Page 85 of Storm in a Teacup
I follow him into the stadium. We stop for beer and snacks and then find our seats. Christ, I forgot how tight these little seats are. Our thighs are a sliver apart, and only because I am squeezing my legs together as best I can without crushing the goods.
I take a long sip of my beer, scouring my brain for a subject to discuss, praying the game starts early so we have something to focus on. It didn’t used to be like this. I ruined this. I ruined us.
David breaks into my panic with, “Listen, at your birthday, I’m sorry I told Linny about the kiss. I…I figured she knew because you said she knew everything. I shouldn’t have even brought it up, but I just started talking because I felt incredibly uncomfortable.” He quickly corrects, “Not that I’m uncomfortable with you or her. But I don’t want Linny to not like me because it’s obvious how much you like her.”
I chuckle lightly, patting him on the back. “Getting straight into it, aren’t we? It’s fine, mate. What you said to her was right. We should have talked about it then.”
“Do you want to talk about it now?”
“At a footie match? Surrounded by all these foul-mouthed lads? Alright.” I scratch awkwardly behind my ear. “Erm, I had been thinking about laying one on ye for a while. The alcohol gave me a little push. It was nice but…” I trail off, not sure I am ready to admit this fact.
He cocks his head. “But?”
“But there was no spark. I sensed it then, but we were pissed enough that I thought maybe if it happened again while we were sober, there would be a spark.”
“What are you saying?”
“That, there’s no denying my feelings for you, but I ignoredevidence that you did not feel the same.”
“I’m sorry,” he says quietly, looking truly distressed.
“You don’t have to apologize,” I say quickly. “You don’t have to love me like that. Just because we’re best mates who are both queer—and both very handsome—and one of us fell, the other doesn’t have to. Especially when he has a bloke already.”
David smiles softly at the mention of Callum. “Are we still best friends?”
“Aren’t we a little old to be using phrases like ‘best friends?’”
“You said it first.”
“Technically, I used the word ‘mate.’ But you never won’t be my best friend, David.”
“You never won’t be mine.”
I take a sip of beer, looking away, things getting too gooey for public. Thankfully, the match is starting. The ref drops the ball, and the Hearts take it almost immediately. The match is well fought, though, because the other team steals it, running down the pitch. The game keeps going.
After a particularly bad call, I stand in my seat to yell at the ref, then drop back down.
“So, what’d’ya like about him?” I ask.
David cocks his head at me. “Who?”
“Callum. Is it the hair? The hair is lovely. Or is it the fact that he is literally the nicest bloke I’ve ever met? I had a minging cold my first year of uni and he brought me soup. Like, what nineteen-year-old bloke brings another bloke soup? Him, that’s who. And just when I thought I was special, it turns out he was doing soup runs all over campus, that soup slut.”
David laughs loudly. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call my boyfriend a ‘soup slut.’”
“I mean it in the nicest way.”
“Only you could.” He shakes his head with a smile. “I do love him because he’s kind. And because he’s funny. And smart—I mean, he actually knows what I’m talking about when I tell him about my studies. But, you’re right, he is so good at the little things. Remembering my mom’s birthday. Remembering the town my dad grew up in. My favorite sweet. Kissing me like there is nothing else he would rather be doing, even if it’s just a peck before we walk out the door. He’s quiet, but he listens so well. And when he’s not quiet, I love listening to him. He gets so heatedabout TV shows sometimes. Will rant for hours about inconsistencies or wrong choices. It’s everything, Ben. I love everything.”
“Sounds like he’s treating you right, then.” I knew Callum was a stand-up guy, but it’s nice to hear it from David’s lips.
“He is. And how about Linny? She’s treating you well?”
I break out into an uncontrollable grin that I wish I could control. Myfakegirlfriend Linny. Who things are ending with after the wedding. My expression drops, but I may as well answer truthfully.
“She’s a dream, mate. She’s a little mean, which you know I love, very grumpy, which I also love, and so goddamn sweet. Her laugh is probably my favorite sound in the world.”
Linny makes it so easy for me to find things I enjoy about her.
