Page 25 of Love Punch

There was a kick on the door just as my timer started to trill, and I answered with it still ringing. I pressed the off button and looked up into Bradley’s eyes. He was smirking, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. He was wearing my favourite shirt of his—one with blue stripes—and a smart pair of jeans and brogues. I’d opted for my white shirt and chinos, paired with a pair of Doc Martens I hoped didn’t get me judged.

“Were you timing me?” he asked.

“You’re a very precise man. I can run you like clockwork.”

He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Maybe I should think of a way to surprise you then.”

“I’d like that,” I said, fighting the shiver that zipped down my spine. My voice felt small. I found it so hard to be suave around Bradley, like he sucked up all the charm in the room for himself.

“Shall we?” He offered his elbow to me, and I wrapped my hand around his bicep with difficulty. I could feel the boundaries breaking down between us ever so slowly, and I wasn’t sure if that was because the feelings were mutual, or it was just a natural consequence of not having anything between us.

I held onto his arm like a Victorian lady being led by her husband down a busy Clapham street as we walked towards the dining room. The house was large and modern, most of it laid out on one sprawling floor. The only things upstairs were Mr and Mrs Tyler’s bedroom, their studies and private bathroom. Everything else occupied the ground floor, a mass of marbled floors and white walls.

The dining room was in the heart of the house, and at the moment was occupied by one huge, black table. It could have looked imposing, but with Melody and Gez seated together atone end it simply looked oversized. Thank God they weren’t sitting at the heads of the table, twelve feet apart. That could have been awkward. As it was, Bradley and I could sit next to each other, opposite the elder Tylers.

“Ah, boys,” said Melody. She always sounded so regal. So many years older than her fifty-five. And she was glamorous too, dressed as if she were off to a fancy cocktail party. Whereas Gez was dressed in a polo shirt and jeans, and I thought I could see sandals poking out under the table. He was rich, but he definitely wasn’t old money. Though I suppose Melody might wish they both were.

“Champagne?” she asked. I nodded, though I’d never really been a fan of the bubbles.

“What’s for dinner?” Bradley asked, as we were each poured a glass.

“God knows, darling. I just ask Amanda and she makes the most wonderful dishes. Ah, here she comes.”

I gave the chef a polite smile as she entered the room with her arms piled with plates, expertly depositing one in front of each of us. “A Thai lentil curry with basmati rice,” she explained, leaving the room before any of us could thank her.

I tucked into the delicious meal, conscious the entire time of how close Bradley and I were. If we ever ate together, it was cross-legged in the middle of the training ring, or lounging on the sofas. If his parents weren’t here, it’d be dangerously close to a date.

The whole time we ate and made small talk with Gez and Melody, it felt like I was steadily losing my mind. Was Bradley even aware that our legs were pressed together? Was his heart beating erratically like mine was? Was he sporting a very inappropriate semi too?

The whole dinner was a mess. I was a mess. I dropped my fork twice and had to shoot apologetic glances towards Melodyand Gez. I didn’t even want to look at Bradley.Dinner with the parents. This was meant to be a nerve-wracking experience after we’d confessed our undying love for each other, not whilst I was still contemplating how to do so.

Finally, the plates were cleared away and Melody poured out another glass of champagne for each of us. I was feeling slightly lightheaded, but that didn’t have much to do with the bubbly. Our chairs were so close to one another, and Bradley was leaning just the right way so that his arm touched mine as well. We were essentially connected from ankle to shoulder, and he wasn’t acknowledging it at all.

“…Arthur? Is everything alright?” Melody was looking at me with some concern.

“Uh, yes. Sorry. One of those days.”

“I’m sure. My husband and I are going to retire now. He always gets the most awful indigestion from curries, don’t you darling?”

Gez nodded dutifully and they rose together and left the room.

“God, that was excruciating,” said Bradley.

I laughed in relief. “I’ll say.”

“I don’t know why Mum insisted on all this formality. We always ate watching TV when I was a kid.”

I took another sip of my champagne. Maybe itwasthe bubbles making my head loopy. I shamelessly leaned into Bradley’s warmth. “Good food though.”

“It was. You ready for bed?”

I eyed the bottle where it sat and, feeling particularly bold, snagged it from its ice bucket. “I am if you are.”

“I like the way you think. Though you might turn me into an alcoholic,” Bradley muttered.

“That’s the plan: the old, fat, alcoholic ex-boxer and his forever youthful assistant. It’s my turn to look good next to you.”

“You always look beautiful next to me,” Bradley deadpanned.

---