Page 44 of Love Thief

He asks if I mind letting him stay at the apartment for the duration and I agree. He seems to fit in well with everyone, and he’s taken the numbers for my brothers as they’ll be in London the longest.

We’ll be shipping out very soon. Kellen and Xan are off to Devon to record for a week and then onto the south coast for a festival. I don’t need to go until the festival, so I’m staying in London to ensure most bases are covered before I head out. The boys will spend a bit of time this week in London then go to Devon and out on tour, most of it coinciding with Kell’s, but not all.

I'm on another drinks run when Xander comes up behind me and spins me around. “Don’t have Kasey here if you don’t want him. He can be a lot, he’s on best behaviour at the minute.”

“Do you think I shouldn’t?” I look at his face, the left side of his mouth is slightly pulled up. If you didn’t know him, you’d think it was a smile as it shows off a dimple. But it’s not. He does that when he’s worried about something. His ‘tell’.

“It’s just, Kell and I won’t be here. Can’t you come to Devon with us?”

I shake my head. “Not straight away. I want to be able to come on tour and try and stay there. If I come early to Devon, I might have to come back to London when I don’t want to.”

He moves the hair out of my face, staring intently into my eyes, checking out my face, watching for my ‘tells’. “I don’t like leaving you here.”

“I’m hardly alone. The boys are here, and I can always call one of that lot over to stay. They’re desperate to stay over. In fact, if it makes you feel better, I’ll do that.” I smile at him. “You worry too much, Xan. You always did.”

“Yeah,” he sighs out, “I just?—”

“What’s up?” Jonno comes up to us both.

“Xander’s worried about me being here alone with Kasey.”

“Yeah, I agree with him. Want me to come and stay with you and the boys as well? We can make some shit up, but at least it’s someone else here.”

“Christ, is he that bad? I would never have offered it if I thought it was an issue. Someone should’ve said.” I’m looking from one to the other.

“He’s a good guy, but he has fewer boundaries than these two,” says Jonno.

Xander scoffs, “I resent that coming from you, Jonno. Remember, I’ve been out with you.” They’re pushing each other now and laughing.

“Idiots.” I chastise goodnaturedly as I walk out with the drinks, deposit them on the table, and sit on Kellen’s knee.

“All alright?” When I nod, he lowers his head to my ear and says, “Has Xan said anything about Kasey?” I nod again, and as I close my eyes, he licks my ear.

“Plan sorted,” I whisper.

He smiles and continues to nip at me. “I might have to come home to London. I’ll never last a week without you.”

I shake my head at him. “It’s one week.”

“Forever!” He drops his head back in helplessness.

“Better get some time in then,” I whisper to him, eliciting a smirk at me.

“Are you lot staying? Or going?” he asks my brothers bluntly. It’s so random, they all look at him and then burst out laughing.

“Subtle as a brick as usual,” Jackson says. “We’re all going, but the boys are staying. Don’t traumatise them.”

“He’s already tried that,” says Bucky, and everyone laughs except Kellen and Xander.

“It traumatised us,” says Kell, and shivers.

The next few days see Kell and Xan go to ‘The Cottage’ in Devon to record and work out sets for the festivals. I don’t ask who’s at the cottage with them, but I can guess. I say nothing. I don’t want to turn into someone who is constantly suspicious. I just have to trust.

Kasey is a maniac, and I can see what they meant. He is the most flirtatious man in the world. I don’t think he even knows he’s doing it, he’s been doing it that long. By mid-week, he says he’s bored and wants to go out. He talks me and Jonno into going, but the boys are on the last exam the next day so have to stay in with a take-out.

I call ahead to Vincenzo’s when we’re on our way and Vinny is cock-a-hoop at Kasey coming. He promises to get us a fab booth with no one bothering us. As long as he can get a photo and signature for his mamma in Italy, and the wall of course. Kasey is happy to sign when I explain to him about Vinny’s wallpaper.

We’re well into our favourite pasta dishes when someone comes up to the booth. Apparently the baseball cap and sunglasses Kasey’s hiding behind have not made him as incognito as he thought. I don’t look up, assuming one of Kasey’s fans has finally ferreted him out.

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