Page 151 of Reinventing Cato
“You are a wonderful judge of character.”
Vigge smiled. “What did your parents say about what’s been going on?”
“They told me to be careful.”
“What did you actually tell them?”
Cato stirred his soup with his spoon. “That I’d had a bit of trouble with one of my housemates. And that the pay-as-you-go was now redundant. I worried that if I said too much, I’d let everything else pour out. I don’t want them to ever know I was pushed off the roof of the car park.”
“Er…Cato. Did you not watch the news last night?”
“No. Why?”
“Had any messages?”
“There were a few but… I was too busy worrying about you.” He checked his phone. “I was only going to—oh Jesus.” His entire family had called him. Even Griff. Max had rung ten times.“What did it say on the news?”
“Eat your soup first.”
Cato whined. “I had a whole schedule of afternoon delights planned and now I’m going to be on the phone for hours.”
Vigge raised his eyebrows, and kept eating.
“I don’t see why I should suffer on my own. I think I need to lie on the couch next to you so you can stop me if I start to say something I shouldn’t.”
“It’s not a hardship lying next to you. Bed would be better.”
“No funny business, though. Not now you’re weak and feeble.”
“Not that weak and feeble. What afternoon delights did you have in mind?”
“I was going to feed you chocolate, massage any parts of you that felt a bit stiff, entertain you with my sparkling wit, do a sex toy demo, show you my amazing trick with belts and kiss you until you can’t breathe.” He sighed. “But now I’ll have to make a lot of boring calls.”
“Hmm.”
When they were done eating, Cato cleared the table, and put the bread away.
Vigge pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “Upstairs. Bring your phone.”
Cato took his hand and went with him.
They kicked off their shoes, lay under the duvet and Cato snuggled up next to him.
“Who are you going to call first?” Vigge asked.
“Max. Just because it will be the quickest.” And because he wanted it over, forever, like yesterday.
“Cato.” Max exhaled his name. “Are you okay? No one would tell me anything.”
“I’m fine.”
“And Vigge?”
“He’s fine too. Recovering anyway.” Vigge’s hand curved around his hip. “Showing signs of getting back to normal.”
“I’ve been so worried about you. When you went over the edge of that roof…” Max gave a shaky exhale. “I thought my heart had stopped. I was trying to help, trying to distract him and I nearly got you killed. I’m so sorry.”
“He was going to push me anyway. I wouldn’t have jumped. I was going to… I’m okay, Max. I’m sorry that it hasn’t worked out with Louise. I wish you the best, but we’re done.”
