Page 100 of Cream & Sugar

“That’s not a nice way to speak to your brother,” says Shaun.

The air turns to ice. Shaun’s voice is devastatingly calm, so much so that Rory doesn’t seem to know how to respond for a second. My brother’s face gets redder as he squares up to Shaun.

“This is our business.”

Shaun stands his ground. “You’ve made it my business. This is my café and he’s my employee. Even if you are family, I won’t let my staff be spoken to like that while they’re under this roof.”

Stretched to full height, Rory is still an inch or two shorter than Shaun. He’ll be furious about that.

“Has he told you what he did?” Rory spits.

I hang my head as the other night's wounds open up again.

“Yes,” says Shaun. “He feels terrible about it.”

“Yeah right!” Rory bites back. “Freddie’s never felt guilty about any of the crap he’s pulled.”

I open my mouth to protest, but Shaun beats me to it.

“Then you don’t know him like I do.”

Rory scoffs. “And you’ve known him for what, a fortnight?”

“Long enough to get a good judge of his character.”

Rory shakes his head. “Long enough for him to work his charms on you, more like.”

“Well, he is my boyfriend, so I guess you’re right about that.”

Oh crap. He said it. He brought the hammerallthe way down. Rory looks between us for a few seconds, stunned. Then he laughs, a cold sound, too cruel even for him.

“Boyfriend?”Rory glares at me. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I say, even though I know what’s coming.

Rory rounds on Shaun again. “Sorry pal, but my brother doesn’t do boyfriends. He has one-night stands with drunk men whobarge in and out of my house all hours of the night. Hate to tell you, but he’s using you.”

Rory’s words are like a punch to the gut.Usinghim? Is that what he thinks of me?

I look to Shaun, his face aghast.

“Shaun, I’m not! I swear I’m not!” My lip trembles and I fight to get the words out. “I wouldn’t be here if I was. I wouldn’t have come to yours! I wouldn’t have—”

“You've been with him all week? Fuck’s sake.” Rory points a finger at me. “You realise the first thing he told me when he flirted his way into this job was how he was going to try and sleep with you?”

“Rory, stop!” I raise my voice but it cracks like an eggshell. “Shaun, I promise, that’s not what—!”

“You’re a fool if you fell for my little brother, but you’re far from the first. Just don’t come banging at my door when he dumps you for someone new and shiny.” Rory steps back, jerking a thumb towards the door. “Freddie, we’re going. Now.”

“No,” I say in a small voice.

Rory’s eyes go the widest I’ve ever seen them. “I mean it, Freddie—”

“So do I. I don’t want to go with you.” It pains me to say it, but I can’t fathom why he’s acting like such a dick.

Rory’s neck turns purple. “Get. In. The car.”

A tiny question mark pops up in the back of my mind—something’s not adding up.