Chapter 71

“He’s teasing me

too, right?” Eddy said glumly.

“Of course,”

Nuri said. He covered Eddy’s hand with his own, their hands pale and

darker-skinned together on the red tablecloth. “He likes to pretend he

understands the gay way. But he likes winding you around as well.”

“Winding me up,”

Eddy corrected automatically, then caught sight of Nuri’s grin. “Oh God, you’re

doing it too! Why am I suddenly the sole source of entertainment around here?”

Nuri tightened

his hand, a little alarmed by Eddy’s tone. “What’s really wrong?”

“Wrong?”

Nuri knew Eddy’s

denial tactics of old. He didn’t press him, but poured a small measure of raki

into Eddy’s glass, then topped it up with water from the nearby jug. Eddy

watched with his usual fascination as the liquid clouded to milky white. He’d

grown very accustomed to the taste over the last few months with Nuri. “Drink

this,” Nuri said softly. “You need it.”

Eddy sighed, but