Merry Measure - Lily Morton Page 0,44

everyone and find other things to do.” He grimaces. “I’m so embarrassed.”

I rub his arm comfortingly. “I think the only people Steven would listen to are your parents.” I pause. “Maybe he could form a triad with Barbara and Derek.”

He shudders. “I need several crates of bleach to get that image out of my head. Thank you, Arlo.”

I reach under his pale blue jumper and pinch his waist, feeling the soft skin sleek and tight over his hipbone. “You’re very welcome. Come on. Let’s go and eat as much as we can. Then I won’t have to fork out for lunch.”

He shakes his head but follows me. The group are talking in that over-bright and self-conscious way that occurs when entertaining someone who none of them likes. As a result, when we reach the table, we’re treated like we’re One Direction before the split.

“Thank God,” my brother proclaims, shoving a chair out for me.

“Has been said by many men to me,” I say lightly.

Steven snorts as if he’s in severe doubt of that fact.

I smile sunnily at him. “Goodness, how lovely to see you again, Steven. It’s been so long since I last heard your dulcet tones.”

I eye Jack covertly as he takes the seat that Diana and Freddy have saved for him. I’m relieved to see that he’s between them and at the opposite end of the table from Steven.

Steven ignores me. “I’m glad to see you, Jack,” he says in a sweet voice.

I glare at him but Jack, however, just tries to be diplomatic. “It’s good to see you again,” he says. He’s aiming for his usual niceness, but something of me must be rubbing off on him because there’s a bit too much of a question in that statement.

Steven obviously hears that because he huffs dramatically. “You could at least pretend to be pleased,” he says, and his voice is just shrill enough for the old couple next to us to perk up and start paying attention.

“Why are you here?” I ask, before I can stop myself.

Steven rolls his eyes and looks me up and down before giving a sneer. “Well, it isn’t for sartorial advice from you, Arlo.”

I look down at my black ripped jeans and the too-big brown sweater that I stole from Tom years ago. Fair point, I suppose.

Jack stirs. “Leave Arlo alone,” he says firmly. “Steven, I’m sure if we try hard we can all sit and have breakfast together in a friendly way before you go off to do your own thing.” He smiles as if he wants to say something friendly. But the smile disappears, as he obviously can’t think of anything. He settles for looking pleasantly innocuous.

I repress a laugh, because Steven looks so bloody thwarted. He’s been robbed of the big scene he was obviously looking for.

Jack unrolls his napkin and cutlery, with sharp, abrupt motions. He then edges his glass and cup and saucer into perfect position, fiddling with the cup’s handle so it faces him. I’m immediately filled with warmth and concern. He always gets like this when he’s nervous or on edge. He’s settling for ordering the small space around him because he can’t do it with the broader world.

Steven watches him with a sneer. His sweet act is disappearing rather rapidly before our eyes. “Oh, here we go,” he says. “Maybe if you get stressed enough, you could clean the hotel, Jack.” He rolls his eyes and twirls his finger next to his temple.

My temper snaps. “Are you trying to find your brain?” I say sweetly. “I wouldn’t bother. You’ll need something smaller than your finger to locate that.”

My brother gives me an approving look. Jack glances at me and then at Steven. A hurt expression crosses his face, which makes me even madder.

“Why are you here, Steven?” I ask sharply. “You never answered me.”

He glares at me. “Not to be rude, but what’s it got to do with you?”

I shake my head. “Starting a sentence with ‘not to be rude’ is always followed by something appallingly bad-mannered. I’m entitled to ask the question when you’ve decided to plonk yourself down to create a scene.”

My brother nods but Steven’s eyes narrow. “Of course, I don’t want a scene,” he says sanctimoniously. “After Jack and I spoke last night, I promised I’d behave when I tagged along.”

“When you tag along where?” I ask startled.

He throws me a dismissive look. “Jack suggested I come with you all today.”

I inhale sharply and the whole group moves uneasily as