Page 85 of The Season
I feel Liam go tense beside me.
Tom shakes his head, brows dipping over his eyes, making them appear even closer together than usual. “Never mind,” he mutters, trudging past us to the fridge. “I don’t want to know. Everyone in this condo is so fucking weird.”
He rifles around in the fridge, then finally finds what he’s looking for—some box of leftovers which looks completely unsanitary, and would probably give an ordinary human fatal food poisoning. He gives the two of us a mildly confused look before sitting down across from us and digging in.
“So. You guys like a couple or something?” he asks around a mouthful. He tilts his head at me, lips pursing. “I thought you were kissing Lily the other day? Is everyone just fucking everyone now?” He wrinkles his nose, pointing his fork at the two of us, then adds: “If that’s the case, I’d just like to go on record as being straight, yah? The only person I’ll be banging is Lily—or at least I would if she wasn’t such a bitch.”
He gives a derisive snort, but the sound is cut short by a loud clatter, a crash of something heavy falling in the kitchen, a rumbled curse. We turn in unison, my eyes widening at the sight of a ceramic baking dish in pieces on the floor, cubed potato scattered everywhere, exploding outward with shards of ceramic.
But that is nothing compared to Seth.
His eyes are dark, face so red it’s nearly purple, lips pulled back in a snarl as he glares at Tom. “What the fuck did you say?” His voice is a low growl, the muscles cording along his neck ticking as he clenches his jaw. “You want to repeat that, Tom?”
Fingers flex at his sides, then tighten into fists, and I’m suddenly aware of what a massive guy Seth is. Almost as big as Matty. Certainly bigger than me. Taller, wider, a shit ton of muscle mass. You’d just never know it because he’s always so friendly. Approachable.
There’s nothing friendly about him now.
He takes a step forward, lithe and predatory despite his size, and I feel a frisson of fear snake down my spine, even though his rage is directed at Tom.
Wood scrapes against linoleum as Tom leaps to his feet, hands outstretched, palms outward. “Dude. Calm the fuck down. It was just a joke, yah. No need to go all psycho about it.”
Seth jolts at Tom’s words, the faintest of shivers rippling through him as he blinks rapidly. I watch in fascination as the fog seems to clear from his eyes, blind rage giving way to awareness. He drops his gaze, a flush spreading down his neck and to the tips of his ears.
“A joke. Yah. Okay.” He lets out a heavy breath, then turns back to the kitchen, kneeling down to start collecting up shards of ceramic in big, trembling hands. “Just a joke.” He says the words as if to himself, his shoulders tight with tension, the back of his neck pink.
Tom gives me awhat the fuck just happenedlook, which I return with a glare.
“Let me help you with that,” I say, squeezing Liam’s hand before dropping to the floor beside Seth.
My life up until now might have been notably bereft of any sort of cleaning experience, but I’ve been making up for it ever since moving in with these guys.
“Here, let’s get a paper bag,” I suggest, when Seth sits back on his heels, staring at the mess in front of him as if it’s some irreparable tragedy. “We’ll put everythingjuste là, and then I can run it out to the bin.”
I feel almost smug at my newfound cleaning abilities and can’t help but smile quietly to myself. IfMamancould see me now, she’d be absolutely horrified.
Seth’s fingers slip over broken ceramic and diced potato, and I brush them away. “It’s okay,” I murmur, nudging his shoulder with my own. “I’ve got this. Just take a deep breath,oui?”
He does as instructed, drawing one hand over his face as he lets out a shuddering breath. “I’m sorry,” he mutters, eyes fixed on the floor. “I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I… I don’t know what came over me…”
I give a derisive snort. “Bordel de merde,” I tell him. “What do you mean you don’t know what happened?Ce connardis avraitrou de cul. Though I’m not sure what these poor potatoes did to earn your wrath.”
Seth lets out a hollow laugh at my bad joke, wiping his cheek with the back of his hand. “Thanks,mec.” He gives me a soft smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re a good friend.”
Warmth floods my chest at his words, alongside a prickling sort of discomfort.
Ever since we moved in, we’ve all let Seth look after us in some way or another. We’ve let him bear the weight that comes with so many strangers living together. Organizing meals, setting up the group chat, being the person to try and resolve disputes, or pass on messages when people aren’t talking to each other. He’s even tried to set up a chore roster—not that any of us have followed it.
I’m probably the closest to him out of everyone here—except maybe for Lily. But after seeing that flash of anger in a man who seems to only ever smile, I’m starting to think there are entire oceans beneath the surface. And I’m not sure that I’ve been that good of a friend, really, if I haven’t even thought to look deeper.
Chapter27
Lily
Tessa:Hey mate, hope you didn’t end up working in this weather (freezing emoji)
I feel a twinge of guilt when Tessa’s latest text flashes across my screen, reminding me of her earlier unanswered messages, and I quickly type out my reply.
Lily:Nope! All canceled. Sorry, just got back from the gym.
