Eternally North - Page 39/118

“Tink, calm down. Nothing happened, we talked, watched TV, he got me my pills and I fell asleep. The next thing I know, you’re glaring daggers at me and I’m being interrogated by the Flamboyant Friggin’ Inquisition!”

Tink leaned back against my black faux-fur head frame, flicked his hair with his hand and pursed his lips into a severe pout. “Well, fine. If you’re gonna say nothing happened then I’ll have to believe you. But it sure looked like something. I entered the bedroom, and when I reached the side of the bed to try and pull you both apart, he didn’t even look at me, he kept his focus solely on you and said, ‘I’m not leaving, so don’t even ask’.

“It took Tate to persuade him to get his fine ass out of the bedroom – I was having a bitch-fit! He said he just needed to stay this one night, he only had this one night, whatever the f**k that meant. And then he finally left… in a right mood too. He slammed the friggin’ door so hard it nearly fell off its hinges!”

“Tink, why didn’t you let him stay if he wanted to? There was no harm in that.”

What did he mean by ‘he only had one night’? One night to do what?

“I made him leave as I was back to take care of you, and ‘cos I thought you had given in and boned him against my wishes. I was pissed off!”

“Well I didn’t, did I? And now you’ve upset Tudor for no reason.”

“What do you care? What’s he to you?” he quizzed, eyes boring into mine.

“A new friend, one who kindly stayed with me to let you go on a date, and you graciously kicked him out after doing so.”

Tink sighed and played with his fingers, jutting out his bottom lip. “I was protecting you. I thought he was taking advantage,” he whispered.

I moved my hand down my body. “No advantage taken. Anyway, like I’ve said a million times, he DOES NOT fancy me! He even mentioned some actress or someone he was interested in, for f**k’s sake.”

I cringed, trying not to feel the arrow through my heart at the reminder of that revelation.

Tinks eyebrows furrowed. “He did? Tater-Tot never mentioned any actress when I asked.”

Pookie? Tater-Tot. Oh, I think my best friend is about to be bitten by the love bug; he only gives out pet-names when he really likes you.

“He’s private, maybe Tate doesn’t know.” I argued.

He sighed again, theatrically this time, and grabbed me in for a hug. “Sorry Wil, I may have slightly overreacted. Are you okay?”

“Slightly? And yes, I’m fine. I have always said nothing was going on.”

“Okay, I jumped to conclusions, but you must admit it looked bad.”

“Call Tate and apologise to Tudor. Yes?”

I could hear his teeth grinding. “Fine,” he agreed reluctantly.

Stubborn as a mule!

After failing to stay in my mood with my meddling best friend for more than thirty seconds, my curiosity got the better of me. “So how was your date? Where’d you go, what’d you do, what’d you see?”

Tink’s eyes lit up and he got all mushy. He pulled the duvet back to slide under next to me and held my hand in excitement,

“Wil, it was totes amazeballs! He took me to the Calgary Tower and he had managed to hire the whole flippin’ thing. It was so romantic,” he gushed, releasing my hold and putting his clasped hands under his chin.

“We had a fabulous dinner, drank fountains of champagne and then we went to the viewing deck upstairs and, and… he kissed me. Ahh, it was a dream.” He fluttered his long lashes.

I was elated seeing him like that. “I’m glad, hun. So you like him?”

He laid back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling. “I really like him, more than anyone before. I know it's early doors but I think he could be a definite keeper,” He seemed surprised at his own strength of feeling. “Did you ever think I’d feel this way about anyone, ‘cos I certainly didn’t? And so quickly too?”

I shook my head in astonishment – my slapper of a bestie tamed... oh, there’s those flying pigs!

“So what did you talk about?” I grilled.

“I’m still shocked that we did talk... we talked... actually talked about personal things. Normally, it’s meet a guy and ‘wham bam thank you ma'am’ and we go our separate ways. With Tater-Tot, it is completely different; I actually care what he has to say.”

“So, what did you discuss specifically?”

“Everything – jobs, our backgrounds, family. He has a great relationship with his mam, dad and older brother, and is really close to Tudor’s mam. I told him about my f**ked-up home life and about you and your family practically adopting me. Lots really.