Page 9 of Topped

“Sounds great. I literally have nothing on so let me know what works best for you.”

“How about Thursday?” he asked tentatively. “Would that work? Or if not, we could do⁠—”

“Thursday sounds great.” I snagged my phone out of my jeans pocket to put it in my calendar with a reminder alarm. Otherwise I’d totally forget and then it would be awkward as fuck. And I didn’t want to give Rupert a reason to be upset with me. I’d never get to meet Lizzie then.

Lizzie.

A bit of a strange name for a snake, but I wasn’t going to say that. Besides it wasn’t really any stranger than Fred, the vicar, calling her dog Angus.

“Good, good. Cool. Amazing,” Rupert said, the words pouring out softly under his breath. “I’ll see you next week then.”

“You will. But you’ll also see me tomorrow.”

I smiled at him, waiting for him to return it.

And when he did, it felt like my insides were burning.

Chapter Four

Rupert

What the hell was I doing? Inviting Milo to meet Lizzie was a ridiculous idea. Clearly, I had lost my mind!

But he’d said she was cute, fucking cute even, and so few people had that reaction to snakes my brain had instantly wanted to show her off. I’d asked the question before I’d thought it through, and the stab of anxiety I’d felt waiting for his answer had almost made me throw up. But then he’d said yes and smiled, and the wave of relief was like being bathed in those first warm rays of summer sun.

Truly, rejection sensitivity was hell and anyone who thought it was a quirky little trend had obviously never experienced the horrific rollercoaster of emotions that accompanied it. Extending a simple invitation shouldn’t make me feel like I wanted to vomit, or like I might die if Milo said no. But it did. And I fucking hated it.

Then there was the aftermath. The days of waiting, wondering if I’d said something wrong, if he’d only accepted out of politeness, if he’d actually turn up or whether he’d ghost me on the day.

I’d tried to carry on as normal, pretending nothing was bothering me and dismissing Norman’s pointed looks and questions about my withdrawn behaviour. The last thing I wanted was to have to explain to him what a ridiculous twat I was being. He’d probably look at me like I’d grown another head. And then he’d hand in his notice and flee.

Norman knew I had ADHD, that my brain wasn’t always the kindest, but I hadn’t subjected him to the full breakdown of my neuroses. We weren’t that close.

I sighed and checked my watch again, even though thirty seconds had barely passed since the last time I’d looked at it.

It was Thursday afternoon and I was waiting outside the back doors of the sweet shop and Lick It!, where Milo and I had agreed to meet. I was technically early, because I’d been antsy and fidgety and unable to do anything but look at my watch, so Norman had shooed me away, telling me he’d close up. He likely wanted some peace and quiet so he could get on with things, and Norman’s dismissal would usually distress the fuck out of me.

But I was too nervous about meeting Milo to register it.

That would likely hit later, when it was dark and I was alone with my thoughts.

“Hey!” Milo called as he bounced out of Lick It!, excitement clear on his face. “Sorry to keep you. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

“No, not at all,” I said, offering him a smile as the worry in my chest both eased and tightened. The first step was over at least. He’d turned up. And, thanks to Norman, I hadn’t had to worry about being late. Now all I had to do was survive the rest of the evening without ruining everything. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes! Let’s go!” He clapped his hands as we began to walk down the wide alley between our shops and the ones next to us. “Been fucking buzzing all day about this.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I get to meet a snake! A fucking adorable snake.”

“I didn’t know you were such a fan.”

He shrugged. “I mean, I’ve only ever seen them in zoos or online but I love pretty much every animal. And I know they’re reptiles, but I’m counting them.”

“Do you have any pets?”

“No,” he said sadly. “I’d fucking love one, but it’s not feasible at the moment. I live in a one-bedroom flat and I work every hour under the fucking sun, at least in the summer. It wouldn’t be fair. But, one day! Or maybe Alfie and Jonathan will get a cat or something. I know Jonathan’s family has several, so I think they’re the most likely to get one ’cos Darcy is definitely not a pet person. And when they do, I shall appoint myself cat-father! And I shall take it very seriously. Nothing will be too good for them. Nothing!”