Friends without Benefits by Evelyn Fenn

Author:Evelyn Fenn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ace, aro, non-binary, coming out, in the closet, over 40
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2023-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

SOMEONE WAS BANGING on the bedroom door. Nobody was shouting fire and there was no smell of smoke. What was all the ruckus about? Clare rolled over, rubbed her eyes, and propped herself on her elbow.

Across the room, Ollie grumbled, “What the hell!”

“Hurry up and open this door!”

“Tristan?” said Janice, mostly to herself. Janice put the book she’d been reading aside, climbed out of bed, and bustled across the room. By the time she had opened the door, Ollie and Clare were awake enough to sit up.

Tristan and, behind him, Matt hesitated, and Janice had to wave them in. Even then, they stood in the centre of the room, unable to articulate what had brought them there so early in the morning. Neither man was anywhere near as happy as people who had mended their relationship and become engaged the night before should have been.

Too loudly, Tristan said, “We have a solutions opportunity.” He was angry and serious and stern all at once.

“Solutions opportunity… That’s what normal people call a problem,” said Janice.

“Yes,” agreed Matt. “A problem.” He wore an odd expression that blended a smile that didn’t reach his eyes with worry. His whole body twitched with suppressed emotion.

“I was trying not to alarm you too much,” said Tristan, aiming for a levity he wasn’t feeling. “Because, you know, it’s potentially a huge solutions opportunity.”

“Translated, that means a huge problem, then,” said Janice.

“Yeah. A whopper,” said Tristan, and Matt nodded.

“Tell us,” said Janice resignedly.

Tristan and Matt exchanged glances. Matt took a deep breath and said, “The minibus is gone and… And Jack and Natalia are gone too. They left a note at reception.” He held up an unfolded piece of paper alongside an envelope that someone had ripped open. “Apparently, they’ve gone on an adventure of their own.”

Tristan couldn’t restrain himself any longer. “The bastards!” he exploded. “They’ve bloody stranded us here!”

Once they’d imparted the bad news, Tristan and Matt deflated, and no longer able to hold themselves upright, they plonked themselves down on the ends of Ollie’s and Clare’s beds.

“Jack said he’d bunk in the lounge last night,” said Matt. “Said that since Tris and I had made up we might want some time alone.”

Clare struggled to remember what the sleeping arrangements had been. Ah, yes. Matt had managed to book two triples along with the tiny single that Natalia had immediately claimed for herself.

Tristan nodded. “We thought he’d been considerate until…” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“I don’t get it,” said Clare. “How’d they run off like that? And why?”

“Why does anyone do anything?” asked Ollie dismissively. “People are shit. More importantly, what are we going to do now?”

But Clare wasn’t ready to let her questions go. She wanted to understand. How had Natalia got hold of the keys when Tristan had had them last?

Jack must have lifted them when he’d gathered his things from the bedroom.

Jack, who didn’t drive.

Jack…

“Well, fuck!” she said, her swearing making everyone else jump. “They had it planned!”

“Yep,” agreed Ollie.

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