Stu nodded. “Yeah, but don’t worry. I told them you’re just a friend.” He reached over and took my hand in his, his thumb rubbing just beneath my ring. “Besides, if anyone asks you can just say you’re married.”

A self-deprecating laugh escaped me. “I guess having emotional attachments to objects has its benefits.”

“Hmmm,” Stu murmured, his expression contemplative.

“What?”

He seemed to weigh his words. “Do you ever think you’ll feel ready to take this off? Maybe put someone else’s ring on there?”

My posture stiffened at his question, my stomach churning. It was far too early for him to be asking me questions like that. I pulled my hand out of his hold.

“I don’t know,” I answered quietly.

Stu didn’t say anything, but I felt him looking at me for a long moment before he settled his attention back on the road. When we reached his house I was just about ready to burst from the awkward silence, relieved to get out of the car. I looked up and down the street, trying not to judge how rough it looked. Stu pulled his keys from his pocket and opened the front door. I stepped inside, and the smell of barbecued meat drifting down the hallway made my mouth water.

Unlike most of the street, Stu’s house was actually incredibly well looked after. Everything was new and modern, and it looked like the entire place had been gutted out and renovated. We bypassed the living room to enter a large, open-plan kitchen. It even had an island and one of those range-style cookers. Large sliding doors led out to the back garden where it appeared all the family had congregated.

“Stu!” Trevor called, the first to spot us. “Come over here and tell Reya I’m right. Joker would kick Dare Devil’s arse any day of the week.”

Stu placed his hand to the small of my back, his heat soothing even though I suspected he was still annoyed with me, and led me over to Trevor and his friend.

“Sorry, Reya, but I have to side with my brother on this one. It doesn’t matter what character you put him up against, Joker always wins.”

“Oh whatever. You two are biased,” said the woman. She was about my height, with long golden brown hair and similarly coloured eyes. I thought she might be Spanish, or maybe Italian.

“Hi, I’m Andie. Stu’s friend,” I said, introducing myself.

“She’s Stu’s teacher,” Trevor butted in, elbowing Reya in the side and shooting her a wink. She returned it with a look that told him to quit being a smart-arse. I liked her already.

“Oh well, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Reya,” said the woman just as Trevor threw his arm around her shoulders.

“She’s my best buddy, aren’t ya ReyRey?” He grinned widely, and she narrowed her gaze.

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that? You know I hate it.”

“And that’s why I’ll never stop.” He grinned before leaning in and licking the side of her face. Uh, okay. Reya squealed her displeasure and Trevor scarpered. She chased after him but he effortlessly jumped up onto the high wall at the back of the garden, like some kind of ninja.

“The next time you do that I’ll string you up by the testicles,” she shouted. “Don’t think I won’t.”

Trevor blew her a kiss. “Sure, sure, you love my testicles too much to ever do them harm.”

“First of all, gross. Second of all, wanna try me?”

I glanced at Stu. “Are they always like this?”

He shrugged, his expression a little distant, even if his hand still lingered at the base of my spine. “Depends on what mood Trevor’s in.”

“How did he manage to get up there so easily? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“He’s a traceur. We all are, actually. Or well, I used to be. I’m too old for all that nowadays, haven’t got the legs for it.”

“Forgive my ignorance, but what’s a traceur?” I asked, embarrassed I didn’t know.

“It’s someone who practices parkour. Ever heard of free-running?”

“Oh! Yes, I have. Those people are incredible. You used to do that?” I had to admit I was impressed.

Stu glanced away. “Yeah, when I was younger. Fucked my knee up in prison, so my legs can’t take the impact anymore.”

“Don’t listen to him. He’s just gotten lazy in his old age,” came Lee’s voice. I turned to see him holding a spatula and wearing a chef’s apron. Just behind him was a fancy-looking barbecue, burgers sizzling away over the coals. He gave me a nod. “All right, Andie? You hungry?”

“Very.”

“Good. And it’s good to see you again. Sorry I was a nasty prick last time. Had my wires crossed.”

“Oh, um, no worries,” I replied, not knowing what he meant about having his wires crossed.

“Come on, let’s get a drink,” said Stu, his breath hitting my ear as he led me over to a deck table where the rest of his family were enjoying themselves. “You want me to fix you up another cocktail? Same as last time?”

“No, that’s okay. Just give me whatever you’re having.”

“So long as it isn’t whiskey, right?” He winked.

I remembered him taking my glass at Renfield’s, drinking it for me. That had actually been quite a sexy move. And now I couldn’t stop looking at his lips.

“Right yeah, can’t stand the stuff,” I said, a little too breathily.

Stu shot me a heated look, like he knew what I was thinking. Then he grabbed me a beer, before proceeding to re-introduce me to his family members. There was his youngest brother, Liam, Lee’s wife, Karla, and their cousin, Sophie, and her two kids, Billy and Jonathan. I waved hello to everyone, smiling all the while and trying not to forget their names. Trevor and Reya came to join us, having called a truce to their bickering.

Reya took the seat on the other side of me, and I noticed she smelled really nice, like vanilla pods. It must’ve been her perfume. Trevor sat on her other side, continually ribbing her in the same way he’d done before. I felt a little awkward when Stu went to help Lee with the food, sipping on my beer and just letting everyone else chat around me.

“I’m pretty sure she isn’t,” I heard Stu saying to Lee.

“Just go and ask her,” Lee urged.