laurie.” He pointed at Laurie, who was talking to Anders about something.
“Then we have Oliver and Lane, Noah and Spencer, who I know you’ve already met.
Then we have Will and Jamie—he’s also new, just like you—and right down at the other end we have Anders and Bastian.
Don’t worry if you forget anyone, just ask. ”
“Don’t worry, I will,” Henry said. He was smiling at Theo and it was doing something funny to my insides, especially when Theo returned it. I knew Theo wouldn’t do anything—he was just a bratty flirt—but watching him beam at Henry made me want to growl.
Henry was mine and I didn’t like the idea of anyone else touching him.
“I’ve been told,” Henry continued, “that you’re the only person Alex knows who can pull off pouting. Alex said I just look ridiculous when I do.”
Theo laughed. “It’s all in the eyes, not the lips. You have to get the balance right. Would you like me to teach you? I’ve been told I’m an excellent teacher.”
“No, you fucking won’t,” I snapped. Everyone turned to look at me and I suddenly realised I needed a reason for my outburst. “I can’t deal with two of you doing it.”
Henry smirked at me. “Why? Do you think it’d be effective if I did?”
“N-no,” I said. “Just irritating.”
“Aww,” Theo said, pulling up a chair next to me instead of returning to his seat next to Laurie. “Do you think I’m irritating?”
“Very,” I said, as deadpan as I could manage, and Theo giggled.
“Sounds like Henry might give me a run for my money,” he said. “But I bet you let him get away with a lot more.”
“Don’t start,” I said, shaking my head and sipping my pint. “You’re in company. Behave.”
“Ugh, that’s boring,” Theo said. “Do we have to go through the whole fucking charade where I pretend I don’t do porn too?”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” I turned to Henry and said, “Sorry, I should have prepared you.”
“No worries,” Henry said, looking delighted by the whole thing. He looked at Theo. “You should meet my friend Kane. His other half does porn too. I don’t know if you’ll know him at all—it’s like when people ask me if I know every single other actor in the world—but his name is Austin.”
“Oh my God, Austin Carter?” Theo squealed. “I do know him! He’s such a fucking sweetheart! Your friend must be Jude Kane? Austin calls him Kanan and honestly when he talks about him, he practically gets these heart eyes. It’s so fucking adorable. Have you met him?”
“Austin? Yeah, once or twice when he’s come to visit. I think he’s coming down in a few weeks,” Henry said.
“He is? I’ll have to message him. He owes me a guinea pig.”
“You’re not having a guinea pig,” Laurie called from the other end of the table. “We don’t have room.”
“Yes, we do!” Theo insisted. “I measured.”
“It’s still a no.”
“What if it was a gift? Would you turn a poor, helpless guinea pig away?” Theo asked, fluttering his eyelashes at Laurie, who remained unimpressed. Theo turned to Henry and looked at him imploringly. “Henry, please tell Laurie that I need a guinea pig. Pretty please?”
Henry chuckled and reached for his drink. “Sorry, I think that’s something you two have to agree on together. I think all pets are a two yes decision.”
“Thank you,” Laurie said. “Just because Austin said he’d get you one for your birthday doesn’t mean you can have one.”
“You’re really mean.” Theo stuck his tongue out at Laurie and pouted.
“Don’t pout,” I said, sipping my pint and wondering what the fuck Henry thought about all of this. He was smiling but that didn’t mean anything. “You’ll give Henry ideas.”
“Oh!” Theo suddenly grinned and clapped his hands, a sure sign he’d had an idea. And that was never a good sign. “Do you like video games? Would you consider coming on my Twitch stream? You and Alex could both come on. We could do a fun couples thing with you.”
“No,” I said. “I draw the line at putting my fucking relationship on Twitch. The media would have a fucking field day.” Fake or not, I didn’t want that much attention.
“Theo, stop making a nuisance of yourself and come here,” Laurie said.
“Go on,” I said, nudging Theo with my finger. “You’re being summoned.”
“I’m not a nuisance—I’m a delight,” Theo said but he still stood up because Laurie was the only one he ever listened to.
As he walked away, still bickering with Laurie and asking Jamie to back him up, I leant closer to Henry. “I’m sorry, I really should’ve warned you. My friends are great but they’re… a lot.”
“Don’t apologise,” Henry said. “I’m having fun. I’ve never been asked to help someone get a guinea pig before.”
“Yeah, but—”
“No,” Henry said, leaning closer so his breath ghosted over my ear. “Don’t apologise. I’m having fun. And not just because of your friends.”
“What’s the other reason?” I knew I was missing something obvious but I didn’t know what it was.
“It’s because you’re here.” Then he tilted his head and brushed his lips across my cheek, making the skin burn like I’d been branded.