AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 23
Carts was frothing.
That was really the only word to describe his behaviour. He’d been bounding around with the vacuum cleaner all morning, and now he was running in and out with boxes of food and drink. Solo went out to the car to help him.
“How many did you say you were inviting?”
“About thirty. Mostly work colleagues, a few from university, Dan, Poll… my best mate Aaron’s still in the UK, which is a pity, cos you’d get on… And um, a few women and of course, urmmm—Judith.”
Solo’s lips twitched and he hefted out a carton of beer. “Good move.”
Carts gave him a furtive glance. “I’m going to ask her out tonight. I reckon I stand a better chance on my birthday.”
“Why?”
“Pity date. Turning thirty and all, she might feel sorry for me…”
“Oh, Christ, mate, that means I’m a lost cause at thirty-two.”
Solo plonked the beers down on the island bench next to boxes of dips and cheeses and crackers.
Carts frowned at the food on the benchtop. “Do you think this’ll be enough?”
“More than enough.””
“Great. Can I run my outfit past you?”
“Sure, mate, of course.” Solo grinned at Carts’ eager face. Every day he was getting fonder of Carts. The guy was six-foot-six of kindness, rather awkwardly put together. And according to Polly, he had the worst luck in love. Solo hoped he wouldn’t be rebuffed on his birthday. But then, the way Judith acted around Carts, like she’d been lit up from the inside, Solo reckoned the odds were in Carts’ favour.
“I’ve got two different shirts and I don’t know which one.” Carts’ eyes were awash with excitement. He looked like a kid trying to decide which treat in the toyshop he should buy. Somehow Solo guessed it would have to be one of those science kits that grew crystals, not the Action Man with a machine gun.
Why couldn’t more women see the merit in that?
He nodded. “Sure, I’ll just put the beer away. Call me when you’re ready.”
After Carts disappeared, Solo squeezed beer and wine bottles into the already tightly packed fridge. Carefully stacked the dips and put the cheese and meats in the cold drawer.
“Duh-duh, what d’you think?”
Solo straightened and turned to see Carts doing a catwalk slink around the kitchen table, one hand slung casually onto his hip, his long chin coyly dropped to his chest, eyelashes batting.
Solo burst out laughing.
Carts followed suit. “You mean you don’t like my seductive look?”
“Maybe tone it down slightly. The shirt’s great, though.”
It was a really nice shirt, Solo thought with admiration. Subtle white and grey shapes that resembled feathers on a black background, and a slim fit that was in at the moment. With his pencil-thin jeans and shiny black shoes he did actually look pretty sharp. Tall, but sharp.
“Okay, that’s close to a ten in my books. Show me the other one.”
Carts scooted out the door and Solo laid copious bags of chips and snacks out in a neat line on the bench. He hoped Carts had thought about buying some bowls to put them in.
Carts’ second number was also pretty snazzy. A bit on the wild side for Carts, which made Solo mildly suspicious. “Did someone help you choose?”
Carts blushed. “Polly. I texted her some shots.”
Solo turned away quickly. Something like envy stabbed his gut.
