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Aww cuties

Lizzie’s Hot Snake Dad

She is very cute

Sexy Milo

I meant both of you ;)

Lizzie’s Hot Snake Dad

Thank you?

Sexy Milo

You’re welcome

Sexy Milo

And no, Alfie’s not looking for custom. Not enough time for it anyway as the wedding’s at the end of October! Going to be a bit of a rush to find stuff.

Lizzie’s Hot Snake Dad

Oh wow, that is soon. As soon as I’ve had dinner I’ll send you some things. If that’s okay?

Sexy Milo

Perfect. You’re a star!

I grinned to myself as I stretched out on my sofa, phone in hand, as an old episode of Frozen Planet II played on my TV. Because there was never a bad time for David Attenborough.

I was surprised Rupert had answered me so quickly and part of me liked the idea that he’d been waiting around, waiting for me to message him. Even if I knew it wasn’t true. Darcy and Alfie might have questioned my motives for talking to Rupert, but I’d been telling the truth when I’d said he wasn’t as bad as I first thought.

And yes, my overall motivation might be selfish, but that didn’t mean it was wrong.

Rupert was cute and far more interesting than I’d ever imagined. I’d had a lot of fun hanging out with him and Lizzie, and I wanted to do it again. Every time I thought about him, more things popped into my head for us to talk about. Questions, opinions, playful debates, long conversations about really specific, weird interests that only one of us was fascinated by—I wanted all of them.

We wouldn’t agree on everything, it’d be fucking odd if we did, but my curiosity to see the world through his eyes had been engaged, and it wouldn’t be satisfied until I got the answers I wanted.

Plus, it would be nice to have someone else to talk to.

I loved Darcy and Alfie with all my heart, nothing would ever change that, but I was all too aware things had shifted between us this year. They were both in relationships now, and from the way they each looked at their boyfriends, I doubted either of them would end anytime soon. If at all.

In fact, I’d be pissed if they did because of how much effort I’d put into sorting their love lives out.

But both of them having partners meant our friendship would always come second.

I’d accepted that, because I’d be a dick if I didn’t, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t starting to feel pangs of loneliness creeping in around the edge. Running Lick It! together meant I’d always get to spend time with my friends, and I’d make sure we did pub nights and beach days if it killed me, but outside of that, I was becoming startlingly aware of how much time I’d have to spend in my own company. Especially over the winter when the shop was closed.

If I made friends with Rupert though, I’d always have someone to chat to and hang out with. And I’d be fulfilling my promise to Darcy to foster good neighbourly relations. It was a win-win.

I just had to get Rupert on board and make him see that being friends with me was a good idea.

Sexy Milo

Btw I had a great time hanging out with you and Lizzie the other day. Would you like to do it again some time? I can bring you more ice cream if that sweetens the deal

The response took a few minutes to come through, but when it did, it made a fizzing sensation of pure delight fill my chest.