Page 85 of The Good Neighbour

“Babe. Are you there?”

Fuck. It’s Hugh.

Things were bad enough without him finding Winston was still in London and paying Josh a visit. Quick as a flash, Josh pushed Winston into the toilet.

“Stay there. Don’t make a sound. I mean it, Winston, or believe me, you won’t get a penny more than you’re owed.”

He slammed the door shut in the nick of time as Hugh made it to the top of the stairs.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Hugh asked.

“No. I was in the loo.”

Josh crossed the room and flung his arms around Hugh. He hugged him tightly.

“Hey what’s this?” Hugh said, “Not that I’m complaining.”

“I needed to feel you.”

Eventually, he extracted himself and walked Hugh over to the sofas.

“It’s very cosy in here,” Hugh said.

“Suzanne has gone out to get food and wine,” Josh explained. “I’ve got another few hours of slaving away, I’m afraid.”

Hugh perched on the arm of the sofa and nuzzled into Josh’s body. He prayed Hugh wouldn’t pick up on how fast his heart was hammering away.

“She beat me to it,” he said, looking up at Josh. “I was going to offer to get you both whatever you needed.”

Josh ran his hands through Hugh’s curls. This man was perfection.

Then his blood ran cold when he heard the toilet door open. Hugh ducked his head around the side of Josh’s body and his face went pale.

“What the fuck?”

Josh turned and to his horror a naked Winston stood in the doorway.

“You got dressed already?” Winston said. “Oh shit, sorry, Hugh. I didn’t see you there.”

With a force, Hugh shoved Josh away and leapt to his feet.

“I can’t believe you’d do this,” he stammered. “You’re a lying fucking bastard.”

The sheer pain on his face mainlined straight to Josh’s heart. He wanted to scoop him up in his arms and never let him go. Instead, he remained absolutely rigid.

“I didn’t do anything,” Josh said. “Winston, tell him the truth.”

Winston had wandered farther into the room.

“And get fucking dressed, Winston.”

“No, Winston. You seem quite at home,” Hugh said. “I’ll leave you both to it.”

“Hugh, please,” Josh pleaded. “He’s being a conniving shit. Nothing has happened.”

Hugh was crossing the room now. He stopped and glanced down at Winston’s crotch.

“Not bad,” he sneered. “I hate to tell you that Josh will be settling. Maybe you can discuss it in bed.”