Page 24 of Goldilocks

Connor grinned to himself as Nick squirmed, suddenly in the hot seat.

Sam bumped Connor’s shoulder. “You’re mean.”

“And? Who’s gonna stop me?” Connor asked him, speaking low so only Sam would hear. He grinned like an actual devil, and Sam rolled his eyes, trying not to smile back at him.

“Mary is right about you.”

“Mary has always been right about me,” Connor agreed readily.

Adonis placed his chin on Connor’s shoulder, nudging his way into their private conversation. “What is a tattoo? I must know so I can sink Sam’s puny boat.”

Connor hunched over, shoulders trembling as he laughed. Sam groaned as he leaned back in his chair. “Seriously? I thought you liked me.Puny?”

Connor coughed, and his eyes were watery as he straightened. “Well, if you compare it to mine…”

“Connor big. Big d—”

Connor’s hand shot up to cover Adonis’s mouth. Sam had heard Adonis comment on Connor’s dick size enough times to know exactly what he was about to say.

“I can’t bring you anywhere,” Connor said. But he was still grinning, still amused. And Sam couldn’t drudge up even the tiniest malevolent thought, not the smallest speck of hurt, because Connor in good form was infectious as hell. “Come get drunk with me later,” Connor said, bumping Sam’s shoulder again.

“You can’t get drunk.”

“But I have fun watching you get drunk.”

“If you do my readings for me, I might,” Sam bargained. He would never ever let Connor read any of his assignments. The thought of anyone seeing even one mistake-laden paragraph left him shivering in horror. But having Connor read something assigned to him and then telling him about it was actually extremely helpful. Especially because Connor would start telling Sam about any cross-references he came across in the texts, and sometimes he would talk about what the inspiration likely was.

Connor would probably ace every single class Sam took without even trying if it was him doing the course. Though he doubted Connor would ever bother with college. He liked reading and learning, but he clearly didn’t need anyone – professor or college – to rate his knowledge. He didn’t need any validation.

Sam was envious of his freedom. He’d never read a single one of the thick texts his courses demanded if he didn’t want to be graded a pass. If he didn’t crave that validation with a sad desperation he would never admit to anyone.

Chapter Eight

“You’ve got interesting friends,” Ivan said as they stepped out of the pub.

Sam winced. “I didn’t mean to ignore you guys.”

Ivan clapped his hand on his shoulder and cast him a friendly smile. “No worries, nobody was left out. And I’m sure Eric is happy to see you have a lot of friends. Very interesting friends,” Ivan said again, and this time, his gaze was on Connor and Adonis. They were still at the table talking with Nick. “He was on the news, wasn’t he?”

“You probably saw his face at some point.”

“With that conspiracy?”

Sam looked to where Eric was at the bar, chatting with Trevor and Sally. Sam didn’t need to hear them to know what the discussion was about. Eric was trying to pay for his and Ivan’s food, and Trevor wasn’t letting him. Sam usually snuck a fiver or a tenner into one of the brothers’ pockets when it happened. Laurence was the easiest mark.

Sam hummed noncommittally.

“Alright, I won’t pry,” Ivan said.

Eric broke away from the bar and joined them at the door.

“He didn’t let you pay?” Sam checked.

“Sally was the one who didn’t let me,” Eric said. “Said it was a gift. Sounds like she wasn’t going to charge anybody else from the table either. How she manages to keep this place running when she’s not accepting money is beyond me.” His scowl was equal parts annoyance and worry.

“She always gives Connor special treatment,” Sam said, falling into step with the both of them as they walked toward the parking lot. And he had no doubt, with Laurence working in the kitchen, that he’d totally won her over too. It was hard not to like him. “It’s always packed here in the summer, so she does just fine.” Sam wanted to ask, ‘Sosheremembered you too?’ but held back. The fact that Sam didn’t remember Eric had clearly hurt his feelings, and Sam wasn’t mean enough to press against the bruise…again.

“Should we go for a drive?” Ivan suggested as they reached their car. “You guys can show me the sights?”