Rounding the corner, they stepped into Blake’s office and he shut the door behind them. “Fuck me, this is painful,” Blake said, perching on the desk and pulling Pember between his knees. “How’re you doing?”
Pember sighed and kissed his chin. It was a little prickly from having skipped his shave that morning. “I’m alright, just tired. They make all this sneaky beaky stuff look really interesting on the TV, but in reality it’s actually pretty tedious.”
Blake nodded, running his hands up and down Pember’s arms. “I know. It’s mostly just ‘hurry up and wait’ with shit like this.”
Pember hummed. “I didn’t sleep well, which doesn’t help.”
Blake kissed his temple. “I know. You were saying Immy’s name a lot throughout the night; were you having a nightmare?”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry about that, I… It’s one of the reasons I put the mattress on the floor. Stops me from falling out of bed on the really bad nights. But you were grinding your teeth, you know? Is that something you usually do? Because if it is, you should probably get a gumshield.”
Blake swallowed and looked out the window. “I… No. I’ve never done that before.”
“Stress?”
Blake squinted and adjusted his glasses. “No, I don’t think it’s that either.” He sucked his teeth and poked the tip of a fang with his tongue. “Maybe I’ll just get a gumshield.”
Pember hummed. “And an extra pillow, because sharing one with your massive head is pretty uncomfortable.”
“Is that so?” he replied, grinning and poking Pember in the ribs. “Well, for someone with such little legs, you sure take up most of the bed.”
Pember laughed and slapped his shoulder. “I do not,” he said, sliding out of Blake’s grip and sinking into his office chair. His gaze drifted to a picture of George wearing a hot dog outfit with Christmas 2021 stamped across it in snowy lettering.
“How cute,” he said, tapping the glass.
Blake sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Dad dresses him up every year. This year he was a sprout, the year before an elf. I think this year he’s got a bloody T. rex outfit lined up.”
Pember chuckled. “Festive. Your dad sounds funny.”
Blake shrugged. “He’s alright. Used to drive my father up the wall when I was a kid. He’d have me in baby bloomers and checked dungarees. Traumatised me into becoming a little shit, I reckon.”
Pember smiled, putting the picture back on the table. “Are you seeing them soon? You said you made plans, but saying and doing are two different things.”
Blake let out a breath, his tired eyes slowly drifting up Pember’s neck and face. “I… Yes. And I wondered if you… I mean, you don’t have to, but… would you like to meet them?”
Heat rocketed up Pember’s face, and without even thinking he covered his mouth. Blake waved a hand. “Forget I asked, it was a silly question. You’ve probably had enough?—”
Pember launched himself around the table and grabbed Blake’s arm. “We’ll make another cheesecake, yeah? And maybe you can cook that tagine thing again. Oh, and I’ll make someblackberry cordial; I saw some coming through on the bush behind your shed, a-and…” His words fell away when he looked up into Blake’s amused expression. “Right… yeah, too much. That was too much.” He tapped himself between the eyes and looked up at Blake through his lashes. “Sorr?—”
“That sounds perfect,” Blake said, a soft smile pulling at his lips.
They were about to kiss when the door creaked open and Caitlin walked in with a hand shielding her eyes. “Honestly, all this lovey-dovey crap is making me think you’ve been body swapped, Blake.” She grimaced as she strode towards them. “I only need your ear, Pember, then you can think about going somewhere else to nosh each other’s faces off.”
Pember chuckled and unpeeled himself from Blake’s chest, letting her lead him towards the window.
She bent down and inspected his ear before pressing something hard behind his tragus. Nodding, she stepped back and ruffled his hair. “Keep your hair loose and no one will even suspect you’ve got an earpiece in.”
Blake tensed and let out a breath. “I still don’t like this, Cait.”
Caitlin sighed and patted his arm. “I know, big boy. I know.” She turned to Pember, slowly nodding. “You’re pretty cool, I’ll give you that.”
Pember flushed. “Or pretty stupid. Remains to be seen.”
Caitlin shrugged. “Either way, they’ve just arranged a meet for eight o’clock tonight. Oil and Spice, the tapas place in town. Apparently the whole gang is going.”
Blake growled, “This is not fucking acceptable, Cait. Maya alone is bad enough, but four of them?”
Pember gripped Blake’s sleeve and looked up at him. “It’s okay. It’s all okay. We’ll be somewhere public and it’ll be a good way to find out what each of them knows. They’re more likely to trip each other up that way.”
