Page 48 of Hearts Colliding
Declan abandoned stacking the used crockery. “Was it that bloke from the computer shop? He loves you so hard.” Declan pressed his hands to his chest and started to laugh, and Joss joined in.
“You can’t be serious.” Joss’ eyes opened wider, if that were possible. “Not Percy? You’re not, are you? Please don’t say—”
“Of course I’m not. It’s nobody you know. And like I say, just a friend.”Just a friend…The words were a bitter lie on his tongue.
“Then who?” Declan stared down at him, his eyes slightly narrowed. The man was sharp, and as much as Ryan wanted to look away, he forced himself to hold his friend’s gaze.
“Like I said, just a friend. What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?”
“Just friendly curiosity. It’d be lovely if you met somebody.” Joss sighed the contentment of domestic bliss.
“Not everybody’s looking for the straight jacket of cosy coupledom,” he snapped, the questioning tugging at his ragged nerves.
Joss’ face fell, the perfect picture of a kicked puppy. Declan scowled, his brows drawing in tight.
“All right, mate, no need to get arsey.” He squeezed Joss’ shoulder in solidarity. “Wondering what the big secret is, that’s all.”
“There isn’t a big secret.”Lies, lies, lies.“I just like to keep my private life private, that’s all. You know what this place is like. You can’t fart without it being broadcast in the village newsletter.”
Declan’s pugnacious expression softened. Not much, but a bit.
“Yeah, well—”
“I wasn’t trying to dig, honest. Or not much.” Joss’ lips twisted in a small smile, but the wounded puppy was still there. “We’re your friends,” Joss added quietly.
Would you still be if you knew?He needed to cut this conversation and fast.
“I just—”
“Unless you’re seeing somebody you shouldn’t be.”
“What was that?” Ryan’s head snapped back around to Declan. His heart crashed against his ribs on a rising tide of panic. Sweat drenched through his shirt, and he could smell the stench of his own fear.No way can he know, we’ve been so careful.
“… not out. I dated somebody who was in the closet. It was soul destroying. Honestly, for your own sanity stay away from shit like that.”
Hysterical, panicky laughter bubbled up in Ryan. Declan thought he was seeing somebody who was afraid of anybody knowing about them? His friend was right, but for all the wrong reasons.
“Then he’s with somebody? Oh, Ry!” Joss’ voice was loud with distress.
“No! I’d never do anything like that.”
“Then what’s the problem with telling us? If you don’t, we’ll just have to make shit up.” Declan started stacking the used crockery once more.
Fuck. Fuck.Fuck. Could this get any worse?
“Forgot my cardie.”
Ryan jumped at his nan’s voice, behind him.
She pulled the bright pink cardigan from the back of the chair, shrugged it on, and began to button it up. “What wouldn’t you do anything like?”
Three sets of curious eyes bore into him.
“Ry’s got a secret boyfriend, Eva. He’s denying it, but me and Joss know he’s lying.” Declan’s grin was pure evil.
“It’s about time you found yourself a nice young man. Or maybe you already have, what with all the secret phone calls and disappearing without a word as to where you’re off to. Thought you might have said something, though, because it’s not like you to be secretive. You’ve been in your own world these last few weeks, so like I said in the meeting, it must be love.”
Ryan’s pulse was an erratic, frantic tattoo in his neck.
