June, Reimagined (51)
After a hot shower, a change of clothes, and some much-needed food, June had walked to the pub with Angus, David, and Eva. Lennox was nowhere to be seen. June doubted he’d come after their awkward, silent car ride home and brisk goodbye.
It didn’t matter, anyway. June had given herself a pep talk in the shower. For the next few days, her priority was Matt. He deserved that. Her emotions had been clouded by Max’s temporary disappearance, but nothing had changed. Lennox had still kicked her out of his bed the moment he was done with her. She may not have heeded his warning then, but she wouldn’t forget it now.
June had deserted Matt for reasons she felt guilty about. Even if his sudden presence would have landed awkwardly at the best of times, and even if her mind was preoccupied with Lennox, it was unfair to avoid Matt. Her feelings and problems could not infringe on his visit. He had traveled so far and brought June nothing but love and gifts.
Anderson’s Pub was bustling when Matt and Amelia walked in, shopping bags in hand. Eva waved at them as June gathered her confidence. Matt sat down next to her, and Amelia took her own seat.
“Nice to see you again, Matt,” Eva said. “I see you did some shopping.”
Matt set his bags at the foot of his chair with a thud. “I have no fucking control in a used bookstore.” He slipped out of his coat and scarf and draped them on the chair.
“We stopped at a few other stores as well,” Amelia said. “I also thought it necessary he go home with plenty of souvenirs.” She pulled a blue, green, and red tartan balmoral cap from one of the bags and fitted it to Matt’s head, the pom-pom slightly askew. “Doesn’t he look brilliant?”
Matt whispered to June, “I thought you’d appreciate the tackiness.”
“I do.” June honked the pom-pom.
“He looks like a fucking wanker if you ask me,” Angus said curtly, elbows on the table, his sleeves rolled halfway up his arms, exposing the Celtic cross tattoo on his muscled forearm.
“Ignore Angus,” Amelia said. “He’s just jealous. He’s never actually seen the inside of a bookstore.”
Amelia passed Matt a pint, but Angus intercepted the beer and gulped down most of it. He passed the last few sips to Matt, who did not pick it up. “So, Yank, what do you do in America?”
“I’m in college. English lit major.”
“Are you a poof?” Angus asked.
“Angus.” Amelia jabbed him in the side, hard.
“Don’t mind our obtuse friend,” David said. “His vocabulary is as limited as his brain cells.”
“What? No point in beating around the bush.” Angus raised his hands in apology. “Not saying there’s anything wrong if you are.”
“No, I’m not gay,” Matt said flatly. “I actually plan to go into civil rights law so I can sue small-minded, imperceptive pricks who think they can throw around derogatory terms like fucking confetti at a gay-pride parade and get away with it.” Matt took June’s half-drunk beer and downed it in a single gulp. Eva choked on hers. Matt removed the balmoral and put it back in the bag. “Looks like we need more drinks. I’ll buy.”
“I’ll come with you.” Amelia stood from the table, glaring at Angus, who watched heatedly as the two retreated to the bar. Angus grabbed the edge of the table, the muscles in his arms taut, his attention never leaving Amelia and Matt.
The whole scene surprised June. She had been accepted so easily when she arrived. But Angus was clearly on edge, Amelia was being overly attentive to Matt, Eva was enjoying a creative feast for her novel, and all June wanted was to hold her life together until Matt was safely on his plane home.
When Matt and Amelia came back with pints for everyone, June was quick to offer a suggestion, in hopes of salvaging the conversation. “Let’s play a game, Never Have I Ever. Everyone knows how to play that. We each state an experience or action we’ve potentially never done, and those of us who have done it, drink.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Angus asked. “Your Yank might be hiding something.”
“I’m a goddamn open book,” Matt said. “June knows that.”
“Let’s start with an easy one,” June said with forced enthusiasm. “Never have I ever had a one-night stand.” Everyone at the table drank. June took an extra-long gulp to calm her nerves.
Eva went next. “Never have I ever had sex in a public place.”
Angus, Eva, and Matt all drank. Stories followed of the hazards of sex on the beach, and Eva told a naughty story about a backstage rendezvous at the Glastonbury Festival three years ago.
The table fell into a bantering cadence of “never have I ever” statements and accompanying stories. Pints quickly diminished. The tension eased. With each sip of beer, June relaxed. Angus and Matt even laughed a few times. June just needed to keep the night on track.
“Never have I ever skinny-dipped,” Eva said.
Everyone drank. Matt eyed June, intrigued, as she sipped and shrugged. “Last year. Phi Gamma Delta date party.”
“I knew I didn’t trust those fuckers,” Matt said.
June rolled her eyes. “Might I remind you of Sasha Trager and the bathtub, sophomore year?”
“That was different,” he said.
“How?”