My Cutthroat Romance

Chapter 29

"Good morning." Cari-Leigh smirked as Gerard walked through the door and sat down opposite her on the bench.

Gerard glanced at her shyly, but didn't answer.

"So, lover-boy, feel like telling me why you're wearing someone else's shirt?" She asked, resting her chin on her hand and looking attentively at Gerard.

"I went up last night without one and I was cold this morning." He mumbled.

"Wait, wait, wait, you were up there all night?"

Cari's expression had turned wide-eyed and incredulous.

"From around midnight, yeah."

The look he was getting grew more shocked, and Gerard finally got it.

"We didn't do anything!" He said hurriedly. "We just slept - no, sorry, that doesn't sound right - we shared a bed, but we didn't do anything."

"And the shirt?"

"I was cold so he...took it off and... let me wear it...what now!"

Gerard was now blushing furiously, and Cari-Leigh was smirking at him again.

"I bet you liked that." She said smugly.

Gerard clenched his teeth.

"Yes. Too much. I had to look away." He said, but his tone suddenly changed to one of slight awe. "Cari-Leigh, he's...he's - excuse the pun - drop-dead sexy."

"Right." Cari laughed. "Anything else you want to tell me about him?"

"Oh, yeah! He's warm! He looks cold but he's not." Then Gerard grinned. "But apparently, his hands are always cold."

"And you know this...how?"

"He told me."

"Do you think he's trying to tell you something?"

The conversation ceased for a while

"I hope so." Gerard grinned finally.

Cari-Leigh rolled her eyes.

"Cari...he smells nice." Gerard mumbled.

"Well, he is a barber." Cari shrugged.

"I know but...he smells really nice." Gerard pressed, desperately trying to convince his friend.

"I reckon you only think that 'cause you fancy him so much." She teased.

Gerard blushed.

"I don't fancy him that much." He lied. "Why would I? He's mean to me." He pouted.

"Oh come off it, you love it when he's mean to you. Gerard, I'm sorry, but you do fancy him that much, you just won't admit it because you're a girl."

"That is not true!" Gerard exclaimed.

""Bloody well is!" Cari laughed back.

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Yes it is."

Both pairs of eyes went to the doorway.

"I don't actually know. I wanted you to shut up so I could ask you..." The barber pointed at Gerard. "To pretty please make me some grilled cheese again."

"Make your own." Gerard grumbled.

"Gerard, I don't exactly know how to use your kitchen. I've been in prison for fifteen years, stupid boy." Sweeney reminded him.

"Now you can definitely make your bloody own!" He said, offended.

As Gerard turned around to face the barber, Cari-Leigh slipped out of the room, not wanting to be involved in an argument. Sweeney started shaking his head.

"Gerard, I've been so good to you." He said in a soft, persuasive tone that was so very nearly seductive.

Gerard blushed.

"Fine. Sit down." He muttered.

He stood up to get on with what he had to do and Sweeney took his space with a smirk, folding his arms across his chest.

"Thanks love."

He froze for a moment, his eyes glued to the floor in shock.

"What?" Gerard frowned, unsure that he'd heard correctly.

"Nothing, just thanks."

"Oh...I thought so."