Page 27 of Read My Lips

“Why are you here?”

Simon’s jaw flexed. “No way to greet your boyfriend.”

“Ha bloody ha.”

He stretched a smile, and I stretched one back, and two doors over Mrs F’s dog started barking its tiny head off.

“Are you going to let me in?”

“I’m still deciding.”

With all Cathy’s stuff taken out, the place was a barren shit hole. Simon was way too posh and put together to be still living in anything resembling even the nicest of house-shares.

Laughter lit his eyes, and I scowled.

“How do you even know where I live?”

“Ben, your address is on every single invoice you ever hand me.”

“Doesn’t mean you can just turn up. You’re supposed to wait for an invite.” Especially after giving no shits about kissing me.

“I’m not a vampire.”

“Debatable.” Suave and highly sophisticated, soul sucking, manipulative, hypnotically handsome. That was a lot of ticked boxes.

The door to the kitchen creaked open, and Matt wandered up behind me, munching on the last Hobnob of Guilt.

“Are you not going to let him in?” he signed, and punched my arm. Dead blokey. “Ben, you’ve got no manners, mate.”

Simon’s eyes darted between me and Matt, and back again.

With a deep sigh, I switched to signing too, stepping back to let him in. “Come in then.”

“I’m Matt, The Twin.” Leaning in for a handshake, Matt squared right in front of Simon. I stepped back so he didn’t squash me into the wall.

“You’re Big Ben’s boss, right? We’ve heard so much about you.” He rattled through signs, half-shaping words on his lips, too incomplete to read, because that was not the point.

The glint in Simon’s eyes went missing. For half a heartbeat he looked truly panicked, then his face shuttered to neutral. He took a breath, and warmed his expression, pulling on his usual effortless friendliness.

“Sorry, please slower. My BSL isn’t very good.”

Matt shot me a confused look, but I had no idea what he was playing at either. Simon managed alright with me.

“Forgive me?” Simon signed. “I’m used to Ben, but I need to work on it.” Oh this was his very best school room signing. Painfully, carefully articulated. Was Simon Azie nervous?

“You should.” Matt visibly softened, one shoulder rising up in a shrug. He didn’t laugh. Because he wasn’t a total dick when someone was making an effort. “Did he tell you I’m a teacher. I do evening classes for adults. All levels. You should come along.”

Simon nodded slowly, his real smile gradually easing in. “Ben already offered conversation practice.”

“Oh, did he?” My ears went hot at the arch rise of Matt’s eyebrow. “Don’t let him teach you though. He’s always cutting corners.” My housemate slapped his hand onto my shoulder and left it there for a long weighty beat. “Happens when you don’t practice for a decade then pick it up again all formal.”

What an endorsement. Did you know your interpreter’s a bit shit?

“There’s nothing wrong with my BSL.” I signed, shoving Matt off on an awkward half laugh.

“Tell yourself that mate.”

“Matt thinks he wrote the dictionary. Third generation Deaf.” In their family, Cathy was the odd one out. But they loved her anyway.