“Are you trying to distract me, Manchester?”
I nod, pressing my body flush against his. “Is it working?’
He smirks. “Never fails to.”
I push up on my tiptoes so that my lips are level with his. My lips are a breath away from his. “No one compares to you, Posh. Never doubt that.”
“I didn’t,” he says with a smug shrug of his shoulders. Vein bastard.
His lips brush across mine and I forget my train of thoughts.
“Err sorry to interrupt, but where do you want these?” I pull away from Grayson to find Tyler standing there awkwardly, with Owens’ box of alcoholic goods.
I step away from Grayson and offer Tyler a smile. “Just pop them on there and I’ll stick them in the fridge.”
I glance over at Grayson and his cold glare is fixed on Ty as he places the box down on the kitchen worktop. The next couple of days are going to be testing, that is for sure.
THE DOORBELL RINGS and I jump off the sofa and open the door to find Courtney and Jake there. Tyler had phoned Jake and let him know he was staying at my house, and I’d called Courtney at the same time to tell her we’d arrived and also to tell her about Ty.
Courtney throws herself at me, pulling me into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too. Come on in,” I say, holding the door open. “No one followed you right?” I ask them, peeking my head out the door and looking up and down the street.
Jake shakes his head, his mid-brown hair falling into his eyes. “Not that we know of, and even if they did, they’d just see two people visiting their friend.”
“True,” I agree. “Come through and meet everyone.”
They follow me through to the lounge where Owen and Tyler are playing against each other on the x-box. Yeah, they’d insisted we bring the x-box with us, because well, they’re boys. No other explanation needed.
“Owen, Ems, these are my friends Courtney and Jake,” I tell them. “Ems is Grayson’s sister. Owen is Izzy’s twin.’ I explain to them and they all say hi to each other.
Courtney's smile drops when she sees’s Tyler, and she storms over to him and wrenches the controller out of his hands. She looks all kinds of furious.
“You,” she says to him, pointing an accusing finger in his direction, “everyone has been worried sick about you. You can’t just disappear like that Ty and not let anyone know.”
“Yeah man, we’ve all been worried sick,” Jake says agreeing with her.
Ty nods his head, his blue eyes moving between Courtney and Jake. “I know guys, I’m sorry. I guess I just thought the least you knew the better. I didn’t want to drag you both into all this.”
Courtney ruffles his short hair. “You’re our friend, Ty. We’ll always be there to help you.”
Ty nods. He gestures to the remote in Courtney’s hand. “Any chance I can have that back now you’ve given me what for?”
Courtney sighs and hands him over the remote. She looks around the room expectantly. “So where is he? This sex-on-legs of a boyfriend you gush over?”
“Hey!” Jake says, nudging her and giving her an accusing look. Courtney nudges him back.
“You know I only have eyes for you,” she reassures him and they both grin at each other.
I can’t help but smile watching them together, it is clear they are both smitten with each other. Courtney catches me grinning at them both.
“Don’t start,” she warns, trying to glare at me but fighting off a smile.
“What, so you can tease me about Grayson, but I can’t do the same to you? Because you two, I have to say, are too damn cute for words.”
Courtney’s cheeks flush, and she gives me the finger. “So, where is he?”
“Sorry to disappoint, but he, Dom and Izzy have nipped out to get food supplies. They should be back soon though.”
“So are you ready to party like northerners tonight?” Courtney asks Owen and Ems.
Owen laughs out loud. “Girl, I was born to party.”
“Good,” she nods in reply, “because tonight we’re getting the tram into town and hitting the clubs.”
Owen rubs his hands together in anticipation. “I hope Manchester is ready for the southern invasion.”
Ty chuckles. “We have had people from down south visit Manchester before you know?”
Owen winks. “But they haven’t met me before.”
Ty looks at me smiling, and I shake my head, returning his smile. He hands the remote to Jake. “I need a quick word with Taylor. You want to take over?”
Jake takes the remote off him and drops into Tyler’s vacant seat. Courtney eyeballs me before she sits down beside Ems and starts chatting to her.
Ty gestures with his head towards the kitchen, and I follow him through. He leans himself against the kitchen units, leaning back on his hands. “I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay here.”
I lean on the units opposite him, crossing one ankle in front of the other. “You already thanked me once, Ty, so why have you really brought me in here?”
He chuckles. “That obvious, huh? I just want to say that if me being here is causing friction between you and your boyfriend, I can go. Just say the word.’
“Like I said last night. You let me handle Grayson.”
Ty nods, his eyes burning into mine. “You love him?”
“I do,” I reply with a firm nod and I hold his gaze.
He smiles and sucks in his bottom lip. “I’m glad you have someone fighting in your corner, Taylor. It looks like you’ve got a good bunch of friends around you.”
“I do. When I left here, I never thought I’d have a family again, but I have.” I sigh. “What are you gunna do, Ty? Is there a way out of this mess?”
Tyler shrugs his shoulders, but I can see the worry in his eyes. I take two steps forward and put my hand
