Page 42 of Take the Plunge

Rufus crosses his finger over his heart. “I promise.” He holds his arms wide. “Now give me a hug.”

Jett sighs but hugs his friend anyway.

Rufus pats his back. “Safe drive home. Let me know when you get there.”

“Yes, Mum. You do realise we’ll probably be in sight of each other all the way down the motorway?”

“Nah. You drive like a grandma.”

Jett scowls. “What does that mean?”

“You do! You sit at sixty in the inside lane.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Hey, you do you. I’d rather get home this century.” Rufus squeezes my shoulder. “Let’s go, bro. Hey, that rhymes.”

Jett rolls his eyes. “You are such a man-child.”

“And yet you still choose to hang out with me.” Rufus winks and gets into the car.

I exchange a glance with Jett and then get into the passenger seat. The weekend is well and truly over.

“So?” Rufus asks once we’ve set off.

“What?”

“Did you and Jett get down and dirty? You found the supplies I left you, right?”

I shake my head and stare out the window, not willing to justify his questions with answers.

“You didn’t?” Rufus sighs. “Oh, well. I was sure you could work your charms on him and get him into bed. I guess I was wrong. You’ll have to keep on crushing on him instead. Unrequited love is the worst.”

“You’re a jerk sometimes. Do you know that?”

Rufus shoots me a sideways glance. “It’s not often you sound pissed off.”

I sigh. I’m not pissed off. Not really. My brother hit a raw nerve, that’s all.

“Did he relax at least a little bit?” Rufus asks in a softer voice.

“Yeah. I taught him how to play cards, and we watched some films. It was fun.”

“Good.” He taps the steering wheel. “At least the weekend wasn’t a total waste.”

“No, it wasn’t.” I tilt my head against the window, close my eyes, and smile. It wasn’t a waste at all.

Chapter11

Jett

It’s Wednesday evening before I have the time to text Kian. Although I might have put it off. I don’t regret anything we did at the weekend, far from it. But I have no clue where we go from here. Even though I have Kian’s phone number, I haven’t had a reason to instigate a text conversation before. So if I do now, I’ll be signalling that things have changed between us. That he’s more than just Rufus’s brother. But what is he? Someone safe to explore my desires for men with, or more?

I don’t have an answer, but I do want to contact him. I want to see him. So I take a deep breath and text him.

Me: Busy week so far. Sorry I haven’t called.

And then I stare at my phone screen. He doesn’t keep me waiting long.