Chapter 31

It was a happy senior librarian who unlocked his front door that evening. “Hi, honey, I’m home! Got a kiss for your boyfriend?”

I came to a sudden halt. Framed in the kitchen door were Sam and his friend Billy. I felt my face heat, and it had nothing to do with the fire blazing in the grate.

“Hi, Mr Peters,” Billy said.

“Uh, hi.”

“Sam invited me round for a bit, I hope you don’t mind?” Billy said, his face turning red also, though it was nothing to the glow I suspected I was sporting.

“Erm, no, Billy. You’re very welcome. Is Mark around?”

Mark was in the kitchen, trying none too successfully to keep a straight face. “Simon, you are…were in a good mood?”

“Yeah, I had a good day at work.”

Conversation was awkward. Sam eventually asked Billy if he wanted to go and see the room where he was staying. The two of them quickly left the scene.

“Oh shit!” I said once they were out of earshot.