Page 88 of Light Up
“Yes. I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I didn’t have anywhere to stay but now I do.”
“Just come and have a private word.” She gestured to the office.
Corey sighed and followed her. She closed the door.
“Are you being coerced? Bribed? Threatened in some way by this man?”
“No, I promise. I’m fine. I want to go with him.”
Tal smiled when Corey emerged.
As they settled in the back of the car, Corey said, “Are you sure Louis and Benjamin are okay about this?”
“They want me to be happy.Thismakes me happy. If they’re not okay with you being there, we’ll go to my house.”
Corey nodded.
They stopped at a motorway service station on the way back for the driver to use the bathroom and get something to eat. Corey and Tal went into the service station too.
“I’ll wait here,” Corey said when they reached the shops. Tal followed the driver to the toilets.
Corey found what he was looking for in a display basket outside one of the stores. A similar emergency tool to the one he’d had. He bought two. No point buying one for himself. There was no car in his immediate future. He also bought a few other items plus folded sheets of wrapping paper and tape, then had to pay for a bag. He usually took one with him when he went shopping.
Tal looked at the carrier he’d slung over his arm but didn’t ask about it and they made their way back to the car.
When the driver pulled up outside Louis and Benjamin’s house in Herne Hill, Corey was too nervous to feel tired. Tal had already texted to warn them, then switched off his phone. Not hard to guess why. He didn’t want Corey to listen to them saying they didn’t want him there. He and Tal hadn’t been able to talk much because of the driver and Corey wanted Tal to remember on his own, not because he’d prompted him. Now they were here, Corey felt sick with nerves. So much for wanting to be the strong assertive one.
Tal rang the bell.
It was Benjamin who came to the door. “No carol singing?”
“Are we welcome or shall I call a cab to take us to my house?”
Benjamin stepped back. “Of course you’re welcome. Corey too.” He took the bags from Tal’s hands.
Tal closed the door. “Is Louis back?”
“Not yet.”
Corey could hear Christmas music coming from somewhere in the house.
“I’d have driven you,” Benjamin said. “All you had to do was ask.”
“You’d have pissed off Louis.”
Benjamin shrugged. “You should have asked. So… Are you hungry? Thirsty? Tired?”
“We’ll go upstairs, sort out Corey’s stuff, then come down.”
“Okay. Louis is due back in an hour. On Christmas Eve, we have pizza. Is that all right?”
Tal nodded. Corey did too. Pizza sounded great.
He carefully followed Tal up the stairs into a lovely room decorated in shades of blue and grey. Corey took off his jacket. He glanced down at his T-shirt. “Should I change?”
“No. I like it. I feel like I’ve seen it before.”
“I mentioned it.”
