Page 14 of The Question of Us (Fisher & Church #2)

CHAPTER SIX

Nick

Two hours later we were sitting on opposite sofas with our laptops on our knees and Nat King Cole crooning in the background.

The remains of two bowls of ramen that Mads had miraculously thrown together from his refrigerator sat abandoned on the coffee table along with a couple of beers. Low alcohol, but still.

We were scrolling flights to Melbourne, comparing calendars, investigating accommodation in an effort to piece together some kind of plan.

I still wasn’t rapt with the idea of chasing Lee over there just to see if we were right, mostly because I wasn’t sure what we could do about it if we were.

If Lee stuck with his story and refused to admit anything, we could hardly drag him away.

And if this Marty Klein arsehole was behind everything that had happened, then he was hardly going to stand back and let us talk to Lee, let alone try and convince him to walk away.

Mads looked up from his laptop and met my gaze. “We have to remember Marty Klein is meticulous and determined.”

I arched a brow. “Really? I’m so glad you pointed that out.”

A hint of a smile crossed his lips. “I’m just saying we need to be really careful how we go about this.

Marty spent two years trying to find Lee.

He’s likely seen pics of both of us, maybe even Gazza, so getting Lee on his own and talking could be pretty damn difficult.

It’s not like we can rock up to his front door on some cooked-up excuse and pray it’s Lee who opens it, right? ”

I agreed. “We don’t even know if Lee is still there. This is all based on assumptions. And don’t look at me that way.” I eyeballed him. “You know it’s true.”

He deflated. “Yeah, I know. We could just head to the town closest to Marty’s stud and discreetly ask around. See what shakes out.”

I stared at him blankly. “Discreetly, huh? And how can we be sure word of our discreet interest won’t get straight back to Marty? The whole town must know him. He’s a local celebrity.”

Mads glowered. “It was just a suggestion, okay?”

Shit. “I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it. “I’m just pissed that I can’t come up with a better solution either.”

Mads sent me a surprised look and I thought back on what I’d said. An apology and an admission in two short sentences. One for the record books.

We shared a smile and I wagged a finger at him. “Don’t get cocky.”

He waggled his brows. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Gazza interrupted our teasing, gliding into the lounge with a glorious shirt billowing around him. He looked more like an exotic bird of paradise than a book restorer and I couldn’t keep the smile from my face.

With Shelby in his arms, he made a beeline for me. “Are you two plotting without me, because if you are, I’m not a happy camper.”

Mads answered for both of us, “We were just discussing how getting close to Lee won’t be easy since Marty likely knows what we all look like.”

“Well, now you can include me in the discussion.” Gazza deposited Shelby onto my lap, then parked his butt in the armchair next to Mads’ sofa. “Your cat’s a menace, by the way,” he told me. “She’s been sleeping on my worktable for the last hour. I had to clean up her drool. Oh, and she snores.”

I grinned. “Yes, she does.” I rubbed Shelby under the chin, then frowned at Gazza. “She was probably pissed at you for making her wait outside this morning.”

Gazza shifted in his seat. “Sorry, not sorry about the whole banished-outside thing. If I’d known Shelby was with you, I would’ve made an exception... for her.” He raised a hand to Mads, who grinned and slapped it.

I shook my head. “Funny guy. But how did she get in? I thought you kept the studio door closed because of the humidity thing.”

Gazza squirmed. “Okay, so I might’ve let her in. But only because you guys were... doing stuff. Loud stuff, I might add.” He glared at both of us. “Shelby was naturally traumatised, as was I. We supported each other through the horror.”

I choked on a laugh, half-embarrassed, half kind of gratified.

“You were so played,” I told him. “And now you’ve set a precedent.

She’ll pester you to let her in whenever she chooses now.

Just don’t ever mistakenly shut her in. She loves a nice piece of leather and a roll of thread does our Shelby. Don’t say you weren’t warned.”

Gazza and Mads exchanged a horrified look, which warmed the black corners of my heart. And as if on cue, having clearly decided she was done with my attention, Shelby leaped to the floor and headed for Mads. One pat on his thigh and she immediately jumped up.

“Do you know how much I hate you right now?” I glared at the cat, who flicked me an unimpressed look before curling into a ball.

“She likes me more than you, remember?” Mads smiled smugly. “It’s a thing. You can’t fight it.”

“Shut up.” I flipped him off, which only made him smile wider.

Gazza’s curious gaze flitted between us. “So, you two are okay then?”

Mads and I shared a look and I let him answer. “We’re still a work in progress, but yes, we talked.”

“Thank God for that.” Gazza drilled me with a decidedly menacing look. “But I’m going to be keeping an eye on you. Madigan is the best man I’ve ever known and he doesn’t deserve you shitting on him.”

Mads raised a hand. “Gazza?—”

“No, Madigan.” Gazza spun to face Mads, the tattooed vine around his neck pulsing with irritation. “It’s true. Nick’s suffered a tragic loss, I get that, but it’s no excuse not to treat people right.”

Mads shook his head. “It wasn’t just Nick?—”

“No, he’s right,” I said, earning myself a stare from both of them. “I’ll do better, Gazza.” I held the younger man’s gaze until he nodded.

“Good. See that you do.”

Mads threw his hands in the air. “Right here, guys. And Gazza, I can fight my own battles, you know. I don’t need your help.”

Gazza’s cheeks turned a deep reddish brown and he nodded. “Sorry.” But when he turned back to me, all trace of that apology evaporated in a single narrow-eyed glare that said, Watch yourself.

I’d been warned . I was half-pissed at the impertinence and half-satisfied that Gazza had Mads’ back in that way.

I’d never had a friend do that for me. Then again, I’d never had a real friend at all, not in the way most people thought about them.

I’d never let anyone get that close except for Davis.

.. and Mads. I guessed I’d have to add Samuel and Gazza to that mix.

The thought was less terrifying than I expected.

Mads was watching me with a small smile in place that told me he’d likely read my mind.

I got to my feet and circled the coffee table to kiss him soundly on the lips, not giving a shit that Gazza was right there.

Or maybe because Gazza was right there. Was I making a statement to both men?

Maybe. All I knew was that it felt right.

When I was done, Mads grinned almost shyly. “What was that for?”

I smiled and kissed him again. “Because I wanted to. Because you’re irresistible.”

He flushed a deep pink and stammered, “Now, you’re just being ridiculous.”

I kissed him again. “Are you complaining?”

He shook his head and grabbed my arm. “Stay.”

He scooted across to make more room on the sofa and I settled alongside him, our thighs touching.

Gazza studied us with a pleased smile. “So, when do we leave for Melbourne?”

Mads and I exchanged a look. “We were thinking Monday?”

Gazza blinked. “But that’s only three days.”

Mads nodded. “We’re worried what might happen to Lee if we wait any longer.”

Gazza considered this. “It’s pretty certain Freddie will know what both of you look like, but maybe less so me. Still, even if he does, I might have a solution, or at least an idea that might help.”

“Oh really? Do tell.” I failed to keep the scepticism out of my tone and was rewarded with Mads’ elbow to my ribs. “Ouch! I was only asking.”

Gazza shot me a dirty look. “Oh, ye of little faith. But since you asked, I have a little story to tell.”

I rolled my eyes and got comfortable. But by the time Gazza finished I had to admit it wasn’t the worst idea I’d ever heard. And considering we didn’t have many to choose from—read: any —it had definite potential.

Gazza explained he had a friend—a makeup artist and hairdresser—who worked in the film industry and who’d done amazing things with Gazza in the past, transforming him for Pride events and other dress-up occasions. “Not even you two would recognise me,” he’d boasted.

I needed a lot more convincing than just his word because Gazza was one of the most beautiful men I’d ever seen with the kind of face you didn’t forget in a hurry.

But Gazza kept insisting. He was certain that if Mike came through, then he’d be able to walk right up to Marty’s door and the man wouldn’t suspect a thing.

He’d never met any of them in person, after all.

We weren’t sure if that applied to Freddie.

There was a chance he’d seen Mads in person on the boat, and we’d have to assume he’d seen me in person at some stage in the previous two years, but Gazza was an unknown.

And if Mike did a good enough job on transforming him, Gazza was convinced he could get away with it.

“And you think he’ll be happy to help?” I asked.

“Mike will do it in a heartbeat... for me,” Gazza added somewhat coyly.

I raised a brow. “You two have history?”

Gazza hesitated just long enough to pique my interest. “You might say that.” He quickly added, “but in a good way, I promise.”

Mads and I shared a look while we waited him out.

Gazza rolled his eyes and said, “Okay, so we were a thing for a while. I really liked him, but his work took him all over the place and I don’t do long distance.

It was me who broke us up but Mike was super good about it.

We still text now and then and he’s dating some actor now, so it’s all good. I just know he’d want to help.”