Page 84 of Thrill

“Yeah,” Danny replied. “When I moved in with Mum and Dad again, I opened a savings account. It was easy in the pandemic. We got so much overtime at work once we were allowed back.”

“How much?”

Danny bristled. They might be together but talking about money always made him jittery. He’d opened his whole life up to Holly from the beginning. Well, more like caved during a particularlyforceful interrogation from her. He’d ignored the red flags then. Bad move.

“Wow, talk about going straight to the heart of the problem,” he said.

Tyler nudged him. “Danny, I’ve eaten your ass. I think the time for being bashful is over. I don’t know why people are so secretive. I’ve saved nearly eighty grand for a house. A year or so with Eddie and Scott should get me sorted for putting a deposit down on somewhere.”

Danny didn’t like the direction this conversation had taken. “I’ve saved about sixty grand, okay? Nowhere near what Bruce needs.”

“Would your parents help?”

“I don’t know. They’re on their feet again now. Fair enough but I’d never ask.”

Tyler stopped. “Why not offer them a share in the business? Think of it, the Healys having their own establishment.”

Danny frowned. “It wouldn’t be the first time. It didn’t end well.”

“Nonsense. It’s a totally different situation. You should get an appointment at the bank. How about calling tomorrow?”

Taking a step back, Danny tried to shake the suffocation that took over. “Can you slow down for a minute?”

“I’m only trying to help. It’s not just a case of walking in and saying, ‘I’d like some money please.’ You’ll have to get all sorts of documents and shit together.”

“Is that right? I had no idea,” Danny replied, gruffly.

Tyler shook his head. “I don’t understand you. This is your big chance. Do you always want to be…”

He stopped.

“Go on. Say it,” Danny said. “Do I always want to be working in the warehouse?”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Oh, I think you did.”

“Danny…”

“There’s more than money at risk when you’re running a business. It takes over everything.”

They walked over to a bench and sat down. The view of the rosebushes was magnificent. Danny wished they could rewind to the day before. Sex and food. The only things on their mind.

“Talk to me,” Tyler said.

Danny sighed. “My dad was an estate agent. We lived in a gorgeous house down the promenade in Hove. We had a massive garden and my school was around the corner.”

Thankfully, Tyler had the sense to stay quiet. Danny needed to get this out with no interruptions.

“Then 2008 happened. Everything crashed. Dad lost his business and the debts piled up. It got really dark.”

Danny shuddered.

“In what way?”

It was too soon to open that up. “Not today,” Danny said, squeezing Tyler’s hand. “Just believe me. It was awful.”

Tyler nodded. “I’ve been going too hard, haven’t I?”