Page 30 of Someone Like You

“Any plans tonight?” he asked, just to change the subject.

“Abby’s going out with some friends, so I’ll probably just beach myself on the couch and watch rugby.”

“Sounds like a dream night.”

“Wanna come over?”

The fact that Ian wanted so badly to say yes right away was already a red flag. He’d rushed all the way to the café just because Philmightbe here… The prospect of a whole night together, undisturbed, even just watching sports, was a temptation. He wanted nothing more than a bit more time with Phil: joke with him, laugh with him, call him a cunt just to remind him to love himself more… Little things. But being alone with him was a dangerous territory to wander into, no matter how innocent their intentions were.

“My wee princess’s been home alone all day,” Ian said, thinking that it’d settle it, until he saw the disappointment melting Phil’s hopeful expression. He cursed inwardly. His principles weren’t sturdy enough to withstand that kicked puppy face. “You could come to mine?”

Phil’s lips parted, but no sound came out. That thin gap between them called to Ian, insinuating treacherous thoughts into his head — his thumb on Phil’s chin, ghosting along the lower lip, warming up in his breath as his arm folded around…

“How far is it?” Phil asked. “I biked here.”

The shattered reverie left a bittersweet taste behind, an emptiness in Ian’s hands he still couldn’t shrug off after flexing his fingers multiple times.

“Not far. But we can put your bike in the pick-up,” said Ian, trying to blink the remnants of the pipe dream away. “Can’t let you cycle around at night without a helmet. Or at any other time of day, for that matter.”

Phil pinched the bridge of his nose with a weak groan. “It’s on my shopping list, I swear.”

“Mh.”

Ian left him to gather his stuff and went to the counter to hand Sandra an extra tenner for the unforeseen extra pie. Sandra gave him a fiver back.

“One slice was on the house. He’s a delight.”

Ian pocketed the note, biting back on the sarcastic rebuttals piling up in his mouth. As if he needed a reminder of how lovely Phil was. How charming, how brilliant, despite his many burdens.

Phil arrived seconds later, phone in hand, asking Sandra for his bill.

“Already taken care of, love.” Sandra poked a thumb towards Ian, who got a scolding side-eye from Phil.

“No need to thank me. Get your fancy bike and let’s get out of here.”

Phil turned his bogus irritation to Sandra. “How do you stand him?”

“I don’t. He’s just really easy on the eye.”

* * *

Compared to Phil’s, Ian’s flat was a humble shack, but he was proud of it. It washis, the roof he’d put over his own head after years of hard work and sacrifice, and no mansion in the world could compare to it.

When he opened the door, he had no time to warn Phil about the real owner of the place: Kibble came sauntering from the kitchen with her trademark fluctuating meowing that always seemed too long for her little lungs. As soon as she saw Phil, she halted and cowered, ears flattened backwards.

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Ian laughed. He kneeled to the ground and extended a hand out, but Kibble refused to move. A low growl rattled in her throat before she spit out two hisses in a row at Phil, who wasn’t moving, either, looking as worried as Kibble was angry. “She’s not used to strangers, are ye, girl?”

“Yeah, I’m not used to cats, either,” said Phil uneasily. “I’m more of a dog person.”

Ian rolled his eyes. “He’s a pain in the arse, but he’s a good guy, Kibbs, I promise.” He scooped her up and settled her belly-up in the curve of his arm. Slowly, the growling turned into purring. Ian peered at Phil. “She doesn’t bite, ye know?”

Phil eyed the cat with his lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ll take your word for it.”

As soon as Ian set her down, Kibble took off to the bedroom, probably to hide under the bed or the chest of drawers. Not a people person, just like her dad.

“Make yourself at home.” Ian pointed out the four rooms of the house. “Bathroom. Kitchen. Living room. Bedroom. I’m confident you won’t get lost.”

Phil ventured into the small living room. “It’s all so… tidy and clean.”

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