CHAPTER 25
SHERIDAN
Today is a sad day. The end of the line. The closing of an era.
I’ve just posted the last ever episode of Goth Frogs, and I find myself a little overcome. I didn’t expect to be this sad, but as soon as I hit Post, I burst into tears. Apparently, I’m more sentimental than I thought. I didn’t even cry when I finished animating it.
Now what am I going to do? Goth Frogs has been my main project for close to two years. I suppose I have that fae story I started when I was pissed off with Nash, but I don’t know if it has any real merit. Although, I didn’t think Goth Frogs had any merit, and now it’s up for Toonie awards, so what do I know?
Hector twitches in my lap. He curled up there after the flood-gates opened and he hasn’t left since. I’m too scared to move. I don’t want to wake him when he looks so comfortable, but it’s getting late, and I need to eat. Plus, I need a distraction from my misery over Goth Frogs ending.
As delicately as I can, I collect him into my arms and slip out of my office into the lounge. The radiator is on, so I nudge his bed closer and lay him down so he’s still cosy and warm.
In the kitchen, I start prepping some dinner with my music on a low volume. I have a cooking playlist, which is quite the contrast to my Drawing playlist and my Driving playlist. There’s a lot more country and pop on this one, to help keep me motivated.
I’m humming along to Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time when it abruptly cuts off.
I half expect to find my mother calling me, but I’m wrong.
“Hey,” I answer Myles’s call. He usually calls me a little later in the evening, but I don’t mind hearing his voice now. It’s a comfort these days.
“Hey, Birdie. You busy?”
I shiver at the nickname like a complete saddo. I hear it almost every day now, but it still sends goosebumps along my arms. “Just started making dinner.”
“Okay… Are you in a place you can hold off for a while? Or does that have the potential to burn the house down?”
I pause in my prepping. “Why, what’s wrong?”
“Er, there’s been an accident in the flat above mine and now my flat is kinda leaking. And flooded.”
“Oh, shit. Are you okay? Is it bad?”
“Well, the walls look like they’re crying in some places. And there’s an inch of water in all the rooms.”
“Christ, okay. You want to stay here until it’s sorted?” I offer before really thinking about it.”
He sighs. “As long as you don’t mind?”
“No, of course not. I’ll come out to you now, alright? Give me fifteen minutes.”
“Thanks, baby.”
I hate how sad he sounds. “See you in a sec.”
I tidy everything up so that I can easily pick it up when we get back and close all the kitchen doors so that Hector can’t eat anything he shouldn’t while I’m gone.
A minute later, I’m in my car and on my way to Myles’s place.
When I get there, his patio doors are open and he’s trying to scoop water out with a bucket.
“Hey,” I announce myself.
Myles looks up, face flushed and hair a stressed, tousled mess. “Hi, gorgeous.”
There goes my stomach and my heart, fluttering away. Again.
“I brought my wellies,” I tell him, accepting the light peck he gives me.
“Good girl. The landlord is sending someone tomorrow to pump out the water, but it could be a week before it dries out completely,” Myles explains as he shows me the inside.
There’s definitely more than an inch of water now. At least three. The walls are staining with wet streaks, and some of the light fittings are somehow leaking.
I notice that the TV is still turned on when it’s dangerously close to being an electrical hazard. I make for the wall switch, but not before I notice what’s on the screen.
Goth Frogs. The last episode.
I glance Myles’s way to find him arranging a couple of bags on the dining table.
“What were you watching?” I ask, as nonchalantly as I can manage.
“Just a web show I like,” he says, without any indication that he knows I’m the creator. “I’ll have to finish it some other time.”
“You can watch it when we get back to mine?”
He meets my gaze then, but the look in his eyes suggests he’s not interested in my silly web show anymore. “Maybe.”
I spend an hour helping Myles bucket water into the drain outside, and then pack his essentials into a suitcase.
Then we drive back to the cottage in our own cars.
It gives me just enough time to have a miniature meltdown over the fact that Myles watches my fucking web show. Because he likes it.
I let out a scream as we drive through the city. I’m not sure what I’m screaming for, but it feels good. Of all the shows in all the world he could’ve picked to enjoy, it had to be mine.
It’s wonderful, obviously. I’ve never been so hot for a man, and the best part is he has no idea. I’ll have to tell him eventually, obviously, but right now I can keep my little secret to myself, just a bit longer. I kind of want to watch it with him. I want to know what he’s like when he watches it. Does he keep his cards close to his chest? Or does he put it all out in the open?
We haven’t really done the sit down and watch a movie thing yet, because whenever we’re in the privacy of my house, we’re usually sucking face, cooking, or shagging. Sometimes all three. We did that last Saturday night after we got back from Stratford, and it was incredible.
Right there on the breakfast table in the kitchen.
I need to repaint the wall.
I shove all illicit thoughts away as we enter the village outskirts. I’ve had my meltdown and my hot flush. Now I need to concentrate on looking after my man.
First, I help him unload his things.
In the entry hall, Myles sighs and falls back against the front door once it’s closed. I sidle up to him, wrap my arms around his middle, and rest my head on his chest. “You okay?” I ask as he reciprocates the embrace.
“Yeah, just one thing I didn’t want to have to deal with on a random Wednesday, you know?”
I nod, peering up at him with a sympathetic smile. “I know. But you can stay here as long as you need to.”
“Thank you, baby.”
We share a kiss, one full of kind promises and genuine affection. He strokes my cheek and I rub his back.
Something tells me I wouldn’t mind if he never had to leave.
I peel myself off him and head for the lounge to check on the dog. Myles smacks my ass as I retreat, and I yelp.
A head appears above the back of the couch, and I’m about to scream that an intruder has managed to get in. The head turns before I can open my mouth, and a pair of familiar blue eyes greet me, bloodshot above a snotty nose.
“Brin?”
My twin sniffs, wiping her wet eyes. “Sorry for just turning up.”
I run to the sofa and bring her into a hug. “Don’t ever apologise for that.”
“I’m still sorry. I didn’t realise Myles was staying tonight.”
I peek at Myles, who is hovering in the doorway, likely unsure of what to do with himself.
“Shall I go?” He mouths.
I shake my head with a scowl. He points upstairs and I nod. A second later, he’s gone.
“He wasn’t supposed to be, but he had an emergency of his own,” I admit.
“God, I should go.” Brin pulls back, sniffing.
“No, you should stay. Talk to me. What happened?”
“Fucking Andy. That’s what.”
“You had a fight?”
She makes a dull sound. “Could say that, in the sense that I fought him, and he just called me insane.”
Bastard. “Did you confront him, then? About his recent behaviour?”
“Oh no, Shez. I didn’t have to. I was supposed to be staying at the school late today because the English, Maths and Science departments had an important meeting about exams for core subjects, but it got cancelled at the last minute and moved to next week. Andy apparently had decided that because I was going out for dinner with the faculty after, he was going to have his other girlfriend over for dinner and sex on the sofa.”
I stare at her for a second, unsure if I heard her right. Then the white noise starts and I’m positive I did. “Excuse me?”
“Yeah. When I said he didn’t have the libido to cheat on me, I was talking out my arsehole apparently, because it turns out he does have the libido, but he spends it all on the girl who sits at the fucking reception desk in his precious fucking bank!”
“What a cunt,” I huff.
Brin wipes her wet cheeks indignantly when the tears start falling again. “I’m in shock, Sheridan. I think I must’ve lost my damn sanity if I thought he was faithful. Months this has been going on. Since, like January. He didn’t come away with us in the summer because he took her on a four-day break to Lake fucking Como! I’ve always wanted to go there!”
The more hysterical she gets, the more I want to drive into the city again just to punch him in the face. And then kick him in the dick.
“Right. You’re moving in here, okay?” Another decision tonight I’ve made in a second. “I don’t care how long it takes you to find a new place. On Saturday, we’re going to that bastard’s house and getting all your stuff out of there. Myles will help, too.”
“Shez, you don’t have to do that,” Brin whines.
“Yes, I do. You’re my sister and I love you. I have two spare rooms. Plus, no one wants to move back in with their parents.”
She manages to splutter out a laugh, and I take that as my win for the day. Two wins, really, since my boyfriend loves my web show. “Thank you, Shez. You know, you’re my favourite person.”
“You’re mine, too.” I bring her hand to my lips.
“Yeah, well… Looks like I’m soon to be replaced by Myles.”
“Never,” I insist. “We shared a womb.” She giggles again. “Do you want a drink?”
“An alcoholic one?”
“Obviously. I also need to finish making dinner, so if you’ve not eaten, I’ve got you covered, sissy.”
“Isn’t it a bit late for you?”
“Yeah, but Myles called, and I had to rescue him first.”
“Poor bloke.” She sighs. “I’ve probably ruined his night.”
“No, I think the leak in his flat probably did that.”
Brin cringes and then lets out another sigh. After a pensive second, she says, “I really like Myles, Sheridan. For you. He looks at you the way you deserve to be looked at.”
“I really like him, too.”
With that, I head into the kitchen to pour her a glass of wine and turn the oven on again. I tell Brin to find something to watch on the telly, and then I head upstairs to check on Myles.
I find him staring out the window overlooking the canal, hands on his hips. I wrap my arms around his middle, burying my face in his back. His posture relaxes, arms coming to rest over mine.
“Is Brin okay?” He asks, stroking his hands along my forearms.
“She will be as soon as I get her out of that bastard’s flat.”
“I heard what he did. I could murder him for that.”
The warmth radiating off him is sleep-inducing. “So, could I. But please don’t. I’m not cut out to be a prison wife.
That makes him chuckle, leaving me two-for-two. “You’d be the sexiest prison wife around, though. Endless bragging rights about my fit wife waiting for me on the outside.”
“I’d still rather you didn’t kill a man, even if it was for being trash to my sister.”
He turns in my hold to face me, but in the next breath he has me lifted up with my legs wrapped around his waist. “I have no plans to go anywhere without you, Birdie.”
Then we’re kissing again, tangled together like this is how we’re always meant to be. I’ve never felt more wanted than with this man.
“Will you keep Brin company while I make us dinner?” I ask when we’ve collected ourselves again.
“Sure thing. I already ate, so you don’t need to worry about me.”
“Thank you, Myles.” I peck his mouth again. “It’s about to get very cosy in this house.”
* * *
Later that night, after the kitchen is tidy and Myles and I have made quiet, slow love, I’m still wide awake thinking about my sister and her piece of shit boyfriend. Myles is wrapped around me like a protective bear, but I know he isn’t sleeping either, probably thinking about his flat and what it means for his tenancy. He’s more fidgety than usual.
I roll onto my side to face him, and he brings me flush against his body. “Are you okay?” I whisper.
“Yeah. Today was a lot, I guess,” he mumbles, his lips grazing my hairline.
In the dark, I trace my fingertips over the lines of the bear tattoo on his abdomen. I still don’t know what it means. “I know. I’m sorry about your flat.”
He shrugs. “Not the end of the world. I’m just glad we hadn’t decorated it yet.”
“Me too. I would’ve been devastated.”
There’s a quiet moment, where neither of us speak but we can’t help touching one another. My lips trail his chest while his fingertips brush and tickle the expanse of my back.
I love these moments with him. I love the intimacy he gives—that he doesn’t shy away from touching me. That he seems to want to be around me as much as I want to be around him.
“Do you think Brin’s alright?”
“I think I’ve heard her crying,” I admit.
“Me too.”
I search for Myles’s gaze in the dark, and he’s easy to find—already looking at me. He licks the tip of my nose, and then meets my mouth again.
“I don’t mind if you want to keep her company tonight, Birdie,” he mumbles against my lips. “She probably needs your comfort more than I do.”
I fight off a groan and fail. Why is being considerate such a turn on? “I hate how good you are sometimes.”
He rumbles out a laugh that vibrates deliciously against my chest. “Want me to be a bit of a prick tomorrow?”
“Yeah, can you, like, talk shit about my mum or summat? Just don’t cheat on me.”
“I only have eyes for you, baby.”
I snort and push him onto his back before mounting him again. “Do you want some bread with that cheese?”
I can see the beautiful grin on his handsome face. “No. But I wouldn’t mind if you came on my dick one more time before leaving me for the night.” He lifts his hips, emphasising his arousal.
“I think I can do that.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, I slip into the room my sister is staying in, and tuck myself under the covers behind her, spooning her. She sniffles but rests her arms on top of mine.
“You and Myles aren’t very quiet,” she tells me.
“Sorry,” I say after a vacant pause filled with cringing. “Not used to having company.”
“Cover his mouth next time.”
I snigger. “Noted.”
“I don’t mind it, by the way. It’s like being back at home when Beau discovered his sex appeal.”
“A time I’d like to forget,” I grumble.
“He was really bad. How Mum and Dad let him get away with it, I don’t know.”
“First born, favourite child.”
“Prick.”
I giggle again and snuggle in closer to her. “I love you, Brin.”
“I love you too, Shez.”
We fall asleep cuddled like spoons, with only the sounds of the countryside for the soundtrack.