Chapter 40: Chapter 40

“You

know how cheesy that line was, right?” Curtis mock punched him on the

arm–wincing when he realised it was the one bruised from Nick’s aborted knife

blow–and they started to amble back towards the Tube station. “So your parents

came through after all.”

Riley

nodded. He looked a bit hazy, as if he couldn’t believe all the things that

were happening to him, too. “Kinda. Yes. Thanks, Curtis.”

“Me?”

“For

listening. For being there for me. For staying over.”

He

nudged against Curtis and every nerve Curtis had flared into lusty life. Maybe

it was a reaction after the stress, maybe it was Riley’s total hot-ness, maybe

it was because Curtis was getting sappy in his old age. But he wanted to be

home with Riley, in or out of bed, with or without the hat, just to be with

him. “Let’s get a cab,” he said rashly.

Maybe

in bed was going to be his first choice.

With

A Kick

hosted another celebration a few weeks later. Curtis and Riley came as a couple