Chapter 6 – So this is Conner…

Paris

As soon as we got through the door, I was grabbed quite forcefully by my friend Katrin and dragged away from Liam to entertain her and her friends in the conservatory. I didn’t really mind but I’d have preferred to stay with Liam – particularly when Katrin told me some guy called Conner was at the party. My blood ran cold. Holy shit. He’d have Liam up those stairs, stripped naked and totally getting it on with him inside the hour…

But then I tuned in to what Katrin was actually saying and I realised that Liam had perhaps not been altogether truthful at the coffee shop the other day. “He’s really good-looking and he’s seen you before at the running club with Liam.” She squeezed my arm excitedly.

I nodded. I did go and hang around at the running club with Liam sometimes. I never admitted that I just loved watching him run. The way his body moved was kind of fascinating to me. As far as Liam was concerned, I was just there for moral support, “Oh, right.” I nodded, “But what’s that got to do with anything?”

She cocked her head to one side and gave me a questioning look, “Well, he fancies you.” She said as if it was completely obvious, “He’s gay – same as you.”

My jaw dropped that she was discussing my sexuality in a room full of people like it was common knowledge. Katrin’s expression changed to one of mild horror, “Oh, God.” She said, “You are gay, aren’t you? I mean, I kind of assumed it, since we kind of talked about it that time and you’re always with Liam and everything…” She glanced at my carefully put together outfit.

I nodded, “Yeah,” I said, “It’s cool – I am, but…” But I’m still coming to terms with telling people, I haven’t even told my best friend yet and I’m struggling with the fact that I’m in love with Liam and I don’t want to be set up with this guy that’s probably had his tongue down Liam’s throat at the running club a million times anyway…

And it was that nasty little thought – that thought right there that had jealousy coursing through me so strongly I felt nauseous – and went a little crazy…

Katrin was beaming at me again, “But nothing.” She said firmly, grabbing my hand again and forcefully pulling me along, “He’s been dying to meet you – come on.”

Taking a massive gulp of my bottled beer I allowed her to lead me through to the garden. Conner was sitting on the dwarf wall that contained the patio. He was chatting to a couple of guys I didn’t know. As Katrin pulled me towards him, he looked up at me and his expression definitely showed that he was interested in me. My heart started to thump. No one had ever looked at me with such open interest – or such open desire – before and I’ve got to admit, it was really quite exciting. I smiled at him shyly.

He stood up and I was slightly relieved to see that he wasn’t loads shorter than I was. Being six feet four it wasn’t often I was on the same eye level as my friends. “Hi.” He said, “My name’s Conner, I’m uh, sorry to ambush you like this – but I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while.”

I was a little taken aback, “Uh, right…” I can honestly say I’d never noticed him at the running club. I only had eyes for Liam…

He grinned, “Wow,” he said, giving me an admiring glance, “You really are just as gorgeous as I remembered.”

I grinned back at him. Good-looking and into me? This was turning out to be my lucky day. As much as I would have preferred it to be Liam, he’d made it quite clear that he wasn’t interested in me this way.

Throwing caution to the wind, I totally ignored the niggling little guilty feeling that my best friend had admitted to feeling this way about the very same guy that was hitting on me, only a couple of days ago. It must have been the heady mixture of a cocktail, two beers, three shots and the overwhelming excitement of someone so sexy finding me attractive. I’m ashamed to admit that it never occurred to me that Liam might not be happy about it…