Merry Measure - Lily Morton Page 0,9

playing on his lips. “No, he’s absolutely obsessed with everything being perfect.”

“That’s to cover up his own ginormous inadequacies,” I say solemnly.

He laughs, and I look at him affectionately. His dark hair has a bright red streak running through it and has been cut into a shaggy pixie style that flatters his sharp features. Over the years that I’ve known him, he’s had numerous styles and colours. It seems to be a way of him expressing his feelings, and I’ve seen him with long hair, a buzz cut, and once a bright green mohawk.

His tiny stature can lead people to believe that he’s fragile, but they’d be very wrong, as he’s as strong as an ox and probably as stubborn. I’ve loved him since Tom brought him home after their holiday together, and he banded with me in taking the piss out of Tom. Last month I told people at a family wedding that Bee was my brother and Tom was actually my brother-in-law. I got told off by my grandma, but my dad roared with laughter and wondered aloud if it would be so easy to disinherit all of us.

I eye my brother and Jack, and Bee elbows me. “Did you enjoy your flight?” he says.

“God, your arms are freakishly strong,” I complain. “Have you been sharpening your elbows?”

“All the better to find out if you finally made a move on Jack.”

I stare at him. “Have you been huffing glue? Of course, I didn’t make a move.”

He leans against the back of a bright purple sofa. “Why not? He’s single now. Did he tell you?”

“He did.”

“Well…”

I wag my finger at him. “Shut up. That means nothing. He’ll replace Steven with another perfect model fresh off the conveyor belt.”

“This could be your chance,” he whispers.

“Your chance at what?” my brother asks from behind us

Bee and I jump guiltily. “At a dance,” I say quickly, pulling Bee into my arms and waltzing him around as he laughs helplessly.

My brother watches Bee with an affectionate smile on his face.

“Where’s Freddy?” I ask.

Tom waves his hand rather cavalierly. “We lost him.”

I stop dancing. “Where?”

“Why do people always say that? If I knew where we’d lost him, he wouldn’t be lost.”

I blink. “Were you drinking?” He nods, and I relax. “He’ll turn up, then. He’s like a very well-muscled homing pigeon.”

“Let’s get you checked in,” Bee says. “This hotel is bloody lush. Wait until you see your room.”

I step up to the desk where Jack is currently having what appears to be a very serious conversation with the concierge.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Not exactly,” he mutters, looking unusually frazzled.

“What’s up?” my brother asks, prepared, as usual, to ride to the rescue. He watched Lord of the Rings as a child, and it had a profound impact on him. He likely still wishes we could pretend to ride horses and wear suits of armour. His armour, of course, would be perfect and shiny, while mine would be dinged and look like I’d rolled in cow shit.

“I’m so sorry,” the concierge says. “There’s been a mistake.”

“What mistake?” I ask, sidling closer to Jack.

“I cancelled the double occupancy,” Jack says, looking at me for some reason rather than at my brother, who’s ducking and weaving like a meerkat as he tries to listen. “Because Steven wasn’t coming.”

“And that’s a good thing,” I say emphatically.

“Not exactly,” he says grimly. “They cancelled my entire room booking instead.”

“Oh my God.” I turn to the concierge. He’s an anxious-looking dark-haired young man with a face that looks like it’s usually more ready to smile. “Can he book another room?”

He spreads his hands in an apologetic gesture. “Usually that would be fine, but unfortunately we are fully booked. It is close to Christmas, and the city is very busy.”

“I’ll see if I can get a room somewhere else,” Jack says, smiling kindly at the worried man. “Don’t worry about it.”

“But I don’t want you somewhere else,” my brother protests. “This is a special occasion. I want us all together.”

“Why is this a special occasion?” Bee asks.

My brother ignores him in a very obvious fashion and turns to the concierge. “Surely we can do something?” he asks beseechingly.

“How about if Jack stays in Arlo’s room?” Bee suggests.

It’s like he’s launched a stun grenade. Everyone goes silent as we stare at him.

He shrugs. “Arlo’s got a twin room. Jack could have the other bed.”

“That would work,” my brother says excitedly. “You’re a genius, babe.”

“It has been said,” Bee says without a shred of conceit. Probably