Page 23 of Thrill

He sighed and typed in his mother’s details.

“Count yourself lucky,” Scott continued. “She wanted to start a buddy system where we were teamed up at random to have fun at the weekend. Fuck that. I spend thirty-five hours a week with work. No more. No less.”

Scott threw his pen down on the desk and tutted.

“You don’t seem yourself today,” Tyler said. “What’s up?”

“It’s not even anything remotely interesting,” Scott replied.

“Try me.”

“You know that university lecturer I’ve been seeing?”

“Yeah.”

“I went out with him and some of his lecturer chums last night. While he went to the bar, they told me it would be better if I changed job. Can you believe that?”

Tyler stared in shock. “Are you kidding me?”

Scott narrowed his eyes. “No. Pleasure Seekers is not a serious company apparently. They asked me how I would introduce myself at parties if I continued to see him. Snobby twats. They need to get over themselves. We’re one of the fastest growing companies in the UK so they can shove it.”

“What did you do?”

“What else could I do? I dumped him in the car on the way home. I fucking hate dating.”

“I hope you told him to do his own dirty work.”

Scott retrieved the pen and started fiddling with it. “He tried to say at first he had no idea. Then he confessed he’d put them up to it. I told him I had never experienced anything so pathetic in my whole life.”

“Good for you.”

“He stopped the car and made me walk home the rest of the way. Wanker.”

Tyler shuddered. He might have been single for a while now but he had no intention of going through all that. Once again, an image of Danny flashed into his mind. Now there was someone he would give up his singledom for.

“Do you want to move in?”

Tyler snapped to attention. “What did you say?”

“I asked you if you’d like to move in,” Scott said as nonchalantly as if he was asking Tyler if he wanted tea or coffee. “Our flatmate’s leaving us to be with his boyfriend. Another one lost to hetero norms. Eddie told me about your current situation, which sounds like a fucking hole, sorry to say it. We’ve decided you’re one of us, so why not?”

Heat burned through Tyler’s body and he thought he might cry at any moment.

“You hardly know me. I might be an axe murderer.”

Scott let out a cackle. “No offence. You don’t strike me as the violent type. Besides, how long did you know the people you’re sharing with now before you moved in?”

“I didn’t. I found them online.”

“There you go then. I’ve got your mother’s address and your bank details now,” Scott said with a nod towards the laptop. “So, we’re already two steps ahead. Take some time to think about it. You’d have to buy furniture and a bed.”

“I don’t need to think about it,” Tyler said. Excitement had lodged in his belly. Always a good sign. “When can I move in?”

Scott’s face lit up. “Are you sure?”

“Completely,” Tyler replied. “I haven’t even unpacked properly at my place. I don’t think I could quite accept that I lived there.”

“Sounds like we need to get you out of there. Situation urgent,” Scott said. “I’ll have a word with Eddie and let you know. This is exciting. You’re going to love it. Now let me showyou how to book annual leave. Hey, we should go on holiday. Maybe November. Tanned for Christmas.”