scumbag he was.
“Uh, hi,” he replied. “It’s good to see you.” He was a terrible liar. His gaze slid sideways to take in Sean who stood beside Justin like a rock, tall and looming, and comforting in his solidity. “Um… this is Johnny.”
The brown-haired guy beside Andy smiled. “Hi.” He had a sweet face, innocent and open, and Justin suddenly felt sorry for him rather than jealous. He had what Justin had thought he wanted, but now he realised with sudden clarity that he’d had a very lucky escape.
“Hi, Johnny.” He turned to Andy again. “You remember Sean?” Justin reached for Sean’s hand and drew him closer, raising their linked hands so Andy couldn’t miss them. “We finally got our shit together.”
Andy’s brows drew together. “Oh?”
Sean offered Andy his free hand to shake. Andy took it, and from the slight wince he failed to hide, Justin knew Sean had squeezed hard. He bit back the urge to laugh.
“Yeah,” Sean cut in smoothly. “We couldn’t keep hiding how we felt about each other anymore. I think we knew before I went away travelling, but the timing wasn’t right then.”
“And, of course, I was dating you then, and I’m not the type to play around.” Justin let a hint of ice slip into his tone as the words “unlike some people” went unspoken.
Poor Johnny was frowning in confusion as he tried to make sense of the conversation.
“So… you guys used to be together?” He gestured between Andy and Justin.
“Oh yes. Until just a couple of weeks ago,” Justin said.
Johnny turned to Andy. “But we’ve been seeing each other for two months.” His voice rose. “You said we were exclusive!”
Justin winced. He hadn’t realised Andy had been seeing Johnny for so long, or that Johnny had been unaware of Justin’s existence. But his wince was for Johnny rather than himself. Poor guy, what a shitty way to find out the bloke you were dating was a cheating wanker.
Andy glared at Justin, his face turning dark red with embarrassment, fury, or both. “Don’t listen to him, Johnny. He’s just a jealous little shit.”
Justin ignored him and carried on as though he hadn’t spoken, addressing Johnny again. “Apparently that’s what he tells all the boys. I’m sorry, really. I assumed you knew he was with someone else when you met him. I didn’t mean to drop that on you now, but it’s probably better that you know. You weren’t the only guy he was fooling around with while he was with me either.”
Johnny rounded on Andy. “Is this true?”
“Of course not. He’s lying. He was probably the one cheating on me.” Andy flashed a glare at Sean. “Look. Can we talk about this later?” He kept his voice low, trying to defuse the situation. They were already attracting the attention of some nearby partygoers. Justin had a feeling they were waiting for someone to start throwing drinks. He reckoned now was a good time to get away, just in case.
“Well, clearly you two have lots to talk about. We need to go to the bar. Catch you later.” Justin tugged on Sean’s hand to get him moving.
Both Andy and Johnny ignored them, busy arguing in hushed tones with lots of irate hand gestures.
Justin held in his amusement until they were safely away, and then he collapsed against the bar half-laughing, half-horrified. “Oh my God, did you see his face? But poor Johnny. I feel bad for him.”
Sean was chuckling too. “Oh yeah, that was way too much fun. I know what you mean about Johnny, though, but at least he knows what he’s dealing with now. If he’s got any sense, he’ll get out fast.” He glanced back to where they were still arguing, in time to see Johnny turn away with an unmistakable “Fuck off,” and stalk away into the crowds. “I think maybe he just did.”
Back at their table, Justin filled Jess in on the gossip. Kieran listened with interest, but the other people at the table were having their own conversation, not really paying attention to the
“Uh, hi,” he replied. “It’s good to see you.” He was a terrible liar. His gaze slid sideways to take in Sean who stood beside Justin like a rock, tall and looming, and comforting in his solidity. “Um… this is Johnny.”
The brown-haired guy beside Andy smiled. “Hi.” He had a sweet face, innocent and open, and Justin suddenly felt sorry for him rather than jealous. He had what Justin had thought he wanted, but now he realised with sudden clarity that he’d had a very lucky escape.
“Hi, Johnny.” He turned to Andy again. “You remember Sean?” Justin reached for Sean’s hand and drew him closer, raising their linked hands so Andy couldn’t miss them. “We finally got our shit together.”
Andy’s brows drew together. “Oh?”
Sean offered Andy his free hand to shake. Andy took it, and from the slight wince he failed to hide, Justin knew Sean had squeezed hard. He bit back the urge to laugh.
“Yeah,” Sean cut in smoothly. “We couldn’t keep hiding how we felt about each other anymore. I think we knew before I went away travelling, but the timing wasn’t right then.”
“And, of course, I was dating you then, and I’m not the type to play around.” Justin let a hint of ice slip into his tone as the words “unlike some people” went unspoken.
Poor Johnny was frowning in confusion as he tried to make sense of the conversation.
“So… you guys used to be together?” He gestured between Andy and Justin.
“Oh yes. Until just a couple of weeks ago,” Justin said.
Johnny turned to Andy. “But we’ve been seeing each other for two months.” His voice rose. “You said we were exclusive!”
Justin winced. He hadn’t realised Andy had been seeing Johnny for so long, or that Johnny had been unaware of Justin’s existence. But his wince was for Johnny rather than himself. Poor guy, what a shitty way to find out the bloke you were dating was a cheating wanker.
Andy glared at Justin, his face turning dark red with embarrassment, fury, or both. “Don’t listen to him, Johnny. He’s just a jealous little shit.”
Justin ignored him and carried on as though he hadn’t spoken, addressing Johnny again. “Apparently that’s what he tells all the boys. I’m sorry, really. I assumed you knew he was with someone else when you met him. I didn’t mean to drop that on you now, but it’s probably better that you know. You weren’t the only guy he was fooling around with while he was with me either.”
Johnny rounded on Andy. “Is this true?”
“Of course not. He’s lying. He was probably the one cheating on me.” Andy flashed a glare at Sean. “Look. Can we talk about this later?” He kept his voice low, trying to defuse the situation. They were already attracting the attention of some nearby partygoers. Justin had a feeling they were waiting for someone to start throwing drinks. He reckoned now was a good time to get away, just in case.
“Well, clearly you two have lots to talk about. We need to go to the bar. Catch you later.” Justin tugged on Sean’s hand to get him moving.
Both Andy and Johnny ignored them, busy arguing in hushed tones with lots of irate hand gestures.
Justin held in his amusement until they were safely away, and then he collapsed against the bar half-laughing, half-horrified. “Oh my God, did you see his face? But poor Johnny. I feel bad for him.”
Sean was chuckling too. “Oh yeah, that was way too much fun. I know what you mean about Johnny, though, but at least he knows what he’s dealing with now. If he’s got any sense, he’ll get out fast.” He glanced back to where they were still arguing, in time to see Johnny turn away with an unmistakable “Fuck off,” and stalk away into the crowds. “I think maybe he just did.”
Back at their table, Justin filled Jess in on the gossip. Kieran listened with interest, but the other people at the table were having their own conversation, not really paying attention to the
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