Page 15 of Slow Burn (The Boston Beauties)

A week in London was more than enough for me, and I didn't want to overstay my welcome at either Nigel’s place or with my sister, especially as it was almost Christmas. They both had lives and families, and having a brooding asshole lounging about wasn’t the best for anyone. Nicole wanted me to stay for Christmas, but at the risk of my mood bringing everyone down, I took a train back to Manchester, where Ali didn’t mind my broodiness and wasn’t shy about giving me slack, listening to me and advising me. He also didn’t celebrate Christmas, so there was that also.

~

Ali and I spent the Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s at Old Trafford Arena, supporting his home team, Manchester United, beat an easy opponent. I was surprised to find Breton and Steve waiting in the lobby of Ali’s condo building when we returned. Seeing them there really kicked me in the gut and reinforced how I’d been a selfish prick recently. I’d been ignoring most of the emails and text messages over the past month from Breton and Zoe, and would only occasionally respond to Steve. I called each of them to wish them all a Merry Christmas, but that was the only time I’d spoken to any of them in the 6 weeks since I’d left.

‘What are you guys doing here?’ I asked, looking to Ali, who shrugged his shoulders, knowing in that instant that he was in on this.

‘We’ve come to take you home, son,’ Steve told me, standing to greet me, embracing me in a hug, and then Breton gave me his standard one-armed bro hug.

I turned to Ali. ‘This is my boss, Mr. Steven Cahill,’ I introduced them. ‘But I’m assuming you already know that.’ I had told Ali pretty much everything about my time with them, who they were, what they did and how great they were to me.

He smiled, ‘I may know a thing or two.’

‘I’m sure.’ I looked to Breton, who wore a smirk. That guy could find any information that was to be had. Including how to get in contact with my best friend and where he lived, apparently.

‘Nice to finally meet you, sir.’ Ali stepped forward and shook Steve’s hand, ‘Drew speaks very highly of you. My parents are very happy to know he’s so well taken care of over there.’ Ali was polite, well-spoken and honest, and I felt pride with him being my friend.

‘And this is his nephew, and my pain in the ass friend, Breton Cahill.’ Breton extended his hand to shake Ali’s.

‘Nice to meet you,’ Ali looked towards the elevators. ‘Can I invite you up for a drink or a cup of tea?’

‘Please,’ Steve said and followed Ali towards the elevators.

I looked to Breton, ‘An intervention?’ I questioned.

‘My uncle thought you’ve sulked long enough,’ Breton smirked. ‘Besides, we were in London looking at apartments.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Why?’

‘Well, if you’d responded to my many text messages or emails, I could have told you I finally finished school, was offered a job, and am moving next month to live and work in London. My position is based out of London, but it will have me traveling a lot,’ he told me as we all got into the elevator.

I smiled and slapped him on the back, ‘So, Steve finally pulled the tuition rug out from under you.’

This caused us all to laugh. ‘I think the more important thing here is that I managed to get someone to hire me.’

‘Clearly, my country has lowered their standards since I left, hey Ali?’

Ali put his hands up. ‘I’m not getting involved in this.’

Over tea, Breton told us all about his job, or at least what he was able to tell us, as it was classified. Then after we had ordered food and finished eating, Steve told me it was time to come home.

Home.

He called America my home, and he was right, it was. As much as I was British, it hadn’t been the same in the weeks I’d been back. I thought perhaps it was because I wasn’t settled, didn’t have my own place, a job, or a purpose here. But that wasn’t it. I’d outgrown it, and my life was now in Boston. The Cahills were my family, and I had a social life there, however small it was. Ali would always be family to me; he and my sister Nicole were the only two main ties I had to England now.

‘How long are you in town for?’ I asked them.

‘We just flew in, the plane is on standby at the airport, and we have a few viewings set up over the next two days down in London,’ Breton told me. ‘I have to meet with my employer, get all my work visa shit sorted out, security clearances and all that.’

‘We were hoping you would come with us tonight, show us around London, what to look for, where to avoid,’ Steve said, hopeful.

I smiled. ‘Like Brett doesn’t already know where not to live and where to get the best subs.’

‘But I know nothing of curries…’

I looked over to Ali, who looked pleased with what was transpiring. Not because he wanted me gone, but because he saw that I was wanted, I wasn’t a lost boy. I’d found my place in the world, and the fact that Steve and Breton came here personally, proved to him and to me just how important I was to them.

I nodded. He was right, it was time. I took a deep breath. ‘Fine, let me pack.’ I turned to Ali, ‘How pissed will your mom be if don’t say goodbye?’

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