Chapter 30

“In the food court? Dunno about that.”

“You can make it up to me by getting lunch with me, sitting in the back row of the cinema with me, and coming back to my house this evening,” Tav said quietly. Three years, he knew just how to fluster Luca. Stare. Speak slowly and stare, maintain absolute eye contact, and only smile with one side of the mouth.

Sure enough, Luca grinned and looked out of the window, the flush heading rapidly for purple.

“Bit warm?” Tav teased.

“Shut up,” Luca grumbled, and pulled a face.

Tav just grinned—and when a crowd of elderly ladies bustled on at the next stop, and Luca switched seats to sit next to Tav and offer up the other two to an old couple, somehow one of his hands ended up in one of Tav’s.

“Anyway,” Tav said quietly. “Mam gave me money for the tickets. So definitely food on you.”

“You’re a bastard,” Luca hissed.

“Am not,” Tav said, and grinned. “Is that a no?”