My parents exchanged a look of confusion, as if I was an imposter at their breakfast table.
“Hunter was telling us about your night out,” Dad said. “Is there anything you’d like to tell us?”
“Like what?” I asked, casting a puzzled glance at Hunter.
“Leon,” Mum said, pointedly.
“Oh, him..”
“Yes. Why didn’t you mention it?”
“Well, you didn’t give me much of a chance, but also, I forgot.”
That much was true. Leon’s appearance really soured our good time for a while, but I was so used to him popping up at random intervals, I’d become skilled at pushing him to the back of my mind. Plus, with everything that happened with Jesse, Leon just wasn’t in my head.
“Is Georgia okay?” Dad asked. “I know how she hates talking about him.”
You don’t know the half of it.
“Georgia’s fine,” I insisted. “Leon didn’t hang around for long, and he didn’t do anything that would be a cause for concern. Elliott saw him off.”
I had no idea why Hunter even brought him up in front of my parents. Leon had done many more disturbing things in the past. The things he said in the restaurant counted as polite conversation where he was concerned.
“I was worried about you,” Hunter said, sensing my irritation. “About both of you. I didn’t like the way he looked at you.”
For someone who’d spent so little time with us, he had slotted into our family as if he‘d been here forever. We’d always been as close as it’s possible to be when you’re in different countries, but I hadn’t expected him to be so concerned about Leon based on that one tiny incident.
Unless we aren’t as good at hiding our discomfort as we think.
I smiled at him. “I appreciate it, but honestly, we can handle him.”
Dad studied me, his brow furrowed. “Was he looking at you?”
“Well, yes, but I don’t think he’s going to start bothering me too.”
“If he does, I want you to let me know.”
I nodded, but it wasn’t worth telling him, even if Leon did decide to start harassing me. Nothing could be done unless Leon harmed us. It was unfortunate, but unless he seemed like a real, genuine threat rather than a horny college guy, nobody would take a complaint seriously. At least, that’s how Georgia sa
w it.
Hunter gave me an apologetic smile, but it was lost on me because Jesse walked into the kitchen, making me forget everything else. I felt my cheeks colouring as I took in his early morning appearance. I loved the way his blond hair was always messed up at breakfast time, and how he looked a little bleary-eyed, but still completely gorgeous.
There were two vacant seats at the table, and Jesse chose the one directly opposite me which made me both happy and nervous. I hadn’t thought about telling everyone that we planned to go out, and if they caught us exchanging secret smiles, questions would be asked. Even so, at some point during the day, it would come up.
“Good morning,” he said, reaching for the Cornflakes. “How is everyone today?”
“Fine, thank you,” Mum answered. “I expected you boys to have hangovers today!”
Jesse laughed. “No ma’am, we only had one beer each.”
“I’m impressed. I felt sure you’d both get carried away!”
“Aunt Janet,” Hunter said, with mock hurt. “What kind of badly brought up boys do you think we are?”
“I think,” she laughed, “you are well brought up boys who are legally allowed to get drunk. You wouldn’t be typical eighteen-year-olds if you didn’t think about it.”
“We thought about it, but we are far too polite to puke all over your carpets.”