Page 52 of See You Next Winter
“You stop makingmehorny. I was trying to sleep before you called.”
“Bullshit,” she says, slipping her coat on and unlocking the door to her apartment. “Your dick is already in your hand and if you tell me it’s not, you’re a huge liar.”
Chapter 40
Ryan
Cameron welcomes me intotheir London flat with open arms, and I realise that, apart from my pat-down by airport security, this is the first physical contact I’ve had with another human since he moved out. Not ready to let go, I hold him a little tighter, and he hugs me right back.
“Thanks for letting me stay. I know it’s a little last minute.”
One series wrapped just as another got delayed, leaving me with a free week that made absolute sense to take as a vacation.
Kayla was right, as always. I’ve had my head down for months, spending countless hours hidden away in a dark studio. What’s the point of making a living if you don’t have any time to do something with it?
Cameron closes the door behind me and takes my bags, welcoming me inside.
“It’s fine, man. It's so good to see you. Welcome to our house of fun,” he jokes. They’ve lived here together for a while now, but the place has all the markings of my sister’s minimalist style.
“Dude, you live with Hannah. I've met her, I know she's the opposite of fun to live with.”
“Hey, that's my girl you're talking about," he scolds. "And I'm having a lot of fun living with her."
He pumpshis eyebrows, and I pretend to puke. "I know I don't need to remind you that's my sister, you're talking about."
"What are you gonna do, try to kick my ass again?" he laughs. We've more than cleared the air on the incident at Christmas, but I know he'll probably rib me about it for the rest of my life.
Cameron leads me through to their guest bedroom, which also doubles up as his home studio. The walls are covered with acoustic foam panels, and his desk is set up with an array of microphones and screens. His set-up is a lot fancier than it was back home.
“So I got you towels, and an extra pillow. There’s an adapter here if you only have your US charger,” he says, but I’m too busy looking at the bookcase which doesn’t contain a single book.
Instead, it’s stacked with more sex toys than I’ve ever seen in my life. Dildos and vibrators, paddles and floggers, and what looks like a bulk case of lube.
“That’s all work stuff,” he says, gripping my shoulders and steering me away. “I promise I haven’t used it on your sister.”
I smack his hand away. “What the fuck, Cam? That’s not even where my brain went, you dick.”
When I asked if I could crash in their spare room for a couple of nights, it hadn’t occurred to me it’s also the room where Cam records audio of him jerking off. I know a little more about how Cameron produces his work now, but I don’t need to sleep next to a million visual reminders.
“You want to have a beer and pretend I never said anything?”
“Sure,” I nod, and I head through to the living room while he grabs two from the kitchen. It’s the same brand Kayla likes, and as the first sip coats my throat, I picture her tipping her head back and doing the same. The long line of her neck, the little snowflake necklace that sits at her collarbone.
Fuck, I miss that neck. Kissing her there, nipping her skin, sucking hard enough to leave a mark. It’s wild to think I’ll get to see her in just a couple of days.
Cam settles into one end of their sofa, but I’m too antsy to sit, and opt for pacing instead. A vase of fresh flowers sits on their dining table, and that’s the stuff I wish I could do for Kayla.
Along one wall, Hannah has a bunch of framed photos on display, including some cute ones of the two of them together last Christmas, selfies they must have taken when I wasn’t around. It’s annoying how good they look together. My gaze lands on one Dad took of the four of us posing with a couple of the Elves at the parade. My arm is around Kayla’s shoulder, hers is around my waist, and while Cam and Hannah are looking at the camera, we’re only looking at each other.
I need a copy of this photo.
“So you’re happy here, London Boy?”
“Sure am. I’m on a job at Pinewood, but once that’s over, I think I’ll make the switch to working onMac’n'Pleasefull time.”
“That’s great, man. I’m really pleased you're making so much money from wanking.”
“Anyone can do it," he laughs. "What do you have planned for while you’re here?”
