Etienne
The boys were not in bed before Walker and Etienne arrived and now Fox was letting them officially ‘wear themselves out’ before trying again. To say Reggie and George were pleased with the reprieve was an understatement. They immediately set up position at the back window, noses pressed to the glass, to spot any early fireworks.
Fox wiped a hand across his face. ‘You never know, they might one day decide theywantto go to bed,’ he said, lifting his bottle of beer. The three of them took their usual seats at Fox’s kitchen table.
‘Only if they’re older and there is someone they fancy in it,’ Walker said, deadpan. The boys were now having an earnest, whispered conversation. It looked like trouble. Reggie skidded across the kitchen and landed at Etienne’s chair.
‘Is Isabella your girlfriend?’ he demanded, poking him with a surprisingly pointy finger.
Etienne’s beer went down the wrong way and he swallowed painfully.
‘No,’ he sighed. ‘We’re just friends.’ He noticed Walker and Fox glance at each other.
In fact, they weren’t even that any more. He’d be surprised if she ever spoke to him again after the way he treated her. Maybe he could try to explain it after Alex came home. When it was safe. But until then, he had to live with it. And without her.
‘Good,’ Reggie said with a satisfied nod. ‘’Cos I’m going to marry her.’
Etienne spat his beer out. Walker clapped him on the back.
‘Don’t you think she might be a bit old for you?’ Fox said, smiling.
‘She won’t be when I’ve grown up to her age.’ Reggie shrugged in perfect child logic before turning on the spot and legging it to the front room. George ran after him.
‘He’s been like this since you guys went into his school that day,’ Fox said, shaking his head. ‘Smitten.’
‘Is that true?’ Walker asked him, studying his face.
‘What?’
‘The “just good friends” story?’ Both of them were watching him now.
Etienne rubbed his hands through his hair.
‘I don’t think we’re even that any more,’ Etienne muttered. Fox put another beer on the table in front of him, seeing as he’d snorted half of his across the kitchen. He took a long sip but it didn’t make him feel any better.
‘We were friends,’ he started, ‘at the beginning. Then we were having non-sex and that was amazing.’ He closed his eyes for a moment. ‘Better than most of the actual sex I’ve ever had.’
He sighed. Walker and Fox waited.
‘And then we ended up spending more time together. The karaoke, the cocktails, the school visit. And she’s fun, you know?’ His friends both nodded in agreement as if they’d known this all along and Etienne was catching up.
‘And then I realised I was looking out for her. Making opportunities to see her. I kept looking at her window to catch a glimpse.’ He threw an almost embarrassed look at Walker, who took a long swig of his beer but said nothing.
‘And she’s kind. Like, she’d help anyone, wouldn’t she?’ Again, he looked at them for confirmation he didn’t need. They nodded. ‘Even when she was so busy with Tutto Mio, she took time out to take me to the grave. She organised the Spare Room Sleepover.’
He rubbed his stubble.
‘And then I thought I had indigestion, but it only ever happened when she was around. And I realised it wasn’t anything to do with a dodgy meal. It was proper feelings, right here.’ He put his hand on his chest.
‘And then I held her hand.’ He dropped his face into his hands for a full ten seconds before raising it to face them and saying, ‘And never wanted to let go.’
Fox raised an eyebrow. Walker sat forward in his chair.
‘But I had to make her stay away from me, in case the Dougalls were going to target me. So, I told her I had a better offer. I really hurt her. And I can’t think of anything else apart from how much I want to be with her.’
There followed a silence so complete they realised the boys were no longer playing noisily in the front room. Instead, they were standing side by side in the doorway, listening to every word: Reggie wide-eyed, George sucking his thumb.
‘I love her, don’t I?’ Etienne said slowly, feeling the awe and relief in saying the words out loud for the first time.
