Page 15 of Crocodile Tears

“Which you can’t afford.”

“No.”

“Then why?—”

“Because I’m in love with you,” Neil blurted, his face flushing a beetroot red. “I’m completely, insanely in love with you and have been since I first saw you.” Neil gazed at him anxiously, awaiting a response to this totally obvious revelation.

Alex laughed. “Yeah, I’m used to that. It happens a lot. All the gay boys at Oxford are in love with me, and half the straight boys, too.”

“This isn’t some passing fancy or phase,” Neil said stiffly. “I mean it. I love you.”

Alex picked up his cup of tea and took a sip – it was strong and milky, just the way he liked it.

“I know youthinkyou’re in love with me,” he said quietly. “And I wasn’t kidding – people get crushes on me all the time: the looks, the clothes, the money – and let’s not forget the reputation.” He gave a twisted smile. “Alex Lytton – black sheep brother of the nation’s beloved gold medallist.” He moved his hand through the air to mimic a media headline. “The spoilt rich kid who killed his mother and crippled his famous brother by wrapping an AV around a tree while high on croc. Alex Lytton – famous bad boy and all-round shit.”

He leaned back in his chair and put his feet on the table. “I find that people either want to fuck me or fix me. Which is it for you, Neil?”

“Neither,” Neil said firmly. “I want to love you. I know you think you don’t deserve to be loved, but you’re wrong. You do.” His face was so comically earnest it made Alex laugh. “I mean it,” Neil carried on doggedly, “and I’ll prove it to you, too. I’ll lie to your father today when he asks for my report, and I’ll keep on lying to him. I’ll be here for you, Alex. Always.”

“My devoted servant.” Alex grinned, mirthlessly.

“Yes.” Neil stood up. “Give me a chance – you’ll see.” He carried his coffee cup over to the bin and threw it away. “I’ll be waiting back at the duck when you’re ready.”

Alex took a thoughtful sip of his tea as he watched Neil go. People fell in love with him all the time, seeing him as a fragile butterfly, broken and beautiful, teetering on the edge of self-destruction. It seemed to be an aphrodisiac, and there was never any shortage of idiots throwing themselves at him, hoping to win his undying love and gratitude by fixing him.

Neil wasn’t any different, except in one vital respect – he actually had something to offer. He’d lie to his father, which would give Alex the freedom to live his life at university the way he wanted. The only downside was that he’d have to live with Neil’s unwanted devotion, but he was pretty much stuck with that anyway.

He finished his tea slowly. Then he pulled his jacket tight around his body, shoved his sunglasses back on his nose, and, with hunched shoulders, made his way back to the duck.

Chapter Three

OCTOBER 2095

Josiah

Josiah ushered his captive back towards his AV, followed by Reed. They passed Alexander’s duck on the way, and Reed stopped to admire the gleaming maroon bodywork.

“I wish I could afford one of these fancy ducks,” he said wistfully. “This is the Tyler Tech Destiny range. They glide across the surface of the water, graceful as a swan, rather than waddling through it like your average duck.”

Josiah grunted. “Who cares what it looks like, as long as it gets you from A to B?”

Reed shot him an incredulous look. “Oh, come on! How could you not appreciate this little beauty? Look at her. If Dacre bought a duck like this for his indie, then he was either hopelessly in love or he had money to waste. These things aren’t cheap.”

Josiah glanced at Alexander. “Did Dacre buy this AV for you?”

“Yes. He wanted me to have a duck for travelling to the gym.”

“He could have bought you any old duck for that,’ Reed exclaimed. “This is a fancy duck.”

“He liked to spoil me,” Alexander said.

“It doesn’t sound like you appreciated the gift.”

Alexander shrugged. “It made him happy to give it to me, so I was happy to receive it.”

“Of course you were bloody well happy to receive it,” Reed said. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want one of these beauties except you, sir. Whoever designed this duck was a bloody genius.”

Alexander gave an odd, twisted smile that somehow managed to be both happy and sad at the same time, much to Josiah’s fascination.

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