Page 18 of Unrequited Sloth

“They didn’t see me. I left when they were splashing around and annoying other people. I came back to my room.”

“So, why was Dillon here?”

“Alex called him.”

“Why would . . . because you called your sister to hear her side first?”

He nodded.

“And she admitted it?”

He nodded again, looking uncomfortable. Bobby hated putting him in this position. Gabriel had done nothing wrong, just overheard something he shouldn’t have, and it had spiralled from there by the sounds of it. Bobby stood up, as he was feeling antsy. Pacing around usually helped him gather his thoughts. He glanced over at the bed and saw Gabriel’s suitcase half packed.

“What’s this?” he asked, walking over and pointing at it.

“Oh . . . I was going to . . .” He trailed off.

“If I hadn’t overheard you and Dillon, you wouldn’t have told me, would you?”

Gabriel was chewing his lower lip. Bobby hadn’t seen him anxious like this before. Part of him wanted to reassure Gabriel that he understood the position he was in, but his rational brain had disappeared from this conversation. All he felt was anger that the one person he thought was on his side actually wasn’t. His sister would always come first, which would have made sense if he was thinking calmly, but he wasn’t. He had to get out of here. Bobby rushed for the hotel room door, but before he could open it, Gabriel had his hand against it.

“I need to be by myself, Gabriel,” he said, not looking at him.

“Please, would you let me explain first?”

Bobby turned and looked at him. There were tears rolling down his cheeks, and Bobby had this overwhelming urge to wipe them away. What was that all about? Gabriel gestured towards the sofa, the implication clear. Bobby wasn’t getting the chance to leave until Gabriel had talked to him.

Once Bobby was sitting down, it was Gabriel’s turn to pace.

“When Alex confirmed things, she said the plan was to tell you when you were both home. She wasn’t intending to go through with the wedding. I was being selfish. I couldn’t betray my sister, but I also didn’t want to be here lying to your face. I thought it would be best if I just left. Alex . . . she didn’t want me to do that. She thought it would arouse your suspicions, or at least afterwards you’d connect the dots.”

Bobby nodded at him. He would have put it together, but he also would have been concerned about why Gabriel had left. Bobby wasn’t sure if he’d have been able to enjoy the rest of his stag do knowing Gabriel was upset about something he might have done, but he didn’t need to say that.

“When Alex wouldn’t listen to reason, I hung up on her. She must have called Dillon, because I’d only just gotten out of the shower when he was banging on my door.”

“What did he say?”

“Told me not to say anything, and to unpack my case.”

“He threatened you as well.”

Gabriel laughed. “I’d like to see him try.”

Bobby raised a questioning eyebrow.

“When you grow up as a queer black lad in South London, you have to know how to look after yourself.”

A rush of heat rippled through Bobby’s body. What the fuck was going on with him today? His emotions were all over the place.

“What do you want to do?” asked Gabriel.

“I haven’t got a fucking clue.”

“Have you eaten today?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“That wasn’t the question.”