Page 54 of C is for Comfort

“I’ll kick your arse.”

He turns the games console on and grabs two remotes. “We’ll see.” He holds one of the remotes out to me.

I take it and sit beside him. We’re in the loading screen of a racing game when my phone buzzes.

Spence:What a great way to wake up. I’m free until six. Come over any time.

“Do you mind if I take a rain check?” I ask Archie.

He glances at my phone, which is still in my hand. “Your doctor messaged you, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

He takes the remote from me. “Go and have fun. I’ll kick Blake’s arse instead.”

“Who’s kicking my arse at what?” Blake asks, coming into the room. He’s still not dressed.

“Me,” Archie says, waggling the control in Blake’s general direction. “Corey is ditching us to go and get fucked by his doctor.”

“He’s not my doctor,” I repeat.

“Yes, he is,” Archie and Blake say in unison.

“I hate you both,” I growl.

“We love you too.”

“I really hate it when you do that.”

“Do what?” Archie asks as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

“Talk together.”

“Imagine how much Mum and Dad hated it when wealldid it,” Blake points out, taking the controller from Archie.

“Or our teachers,” Archie says.

We all laugh. There was a reason we all got split up into different groups the moment we got to secondary school.

“Blake… I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier. I know you were trying to help,” I say.

Blake sits in the seat I’ve just vacated and looks up at me. “I probably shouldn’t have suggested she might get a toy.”

“It’s true,” Archie says.

“Even so, it was a case of speaking before thinking.” Blake offers me a smile. “I’m sorry too.”

I return his smile and then leave them to the game and go and put my boots and coat on.

Corey:On my way.

Spence:Looking forward to it, sweet boy.

13

Spencer

My hair isn’t even dry from showering when Corey arrives. His eyes are full of need, and he immediately launches himself at me like he’s done every afternoon this week. I wrap my arms around him, accepting his first, desperate kiss but then simply hugging him.