Page 36 of Toy Boy

“Hey. You busy? Or is that a stupid question?”

I look up and smile as Tim pokes his head around my office door. “I’ve got a few minutes before my next surgery. Everything okay? Come in, close the door. Help yourself to coffee.”

I get up and come out front of my desk, leaning against it and crossing my arms as Tim fixes himself a drink.

“Want one?”

I shake my head, I’ve had enough caffeine for one morning.

“I was just on my way into town so I thought I’d pop in and see how you were doing. I haven’t seen you for a couple of days.”

“I’m fine. Better since I got my teeth back into work.”

“Good…” He sips his coffee and I narrow my eyes as I watch him, it’s obvious he’s got something else to say. “Have you seen any more of Megan?”

And there it is. “No. I haven’t. Is she alright?”

“As far as I know. I haven’t seen much of her these past couple of days, either. Every time I’ve popped into the café she hasn’t beenaround.”

I look down, my arms tightening against my chest. “The other evening, at The Swan…” I raise my gaze, and look right at Tim. “I saw her – Megan – with another man. A younger man. Dark-blond hair, heavy stubble… He doesn’t look familiar, but then I haven’t been back here all that long, so…”

“You must mean Xander. Xander Johansson. He’s been here a couple of weeks now, he’s looking after Ray’s surf shop for the summer.”

“Do you know much about him?”

Tim frowns. “Is there a reason why I should?”

My gaze dips briefly, and I shake my head. “I just wondered if he was a friend of Megan’s.”

“What’s wrong, Scott?”

I look up, my arms still tightly crossed. “Is he a friend of hers, Tim?”

Tim narrows his eyes, and for a moment he stays silent. I think he’s wondering whether he should entertain this conversation, or walk away from it. I’m hoping it’s the former.

“I have no idea.”

I sigh, and finally uncross my arms, dragging a hand across the back of my neck. “The way he was leaning into her, the way they were looking at each other…” I turn my head away, just for a moment, and I take a deep breath. “They looked close. Like that wasn’t the first time they’d spoken to each other.”

“Maybe it wasn’t. He seems like a pretty friendly guy, to be honest, and the surf shop’s not too far away from the café, he’s probably popped in for something to eat and they got chatting. He’s new in town. He’s probably just getting to know everyone.”

Some more than others.

“Besides, it’s not really your business, Scott. Is it?”

I look at him, and he knows what this is doing to me.

“I know,” I sigh. “I know. But being back here… She’s everywhere, Tim. And I can’t ignore that.” I drop my head and shake it. I’m done. Nothing’s worked out quite how I’d wanted it to, but I’m sick of pretending now. Sick of lying to people who know I was never telling the truth in the first place. But then, the truth, it isn’t always something everyone needs to know.

“You really do want her back, don’t you?”

Tim’s asking a question he already knows the answer to. He knew the answer to it the second I got back here. But I nod anyway.

“Yes. I do.”

Tim’s sigh is heavy and loaded with frustration, and I get that he’s my friend – that he’s Megan’s friend – but this ismylife. My fight. No one gets to tell me what to do as far as Megan’s concerned, not anymore. No one.

“She’s moved on, Scott. This isn’t fair on her, she doesn’t need…”

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