Page 68 of Oz
Silas’s face clouds over. “What’s going on?” he asks in a very hostile voice.
Chapter
Fourteen
I’m quite sure this never happens in crown green bowling
Oz
I shoot up from my chair and race over to Silas, grabbing his arm and dragging him to face Shaun.
“Shaun, this is Silas,” I say and grin at Silas. “This is my best friend.”
His expression clears slightly and he smiles at Shaun. “I’m so pleased to meet you. Oz has told me a lot about you.”
Shaun hesitates because Silas’s voice when he’s feeling awkward is very cut glass, but he looks closely at the man. He must see the gentle eyes and kind smile that I see because he relaxes and puts out his hand to shake. “I hope not too much.”
Silas smiles. “You know Oz. The line between those two is very thin.”
Shaun throws his head back and laughs loudly and I see Jasper’s eyes narrow on Silas, speculation on his face.
I turn quickly to Silas. “Can I talk to you?” I ask urgently.
He stares at me, his brow furrowing. “Of course,” he finally says. “Study?”
I nod and with a quick “I’ll be back” to the men I race after him, trying to catch up with his long strides. He walks into the study and I follow him, turning to face him as he shuts the door.
“You’ll never guess–” I start to say.
“Who’s that man?” he asks, interrupting me with a very focused look on his face.
“Oh. Oh shit. I forgot to introduce you. That’s Jasper and he’s from–”
“Is he an old boyfriend from London?”
I stare at him. “Sentences usually end with a full stop and a pause. You’re usually better at conversation than this.”
He doesn’t smile. “Well?”
I fidget. “Well, I wouldn’t say he was an old boyfriend.”
“He’s acurrentone?” His voice rises. “I thought you were single.”
I gape at him. “I am single,” I say slowly. He flinches slightly and my eyes narrow. “What the fuck?” Then I realise what I just said. “I mean I’m not sleeping with anyone else.” His shoulders relax slightly but his eyes are still turbulent. “I knew him at uni, and yes we have slept together, but that’s old news.”
“It looked to me like he wanted the old news to wrap his hot chips in.”
I stare at him. “That is singlehandedly the oddest euphemism I’ve ever heard.” I jerk. “You’rejealous.”
He shrugs awkwardly. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. You’re totally jealous.”
“And if I am?”
Without even thinking about it I step into him and hug him, resting my head on his chest and feeling his arms automatically come down to hold me. “Then it’s adorable,” I say softly.
His body stiffens, and he puts me back enough to look at me. “You don’t mind?”
