“No,” Danny said. “You’re picking a fight.”
Joe looked up then, meeting Ben’s gaze. “You think I wanted this?” he asked quietly. “Leaving behind everything I knew, not knowing whether I’ll be allowed to stay, not being able to work, to…live properly? I’m more grateful than you can know about the opportunity Kaden and this country are giving me. I want to contribute and I will.”And lie when I need to.This was exactly what he wanted.
Ben’s cheek twitched.
Kaden’s voice softened. “Just leave it, yeah?”
For a moment, it seemed like Ben might push again, but instead he looked away, muttering something under his breath as he reached for his drink.
The tension didn’t disappear, but it shifted to something less explosive, though in a way more brittle, as if something might crack if Ben started up again. Joe felt a pang of guilt that he’d had to lie, but there was no choice. He was sad that what had been a great evening for Kaden was ending on this note.
Lars told a funny story about getting stuck in a lift with a duck and the mood lightened a little. But the moment Kaden had finished his drink, he pushed to his feet and tugged Joe up beside him. “We need to go. Got a busy day tomorrow flat hunting. Thanks for your support, everyone. I really do appreciate it.”
“Flat hunting?” Danny asked.
“Yep. We have a roof over our heads but we really need a new place,” Kaden said.
“What happened with your old one?” Euan asked.
“Single occupancy and there are two of us.” Kaden shrugged.
“I have a colleague who’s looking for someone to take over his place for three months,” Danny said. “He’s being seconded to Paris. He lives in Muswell Hill. You interested?”
“Yes!” Kaden squeezed Joe’s hand.
“I’ll come with you to the Tube and give him a call.”
Danny left with them, walking a little way behind and chatting on his phone.
“We’re not going to get a place of our own?” Joe whispered.
“Yes, but this gives us the chance to lookfroma place of our own.”
“You don’t want to stay with Alistair?”
“No.”
Joe nodded.
Danny came up between them and put his arms over their shoulders. “I vouched for you. Malik says to come and look tomorrow. Early. He’s leaving at eleven. You can negotiate a price. I’ll text you the address. He says will you look after his hamster?”
Joe almost tripped over, but Kaden laughed.
“He’s joking,” Kaden said.
They split up when they reached the Tube.
“Thanks, Danny!” Kaden called.
Danny waved his arm in the air.
“He’s nice,” Joe said as they made their way underground.
“And Ben’s not.”
“He’s jealous, that’s all. He wanted to get people on his side.”
Kaden put his arm over Joe’s shoulders. “He’s not having you. You’re all mine.”
