Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“Hey, Shawny.” Jez’s tone was as casual as always. “Hurry up and join us, it’s all lined up ready to go.”
Of course, the only space on the sofa was next to Jude. Shawn met his gaze as he walked across the room.
“Hi.” Jude’s smile was a little forced.
“Hey.” Shawn sat down.
With four of them on the sofa, there wasn’t a lot of personal space, but this was the best sofa for being able to see the TV screen. Shawn tried not to touch Jude, but it was impossible. Their shoulders bumped and so did their knees as Shawn made himself comfortable.
“Here.” Mac passed a controller to Shawn.
“Cheers.”
“Okay, ready?”
It was a relief when the game started and gave him something to focus on other than the warmth of Jude beside him.
They played a few rounds, and then during the final race of a set of three, Jude’s phone chimed, then chimed again.
When the race was over Jude got his phone out to read the messages.
Shawn resisted the urge to look over his shoulder as he tapped out a reply.
Another message came back immediately and Jude chuckled.
“Come on, Jude,” Mac complained. “Stop sexting. We’re all waiting.”
“I’m not sexting. Not yet, anyway.”
Shawn tensed, gripping the controller tightly and trying to keep his face carefully neutral.
“Oh yeah?” Jez, always interested in a bit of gossip, was immediately alert. “Who is it, then? A new flame?”
“An old one, actually. It’s Sid—an ex from last year, although it was never serious. He moved away for a while, but he’s back in Plymouth now. I think he’s keen to start things up again.”
The flash of jealousy that ripped through Shawn nearly took his breath away. He gritted his teeth.
“Do you still like him?” Jez asked. He put his controller down, clearly settling in to get the gory details.
Jude paused to type another message and then shrugged. “Yeah, I guess…. I mean, we were pretty compatible and he was a lot of fun. It ended because of him moving away, so now he’s back, there’s no reason not to pick things back up… given that I’m not involved with anyone.”
Shawn knew the last part of that sentence was aimed directly at him.
“You should go for it, man,” Mac said.
“Yeah, maybe.” Jude looked at his phone again. “Actually, that sounds fun. That new club that opened recently—Troopers—is having an LGBT night tomorrow. Sid’s going with a few other people and he’s asking me if I want to come too.”
“Cool,” Jez said. “You should totally do it. God, I haven’t been clubbing in ages.”
“Why don’t you come too?” Jude suggested. “I think I’m going to go. I haven’t been out in a while, and I could use a bit of fun.”
Was Shawn imagining the pressure of Jude’s elbow against his ribs? Maybe it was just that the sofa was far too crowded.
“Yeah, that sounds awesome,” Jez said enthusiastically. “What about you, Mac? You in? We could ask Dev and Ewan too, and maybe even see if we can get Josh and Rupert out—although they’re like an old married couple these days, so they’ll probably stay in and watch Downton Abbey or some shit like that.”
“I’m game,” Mac said.
Shawn sat in uncomfortable silence, his gut churning at the thought of Jude going out and meeting up with this Sid guy… kissing him and going home with him. Or fuck, maybe he’d even bring Sid back here.
Shawn suddenly realised he was at risk of cracking the game controller in his hand, so he hastily put it down on the coffee table—with more of a crash than he’d intended.
“Oh, sorry, Shawny.” Jez leaned across Jude to pat him on the knee. “Are you feeling left out? You’re welcome to come, of course, but I didn’t think it would be your scene. If you’re uncomfortable seeing me and Mac snogging on the sofa, you definitely don’t want to see what happens on a dance floor at a gay club.” He chuckled, obviously joking.
Shawn tried to muster up a laugh. That was how he would have responded a couple of weeks ago. “Yeah, probably not, mate.” But his brain was emblazoned with fantasies about what sort of things might happen on the dance floor, and he was simultaneously aroused and wildly jealous at the thought of Jude dancing with Sid.
“Yeah. Definitely not Shawn’s scene,” Jude chimed in.
He sounded more wistful than bitter, but if Jez and Mac noticed the edge to his tone, they didn’t comment on it.
Something twisted in Shawn’s chest. He picked up his controller again. “Whatever. Are we playing this game or not?”
That signalled the end of the conversation and they went back to playing. But Shawn was too irritated to concentrate, and he kept missing the bends and falling off the track, which only made his mood worse.
He stuck it out for a couple more rounds, not wanting to look like he was desperate to escape, before making his excuses and heading back up his room so he could sulk in peace.