Page 64 of The Making of Jonty Bloom
Oh shit. I’m not going to let him down.“Address?”
“5A Hayton Street. You can park anywhere on that road for free, but it’s busy. I hope you can parallel park. I live above the laundrette.”
“See you soon.”
The moment that call ended, his phone rang again and he answered without checking who it was.Mistake.
“Devan. No response to my text?”
He clenched his teeth at the sound of his mother’s voice. “I wasn’t aware it required a response.” His heart thumped. Had his father told her the truth?
“Griff has graciously asked you to be his best man. You said no. Reconsider.”
Graciously? What the fuck?“Okay. I’ve reconsidered. The answer is still no.” He could feel himself getting hotter.
“You’re not intending to go to the wedding, are you?”
“I haven’t had an invitation.”
She gave a long-suffering sigh. Devan wasn’t fooled.
“I told you your flight and accommodation are booked. Griff and Ravi want family and a few close friends with them in the Caribbean. A simple ceremony.”
Not if Ravi had anything to do with it. Ravi had a lot of friends he considered close. Nor would the ceremony be simple. Devan would have happily gone for barefoot on the beach and just the two of them, but Ravi had wanted the whole bloody spectacle and even persuaded one of the celeb magazines to photograph the event before he’d discussed it with Devan. Ravi modelled for several big names in the fashion world, and the fee the magazine had offered almost paid for the honeymoon in the Seychelles. The bloody magazine had printed pictures of Ravi there instead, looking broken hearted. Now he wondered if Griff had been there too. His brother had gone AWOL after Devan had found them fucking.
I’m glad I didn’t marry him.
His lungs locked.Oh God, I fucking am.
“Are you listening?” his mother snapped.
Devan took a deep breath. “No, I wasn’t. Sorry.”
“Devan? Do you…still have feelings for Ravi?”
Not the sort of feelings she was thinking about.
“Talk to Dad.” He ended the call and shoved the phone in his pocket. His pulse was racing and he took a few deep breaths.
One day having fun. That was all he wanted. Just one day.
DEVAN PARALLEL PARKED RIGHT OUTSIDEthe launderette, locked his car and knocked on Jonty’s door. He heard feet clattering downstairs, then the door opened and all he could see was Jonty’s bright smile.Happy to see me.Devan felt better already. Until guilt nibbled harder at his gut.Don’t fucking smile at me! Don’t make me want you.
“You came.” Jonty’s beam didn’t lessen in strength.
Had Jonty doubted that he would? Maybe he could find Jonty a job. The thought cheered him. Yeah, he could do that. Hewoulddo that. One of their hotels was always looking for staff.
“You really came.” Jonty grinned.
“Not yet,” Devan said. “I’m saving myself.”
Jonty pressed his lips together as he fought not to laugh. “Want to come in or get straight off?”
“I can’t do both?”
“You’re playing my game. A risky strategy when I’m a Grand Master.”
I shouldn’t, but I am.“Do you want me to come in?”
