Page 61 of Mercury Rising

“Bobby,” he said. “Don’t talk like that. It’s rude.”

“Sorry, loves,” Bobby replied. “I speak before I engage. You have to admit though, it’s a bit clichéd.”

Nick shook his head. “I told you it would be like this.”

Mercury scowled at Bobby.

“Come on then,” Bobby said. “How did you two get together?”

“It just happened,” Mercury replied. “Now can we change the subject?”

Once again, Bobby looked Nick up and down.

“How is Lotty?” Mercury asked.

“She’ll be spitting when she finds out I’m having lunch with you,” Bobby said. “Fair’s fair though. She got the incident. I get to meet the payoff.”

This time, Nick leapt to his feet making the table shake. “You’re lucky we’re in a public place.”

He threw his napkin down and set off toward the main road.

“You wanker,” Mercury said to Bobby, getting to his feet also.

“What?”

“You know very well what.”

He grabbed his bag.

“What about the food?” Bobby wailed.

“You can pay for it, you piece of shit. For your information, Nick is a human being. Who the fuck do you think you are, speaking to him like that?”

Bobby fanned himself with his napkin. “Go and chase after your distraction, Mercury. I’ll see you around. When you tire of him.”

“I really don’t think you will.”

Mercury ran up the street after Nick.

Fuck Bobby and his vicious tongue. The news would be all over Kensington by nightfall and Mercury found he really didn’t care.

He caught up to Nick.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I think it’s best if I get the tube home. You can bring my stuff on Monday.”

Mercury grabbed Nick’s arm, stopping him.

“Bobby is a twat. Pure and simple. I used to find it funny. Now…well, now it’s just pathetic.”

To his horror, Nick was on the verge of tears. “This world isn’t mine, Mercury.”

“That’s bullshit and an easy cop out. I wouldn’t have imagined the House to be my world six weeks ago. Now I’m like a pig in shit. You have to try, Nick. Not with Bobby, of course. He can eat all the eggs and fuck his cholesterol up for all I care. Please, don’t go.”

Nick seemed to relax.

“Fine, I won’t. Can we have lunch at yours, though?”