Sidequest for Love by L.H. Cosway

“You know, that doesn’t sound half bad. I do love this city.”

“London’s a great place to live. There’s always something happening here. I think you’d fit right in.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it,” Billy agreed just as our food arrived. He dug into his sushi rolls while I was distracted by my phone vibrating with a message.

I opened it up, my mouth shaping into a smile when I saw Neil had sent another selfie. It appeared to have been taken next to the steps leading down into a subway station. Neil smiled confidently into the camera, and for a second, something warm and fuzzy filled my chest. He looked so … well, he looked hot in a professional, office clerk sort of way. Neil wore his usual buttoned-up shirt and glasses, but there was something in his eyes, a comfort in his own skin that wasn’t always present. I only got glimpses of it from time to time, like when that bloke bumped into me outside the gaming sphere and he’d chased him down. Or later, when he’d slid his arm around my waist and confidently informed Dev he’d been keeping me busy. The memory sent a rush of butterflies through me.

I typed out a reply.

Afric: Wow, you really knocked it out of the park with that one, Neil. Seriously, I have no notes.

Afric: NO NOTES.

Neil: Honestly? This isn’t some elaborate ruse to lull me into a false sense of confidence before you tear me down?

Afric: I promise there’s no ruse. You look great! I’m a proud mama bear.

I hit send before I had the chance to read it back. Oh, God … Did I really just type … “mama bear?” Who says that? I spent several moments freaking out before I snapped myself out of it. I wasn’t the type to second guess myself. And it wasn’t like I was texting someone who’d sneer at me. This was just Neil. I’d spent the last few nights in my PJs stuffing my face in front of my laptop screen with him while watching a period romance.

Neil: Pretty sure that’s not possible since I’m several years older than you ;-)

I chewed my lip, deciding to double down instead of admitting embarrassment.

Afric: It is possible. I birthed you from an insecure little babe into the confident selfie-taking professional you are today.

Neil: The image of you birthing me has left me feeling rather uncomfortable …

I grinned as I read this message.

Afric: Stop picturing it then, ya big perv!

Neil: You’re the one who created the picture in the first place!

Afric: I planted the idea. You’re the one who took the time to visualise it.

Neil: This is such a weird conversation.

Afric: I know. And you’re welcome.

Afric: And I meant what I said. It’s a great photo of you :-)

Neil: Thanks. I’m glad my selfie-taking has finally passed muster.

“What are you smiling about?” Billy questioned. “More to the point, who are you texting with?”

I put my phone down and glanced at my brother. “I’m texting my friend, Neil. He’s in New York at the moment for work.”

Billy tilted his head. “Neil? Neil? I don’t recall you mentioning a Neil before.”

“He’s a new friend,” I said as I plucked up a sushi roll before dipping it in some soy sauce.

Billy waggled his eyebrows. “A special friend?”

I smirked. “No, he’s just a regular friend. But I love talking to him. He’s so prim and proper, so easy to rile. I have great fun teasing him.”

“Interesting,” Billy said with a knowing little smile.

“What’s interesting?”

“You fancy him.”

“No, I don’t,” I said, then paused to think about it. “Well, I do think he’s cute and handsome, but not in a way that makes me want to jump into bed with him. Besides, he’s besotted with this bitch called Annabelle, so—”

“A bitch called Annabelle,” Billy mused. “It gets better. You definitely fancy him.”

“I haven’t finished talking, have I? I called her a bitch because she works in a gym and makes fun of overweight people when they’re working out. I went to her gym on one of those free day passes and saw her doing it with my own two eyes.”

Billy laughed loudly. “My god, you have it bad. What were you playing at going to her place of work? Were you spying?”

“Well, yes, but it’s not what you think. You know my friend Michaela who works for the Running on Air TV show?”

Billy nodded, still with that annoying smile on his face.

“Neil and Michaela work together. That’s how I met him. At first, he found me annoying and I found him dull, but when we got to know each other better, we both changed our minds. Well, I changed my mind. Neil might still find me annoying, but he suffers it because I’m helping him out.”

“How are you helping him?”

“I’m helping him to become more confident, and that has a lot to do with Annabelle. I can’t tell you all the details because it’s Neil’s business, but Annabelle doesn’t actually know Neil’s true identity. He’s been catfishing her. I promised him I’d help him come clean to Annabelle, but the more I learn about her, the more I don’t think she’s right for him.”

“Are you sure this Neil fella’s a good bloke? Catfishing is a bit shady, especially in this day and age.”