Page 35 of Revive
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Alle had finally escaped Ash and Ginny’s living room, on the pretence of having left something in the recording studio that she needed. She was tempted to make a break for it, except Ash was trailing her, and he’d outpace her easily even at her top sprinting pace, so she’d have to be strategic if she was going to slip away. Mostly, she just needed some space from the weight of expectations. It was like they were all waiting for her to crumble, or explode, or both, so that they could react appropriately, and find even more ways to sit on her.
Also. Shopping therapy didn’t work for her. Ginny, on the other hand, had revelled in it. Although Ash had admitted in the end that it was a bit weird having Paul buy his wife lingerie.
Alle had expected the studio to be empty, and quiet enough that she could dial Spook and actually be able to hear him if he answered. Instead, she found Luthor. He was sat behind his drum-kit, playing a killer beat, so she parked her butt and listened. Allowed the rhythm to raise and then soothe her heart rate.
“Is this what you usually do when they’re together?” she asked once he stilled.
Luthor wiped his face with a nearby towel and left his drumsticks on his stool. He grabbed a bottle of water, drank half and slopped the rest over himself. When he finally turned in her direction, his hair hung like a curtain over most of his face. He reached a hand up and scratched his chin. “Nah, just felt like a workout. Usually, I do the stuff it’s near impossible to do when Xane’s around.”
“Like?”
He gave his stubble another scritch, before shedding his T-shirt and pulling on a fresh one.
Sheesh, he was toned. All smooth slabs of muscle and biceps. No wonder he’d managed to turn the head of the prince of darkness.
“I’m sure there’s stuff you love that Spook’s not into. Stuff he’d do with you, but only on sufferance because he loves you, but really, he’d be dreaming of poking his eyes out.”
A little too recently that had been everything. “I’m not sure I’ve discovered those yet.”
“Fair enough,” he said, lips twisting. His gaze locked on something over his shoulder, and he gave a nod. Alle turned to see Ash departing. Evidently, she’d been officially handed over. The babysitting would be annoying, if it wasn’t quite so well meant. Actually, it was annoying. Really fucking annoying, but she got it. They were looking out for Spook, and maybe for her too.
“What’s something Xane thinks is shit and won’t do with you?”
If she imagined Luthor would have to think about it, then she was incorrect. His smile broadened into a genuinely huge grin. “Watching TV.”
“He doesn’t—” Sounded about right for the pretentious git.
“Rarely. But there are a few particular shows I like that he’s exceptionally rude about. Dani and I used to watch together, but…” His broad shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Now it’s a guilty pleasure I get to indulge all alone.”
Now she was intrigued. “Okay, buster, name some names. What are we talking? Doctor Who? Bridgerton? Geordie Shore?”
“How about Love Metal Island?”
“Shit, really?” She clapped a hand to her mouth.
“Go ahead, mock if you like. The rest of these fuckers do, but I’d betcha money that Ash and Ginny watch it, Ronnie can name every contestant and who they’ve hooked up with, and Rock Giant would pay for a shot on the show and a dead cert shag.”
“Nah,” she drawled. “I’m not saying owt. I fucking love that show. It’s wild.”
“You know the new season just dropped. We could binge.”
“Got snacks?”
“Do I have snacks? Lady, I have all the snacks. Who the hell do you think orders in all the cheesy puffs your boy inhales?”
An image of Spook guiltily licking the orange stain from his fingertips blossomed in her brain. She’d been told a bazillion times over they were his weakness, but she’d never once seen any evidence of it. Maybe she ought to grab some and take them over to him.
“Seriously, leave it, girl,” Luthor said, clearly possessed of mindreading skills. “Sometimes you have to know when to step back. Do you think it was easy for me to let Xane run off to Scotland and rescue your man? It’s not any easier now, and I don’t fret for a minute about what they’re doing together. Doubt it’s a fraction as interesting as your fears have you picturing, by the way. No, I save my worries for what state Xane will arrive back in.”
“What do you mean, like bruises or something?”
Luthor shook his head, then made a thumbing motion towards the door, and followed her when she took the hint. “Mentally battered. It’s not easy to stand beside someone when they’re in the darkest places, and Xane feels it. He might look and act tough, but that’s just the armour. Inside, there’s a big soft squishy heart, so I get to be the one who keeps him strong, and I’m not always the best at it. I don’t mean I’m crap or anything, just that I know someone who’s a shit ton better at it. Sadly, they’re not around.”
Was he talking about Dani? She didn’t know the details of that separation and wasn’t about to ask.
“The thing is, Luthor, I don’t know if I should be grateful to Xane or jealous as hell.”
