Page 53 of Thrill

“Are you going to open that last box?” Eddie asked. “I’m intrigued.”

“Oh,” Charlotte said. She ripped the lid off and showed them all a selection of cold meats.

“Fucking hell, you’ve got a running buffet going on here,” Eddie exclaimed.

The common room had filled up. Tyler didn’t want anyone overhearing their conversation. He was already regretting allowing Charlotte into their gang. What if she told everyone? Danny would kill him.

“Never mind that,” Scott said. “What do you reckon?”

“I think it’s wonderful,” Charlotte replied. “If anyone deserves happiness, it’s Danny.”

Tyler’s ears pricked up. “What do you mean?”

“Ah now you want me to keep your secrets,” Charlotte said. “I have to do the same for everyone else too.”

It was fair enough and it gave him confidence she wouldn’t say anything.

“No advice then?”

“Oh, I’ve a shit ton of that,” Charlotte said, picking up a leaf of rocket and chewing on it. “I’d say carry on doing what you’re doing. Danny is one of the kindest people I know and he’s had a rough time. If I were you, I’d do something really nice for him. Show him that you’d like this to be more than fun.”

“I don’t even know if that’s true.”

“You need to make your mind up. Don’t mess him around.”

Tyler had no intention of hurting Danny. Could he trust someone again? No matter how drop-dead gorgeous.

In the corner of his eye, he saw Amanda walking past.

“Oh, Amanda,” he said. “I got a call from Sunita. We’re booked in for Tuesday night.”

Amanda looked at everyone around the table and simply nodded at Tyler. She carried on across the common room to a table right on the edge.

“She never changes,” Charlotte said, nibbling a radish.

“She’s okay,” Tyler replied. “I think I’m making progress.”

“You should be making progress on Operation Danny Healy,” Scott interjected.

“I can do two things at once, you know.”

“I bet you can,” Eddie answered.

They all collapsed into laughter.

The next day and Tyler was driving across town. He’d had to get the bus to his lock-up just to pick the car up. Eddie was right. Tyler either had to make a more permanent arrangement or get rid. He gripped the steering wheel at the mere thought. He wasn’t ready to part with his baby yet.

His insides were doing a cha-cha-cha as he tried to focus on the road. Today, he was heading to Danny’s. After hours of deliberation, he’d taken Charlotte’s advice and asked Danny on an actual date. The evening had been spent shopping for perfect picnic items. Eddie had given him a hand—Scott had been out for a drink with a train driver.

The fruits of their labour were packed in a cardboard box on the back seat.

Fuck, I hope I’ve not gone overboard.

Eddie had been totally supportive. When Scott had come up for air that morning and sent his train driver home, he had been aghast.

Still, the deed had been done then.

The satnav directed him to a scruffy street deep in suburbia. It could be a million miles from the sea front road he now lived on. Danny stood on the corner. As usual, Tyler felt a tingle right up his spine when he saw him.