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“Trying to sleep?” Ryan mimicked and took another step towards Harry, fist clenched but I grabbed him again and held on, digging my nails into his biceps. “If you were trying to sleep, why are you wearing nothing but a towel?” Ryan yelled. His eyes then widened in alarm as he took in my appearance. “And you’re in his clothes.”
I dug my nails harder into Ryan’s arm.
“Did he—” His voice caught. “I swear to God, I’ll smash his head in if he hurt you.”
Harry abruptly faced Ryan. “Howdareyou—”
He stopped when I held up a hand, shaking my head. Thankfully Harry didn’t say anything further.
“Ryan, listen to me. I showered here because I was a little overheated and needed to cool down quick. Okay? Harry lent me clothes and has been lovely.”
“Overheated?” Ryan ground his teeth. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, Ryan. Christ spread on crispbread. I was with a doctor.”
“Fuck me,” Harry muttered. “Twenty-six missed calls.” He waved his mobile at Ryan. “Are you No Caller ID, then? Because twenty-four of the missed calls are from No Caller ID.”
Ryan shrugged. I opened my mouth to speak but my brother cut me off.
“We had no idea where you were. And the last person who saw you was him.” He stabbed a finger at Harry over my shoulder. “And I started to think the worst—” He stopped, letting unspoken words hang in the air.
“Ryan, I did text. Right after I’d texted Pam about Harry and I being in later today, I texted you.”
I let Ryan go and rummaged in my backpack for my mobile.
“See, right here—oh shit.” I stared at my screen in disbelief at an unsent message for my brother. “It didn’t send.”
Ryan threw his hands up and paced the room.
“I’m sorry. Really, I am. I fell asleep by accident waiting for Harry to shower. I barely had enough energy to text Pam I wouldn’t be in for work this morning and I was just so tired I thought I’d hit send. Next thing it’s morning.”
Ryan pointed again at Harry. “You should have brought her home, like you said you would.”
Harry squared his shoulders. “You just heard Stacey say she fell asleep here. So did I for that matter. We were both shattered and didn’t realise we’d fallen asleep by accident until, what, twenty minutes ago. But frankly, I don’t owe you an explanation for why two consenting adults end up sleeping in the same bed. Nor do I understand why an adult woman needs to notify her brother of where she chooses to sleep at night!”
Ryan swore and paced the room again. I glared at Harry.
“Well, I’m getting dressed now inmyhotel room,” Harry declared. “I’ll leave you to your happy family reunion.”
He swiped some clothes from the floor and headed to the bathroom.
I rubbed my face and then noticed Ryan properly since his abrupt arrival. He had dark circles under his eyes and had smears of soot on his arms.
“Have you slept at all?”
He grunted. “Not since the night before last.”
“I’m so sorry I forgot to text, okay?”
He grunted again. A long night at the fire had left him deflated, like a spent balloon days after a party.
“So, he didn’t do anything, well,you know.” Ryan waved vaguely as his eyes searched the room, landing on the foil packet on the bed.
He swore again.
“Jesus, Ryan. It’s called sex and yes, I want to have sex with him. Is it so hard to believe that he might want me, too?”
I could only hope Harry couldn’t hear this conversation from the bathroom. I met Ryan’s eyes and he blushed.
