Dom’s head shot up as his mum popped her head around the door. “Hey.”
She smiled. “Can you help me move a couple of things in the shop? My back’s been playing up today.”
As much as he wanted to wait for Henry’s reply, Dom turned his phone to silent and shoved it in his pocket. “Yeah, course.”
He didn’t get to check it until he left later that afternoon, but Henry hadn’t messaged him again.
Dom worried at his lip as he drove home.
Henry’s texts had been a constant in his life since they’d left the holiday park. Dom was already used to their snarky and sometimes strange banter. He looked forward to it. Radio silence from Henry left Dom a little off-kilter.
When Nathan popped in later that night, Dom was so distracted he zoned out of their conversation completely.
“Are you all right?” Nathan asked, startling him into almost dropping his beer.
“What?” Dom blinked and realised Nathan had moved to lean against the worktop beside him.
Nathan gave a pointed look to the thick soup Dom was currently stirring. “You turned the heat off about five minutes ago. Are we actually going to eat at some point or are you going to stir it all night?”
“Fuck, sorry.” He quickly dished up and they took their food to the table. He set his annoyingly quiet phone next to him.
“What’s up? And don’t say nothing, because I know that’s bollocks.”
“Fine.” Dom rolled his eyes. “I might have messed things up with Henry. Maybe. I don’t know.”
Nathan paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth. “Holiday Henry?”
“Please don’t call him that.” It conjured up images of a grumpy Henry in his Christmas jumper and Dom laughed.
“Ooh,” Nathan singsonged. “So itishim. I thought you weren’t interested in seeing him again. Or have you changed your mind?”
Dom played with his soup. “I never said I wasn’t interested,” he said, watching his spoon intently.
“Dom.” Nathan waited for him to look up. When he did, whatever expression Dom wore, made him sigh and set his spoon down. “What happened?”
Dom winced and handed his phone over for Nathan to read.
He skimmed through the last few messages. “How old did you say he was?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Hmm.”
His tone made Dom bristle. “What’s that supposed to mean? Not everyone’s fortunate enough to afford their own house these days.”
Nathan cocked an eyebrow, and Dom snapped his mouth shut. “I know that. I was just thinking how knowing thatyoulive aloneandown your own house is probably a bit daunting when he’s struggling to get his foot on the first rung of the ladder. So to speak.”
“So you think I did mess up?”
Nathan reached for the bread and broke a bit off before answering. “Honestly? I have no idea.”
“I’m so glad I confided in you. Your advice is priceless.”
Nathan grinned. “You never listen to my advice anyway.”
“I know, but usually it makes me realise that I’m better off following my original plan.”
“Well, what’s your plan this time?”
