Page 77 of Deep Down

“Ah, sweetheart. You’ll get over it. Just means you’ll have to take Livvy shopping tomorrow to buy her something instead.” Trent waggled his eyebrows up and down.

Alex sniggered at Max’s expression. “I take it that’s not a good idea?” A rhetorical question if there ever was one.

“Alex, Alex, Alex. What you have yet to be subjected to is my need to visit every shop on a high street regardless of what it sells. Now, Maxy here.Heknows. And he is going to take me into town tomorrow with his head held high, and by the time we come home, his muscles will be bulging from carrying plenty of bags.”

“Ah, a shopaholic, eh?” Alex raised his eyebrows.

“The world saw me when they created that word.” Livvy laughed maniacally and bent over gasping for breath when Max tickled her.

For some good reason, Craig had sat back next to Alex when they moved from Romano’s to Crush, and Alex committed his laughter to memory.

“Are you a shopaholic, Craig?” Alex asked.

Craig sputtered. “No.” He hesitated. “Well, maybe.”

“Oh, do tell.”

“I told you, I started buying paperweights again?” He waited for Alex’s nod. “Well, I have several more now than I expected to have. And I went and bought all that new furniture, including the glass cabinet for the paperweights. It’s conceivableI’mbecoming the shopaholic.”

Alex snickered. “I think you have a way to go yet, your virtue is safe.”

Craig flushed and bit his lip.

“Tell me about your paperweights. What ones have you bought?” Alex swallowed some of his beer, watching as the happiness shone through in Craig’s demeanour and words as he spoke about his collection.

Several hours later, Alex and Craig climbed into a taxi to share home. It dropped Craig off first. Craig hesitated before exiting, blinking rapidly at Alex. Without warning, Craig leaned forward and planted a kiss on Alex’s lips, and just as quickly pulled away and closed the taxi door behind him. Alex sat shocked, the drunk feeling receding with Craig’s stunt.

Alex frowned, narrowing his eyes. No way would he let Craig get away with that manoeuvre, blaming it on the alcohol, no doubt. He’d see about that. Not yet, but when the time is right. He smiled as he recalled the pressure of Craig’s lips on his during the journey home and fell asleep to the same memory.