“There he is! Where’ve you been hiding then, son?” Sean walked over to me, grinning and holding out his arms for a fatherly hug when he saw me coming across the forecourt of the garage.
“Just took a bit of time away, Sean. But I’m back now.”
He held me tightly, giving me a proper hug to show he’d missed me. Then as he pulled away, he patted my arm.
“It’s good to have you back. Don’t leave it so long next time, okay? You’re a part of this family, Brandon. We’ve missed having you at our table.”
“I’ve gotta admit, I’ve missed Connor’s Sunday roasts.” I joked. I’d missed the family more.
“There’ll be a plate with your name on it this weekend, lad. I’ll tell him to do extra Yorkshire puddings, just for you.” He rubbed his hands together. This man knew the quickest way to my heart.
“It’s a date. Is Ryan in the office?” I asked, pointing towards the building.
“No, it’s his day off. He’s in the house,” he replied, nodding over to his home next door. “You might want to knock first though. He’s with Emily.” He winked and then laughed as he sauntered off back to his workshop.
I hadn’t seen Emily since that night. I suppose now was as good a time as any to get that meeting over with.
I didn’t bother with the front door, I never had. Instead, I opened the side-gate and walked into the garden and then gave a little knock at the back door. I saw Ryan walk through into the kitchen, and when he saw me his face dropped, then he righted himself and waved me in.
“It’s already open, mate. Come in.”
I went in, flicking the kettle on as I walked past it, and grabbed some mugs out of the cupboards. You see, Ryan’s house was like my own. In fact, growing up I felt more at home here than I did at my nan’s.
“You want a coffee?” I asked him as he sat at his kitchen table, eyeing me with suspicion.
“Yeah. There’s some of those latte things that Emily likes in the cupboard too. Maybe make her one while you’re at it?”
I opened the cupboard again, grabbing the box but not having the first clue what I was doing with them. I took a coffee pod out and went to tear open the lid, only to hear Emily shout out, “Not like that. You’ve gotta put it in the machine first.”
I turned to watch her take it out of my hands and then give me a smile. There was a new coffee machine on the side that hadn’t been there the last time I’d visited. Emily got to work setting it up and making her own drink. I just stood there, staring, feeling like a complete fool. It seemed to be a running theme for me.
“Sorry. I’m shit at making hot drinks.” I shrugged.
“It’s okay.” Her smile grew wide and it still lit up the room, but it didn’t make me feel the way it used to.
Emily’s smiles used to give me a warm feeling inside. Now… not so much. I mean, she was still nice to look at, but she was my best friend’s girlfriend. Watching her stir her coffee while he looked across the room at her like the sun shone out of her ass made me realise that me and her would never have worked. She was always Ryan’s girl.
Ryan must’ve mistaken my staring for something else because he cleared his throat, and in an irritated tone, he snapped, “What do you want, Brandon?”
“I’m lost, mate.” I never had any filter when it came to the lads. I always said it like it was. “I fucked up and I have no idea what I’m supposed to do next.”
“Brandon, you’ve fucked up so many times I’m surprised you even notice the difference these days,” he said, and Emily tutted at him.
“Ryan! Brandon’s come here for help. I don’t think he needs to hear that.”
“Whatever.” Ryan rolled his eyes and then he leant back in his seat. “Come on then. What’s happened this time?”
He motioned for me to sit down, and so I did.
“Em, babe. Give us a few minutes, yeah?” he said, dismissing Emily. But I didn’t want her to go. I figured she’d have just as good an insight into what I should do as Ryan would.
“She can stay,” I told him.
“You sure?” He looked at Emily as he said it. I think he was worried about how she’d feel staying in here with me.
“I think Em might give better advice than you, mate,” I said to justify her presence at the table.
He laughed and Emily smirked as she sat in the chair next to him.