Page 11 of For Fake's Sake and other stories

“You’re underestimating a bunch of rugger buggers and their incredibly nosey wives, who’d love nothing more than to have a gay best friend.”

“Great, thanks for that. Maybe you should’ve offered to go with him. You two seem to know everything about each other.”

“Hell, no. I can’t bear to be in the same room as them. Ollie wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Jeez, thanks Jack.” I walk to my bus stop and, leaning back on the glass of the shelter, check my phone for messages. Adam has sent one to tell me he’ll be out for the night. Great,home alone on a Saturday night.Would it be weird to call Ollie and see if he wants to get together? Yes, it would be weird. I should wait for him to be in touch.

The bus pulls up, and I squeeze in the already full deck. Oh joy, I’m standing all the way home. Jesus, I’m in a bad mood. Some greasy food and watching reruns of Supernatural sound like a good idea. A bit of ogling at the Winchester brothers never does any harm.

I’m lying prone on my sofa in a meat-induced stupor, thanks to an awesome jalapeño kebab and three bottles of Stella. The chime of my phone startles me from dozing off. I grab it from the table and swipe the screen.

Ollie: Are you busy tomorrow?

Me: No, nothing planned.

Ollie: Good, come over. We’ll have a day on the PlayStation.

Be here for 10:30.

Me: I’ll be there.

Yes! This is good news and great progress. For the second night, I fall asleep with a smile.

At half past ten, I knock on the black glossy door in an expensive part of town. My mother would definitely approve. The door opens, but instead of Jack, two handsome men stand in the doorway.

“Oh, hello,” one of them says. “Are you coming in?”

“Of course he’s coming in, Wolff. I doubt he stands on doorsteps for the fun of it,” the other man says.

“I’m here to see Jack and Ollie.” I squirm under their scrutiny.

“Oh, come on in. They’re on the next floor up.”

“Thank you.” I let them pass me and step into the tall, elegant hallway.

“Yo! You coming upstairs?” Ollie is leaning over the bannister.

I take the stairs two at a time. “Is Jack home?” Why am I suddenly feeling nervous? It doesn’t make sense. We got along fine the other night.

“No, he’s gone for a run and will be back in twenty minutes or so. Come in.” Ollie gestures for me to come inside. “Do you want a drink, coffee or tea? Have you had breakfast?”

“Coffee, please, and yes, I’ve eaten.” I look around the large, high-ceilinged and tastefully decorated flat. This is no student pad. Ollie and Jack obviously take pride in their home. “Nice place.”

“Thanks, we love it here. The owner lives on the top floor. He’s really cool. So gorgeous too. We’ve both had crushes on him. He’s just got back with his boyfriend, who is equally yummy.”

“They opened the door. Very hot pair, I agree.”

Ollie makes coffee, and we sit on the large navy leather sofa. “What do you want to play?” He hands me half a dozen games to choose from.

“Fallout, of course.” As if there’s an alternative.

“Cool.” He turns on the TV and starts up the games console. “How much has Jack been pestering you?”

“Um, like every five minutes, as has my flatmate, Adam.”

Ollie looks at me strangely. “Why did you look like that when you said that? Doesn’t he approve?”

“He does think it’s a bit weird, but he’s not one to say too much about anything.” I brush Adam’s comments away. Now’s not the time to remember I could end up getting hurt.

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