Nothing Serious by Northcote Jay

Author:Northcote, Jay [Northcote, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2013-10-21T13:00:00+00:00

DINNER was a noisy, riotous affair. The kitchen table had been extended to fit all of them around it, but it was still a squash. Mark had Jamie on one side, which he was grateful for, and Jeff on the other. Jeff appeared to be a man of few words, while Lynn did the talking for the both of them; but the few words Jeff did exchange with Mark were perfectly pleasant, so Mark gradually relaxed around him.

Jamie’s younger sister, Laura, was seated opposite Mark. She’d grinned at him when they were introduced and looked him over with obvious interest; but she had put him at his ease by chatting away happily when he’d asked her about school. She was taking maths, physics, and further maths and was thinking about applying to study engineering at university.

“At least I’m used to being surrounded by men after growing up with two brothers, so being one of relatively few girls on my course won’t be a problem. I know how to handle them.”

“I feel sorry for them already.” Ryan chuckled. “They won’t know what hit ’em.”

The food was wonderful. Lynn was obviously used to catering for huge appetites so there was an enormous joint of roast beef, piles of crispy Yorkshire puddings, and a bowl of mashed potatoes to supplement the roast ones Mark had seen Lynn turning earlier. Mark didn’t think he’d have room to eat anything else, but when she produced an enormous trifle, it would have been rude to refuse.

Once the meal was over, they all pitched in with the clearing up—apart from Lynn, who was barred from the kitchen, having been in it for hours cooking—and Debbie, who needed to go and feed Luke again. He’d been sleeping like an angel all through dinner but had now woken up and was yelling his head off again.

Jeff took charge of loading the dishwasher while Laura cleared the table. Ryan washed the pots and pans, Mark dried, and Jamie put everything away. The kitchen really wasn’t big enough for five people to work in, but they managed somehow, and it didn’t take long to get it tidy with all hands on deck.

Afterward, they all squeezed into the living room and drank cups of tea and coffee. Top Gear was on TV in the background but nobody was paying much attention to it. With four people squashed onto a three-seater sofa, Mark ended up jammed between Jamie and the armrest and was very aware of the heat and hardness of Jamie’s thigh against his own. When he felt Jamie’s hand on his knee, Mark’s heart leapt in his chest. He glanced sideways, cautiously. Jamie just smiled at him and squeezed lightly, but he didn’t take his hand away. Mark felt as though everyone in the room must be looking at them, but when he dared to glance around, nobody seemed interested in where Jamie’s hand was if they’d even noticed. Mark looked back at Jamie and returned his smile.

“I think we’d better make a move.

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