Page 124 of Everything That Kills Me
Zeph shook his head. “I want to say goodbye here.”
“We could meet,” Jack said carefully and broke Zeph’s heart all over again.
“I can’t wait. I won’t,” Zeph whispered, knowing full well that was exactly what he’d do. “You made me happy. I’ll always be grateful for that. Stay safe, though, right! Don’t stop swimming.”
He kissed Jack and tried not to put his heart into it, but it was impossible. Zeph kissed him as though he couldn’t bear to let him go and it was true, he couldn’t. He wanted to pull away first, but it was Jack who moved back.
“I put a Christmas present in your bag,” Jack said.
“I put one in yours.”
“Not a Lamborghini then.”
Zeph laughed. “Not this year. Thank you again for the money.”
“Do great things with your life, genius. See you.”
Zeph closed the door before he burst into tears. He pressed his arm against his mouth to muffle his sobs. Then he ran upstairs, threw himself on his bed and howled.
When the tears stopped, he fell into an exhausted sleep. It was the middle of the afternoon before he woke. He ought to unpack, but he couldn’t be bothered. He needed to eat, but he couldn’t be bothered. He wanted to get drunk, but he wasn’t supposed to be drinking. He was a rule follower. Coffee, then. Zeph washed his face and padded downstairs. He pushed open the kitchen door and shrieked.
Jack sat at the table, glaring.
“What the fuck?” Zeph gasped. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same.”
“I live here.”
“You’re supposed to be spending Christmas with your uncle and his partner.”
“I—”
“Don’t bother lying.”
Zeph sagged. “They’ve gone to Portugal.”
Jack pushed to his feet. “Then why did you tell me you’d be with them?”
“Because you were going to be with Thomas.”
Jack scowled. “You think I’d let you spend Christmas on your own?”
Zeph found it hard to swallow. “How did you know I was still here?”
“Because you told me you wouldn’t wait and I knew you were lying. I sat in my car waiting to see what you’d do. You’re coming with me to Thomas’s. Get your stuff.”
Zeph opened his mouth and closed it again.
“Get. Your. Stuff,” Jack repeated.
“Are you sure? What does Thomas say?”
“That it’s fine. The only thing I’ll need to do is put you in the boot for the last few miles.”
“What?”
“It was a joke but… I think Thomas would be happier if you didn’t know the exact location of the house.”
