VERITY

The Kings Arms is the pub most popular with the locals who’ve never left town and spend every evening in the place. Most work dead-end jobs, one or two work here, or don't work at all.

They're here now, huddled at their usual table ensuring their pints last as long as possible, and the music matches their tastes. The younger kids, many almost half their age, steer clear; they prefer the brighter and shinier Harvester pub a couple of streets away.

One or two of them glance at me as I walk passed. I know some in the group to say hello to, but that’s all.

I weave through the crammed tables, following Heath, towards a table near the back of the pub, tucked away behind a wall displaying ads for the latest designer drinks.

Two men look up and I halt, frozen, as if under a spotlight. One, spiked blond hair, welcoming smile on his face, takes a not-so-subtle look at the length of me, but the other, similar in colouring to Heath, but with messy hair, doesn't summon a smile as my accident victim introduces me.

"This is Verity. Verity, Joss and Ewan." When neither responds, he adds. "The girl from work."

"Yeah, thought so," replies the dark-haired guy, Ewan. He drops his gaze from my eyes to my mouth before looking back at me. "Hi."

Whoa. Holy hotness. When I woke up this morning, I didn't realise I'd be invited to an evening out with a delicious-guys smorgasbord. Maybe I should run down guys more often. They look as if they share Heath's height, and certainly his build. And looks. Ah, crap, I'm staring. What the hell is with me that I can go from considering whether I should proposition Heath before he leaves to considering what's underneath his friends' shirts? Lack of sex life and too many hormones, that's what.

"Call me Vee."

"Hey, Vee," says Joss and smiles. Ouch. More dimples.

And no girls? I count the chairs at the table. Only two extra.

"No girls," says Joss and I snap my head round as he grins at me. "Easy to read people's minds sometimes."

Ewan flashes him a look, but Joss immediately drops an arm across his shoulder. "And much as I love these guys, our relationship is perfectly platonic."

I cross my arms at his unnecessary need to indicate he's interested in girls. Ewan shrugs Joss's arm away and picks up his pint glass. "But not always friendly," he mutters.

When Joss pinches his cheek, I fight a smile. Either Ewan's a grumpy drunk or isn't as friendly as Joss would like.

Heath plonks himself on the stool next to Joss, leaving the seat besides Ewan the only one vacant. Oh great. I sit stiffly and shift my stool away from Ewan, catching sight of an impressive tattooed bicep beneath his black T-shirt. My attempt to move the seat surreptitiously fails as Ewan laughs softly in my direction.

Heath disappears to the bar to buy a round of drinks, and I clasp my hands in my lap under the table, as the tension thickens around us.

"Do you live in Grangeton?" I ask, grasping for polite conversation.

"Near here," replies Ewan.

Conversation closed down, I delve around for something else, but I’m interrupted by Joss. "So you're the girl who ran Heath down last night?"

I fight the heat crossing my cheeks. "Yes. And I have no excuse."

Joss blows air into his cheeks. "That's one hell of a way to get a guy's attention."

"Or a girl's," puts in Ewan. "Not many guys would throw themselves in front of a car so she'd notice him."

"Very funny. It wasn't deliberate; I didn't see Heath. It's not my fault he was loitering near my house."

"Was he?" Joss straightens. "He must really want to see you."

“I was kidding. Don't make him sound weird," says Ewan.

"I live in the town centre, nothing unusual about Heath passing," I say as much to myself as them.

But my heart thumps at the thought this wasn't a coincidence, especially considering his hints he wants to spend time with me.

"A bit weird he wasn't hurt," I reply and watch for their reaction.

Joss shrugs. "You've seen him. Solid guy. Reckon you'd need to hit him hard to do any damage. He says you only bumped him."

Only bumped him? He was lying in the freaking road.

"Well, he's okay and that's what matters," says Ewan.

Did Heath plan this, and if he did, why has he invited me to also spend time with two other men? I need to finish the drink when it arrives and get out of here. However friendly they are, I'm not sure I want to end up in a position that involves me alone with them all.

What if they all follow me home?

I swallow down my nerves. My paranoia's out of hand recently: thinking I'm being followed, Heath hinting he knows about my research.

"What's happening?" Heath places our two drinks on the table. "Is Joss teasing you?"

"Just telling lovely Verity about your secret crush that caused you to pursue her across town."

"Screw you," he mutters and sits beside me. "Sorry about my friend."

"Hey, at least I'm not hitting on her!" says Joss with a laugh.

"Oh, she wouldn't know what hit her if you did," replies Heath.

Ewan snorts and Joss pulls a “ha ha” face.

I pick up my glass and stare at the contents. "You're making her uncomfortable," replies Ewan and nods at me.

His concern surprises me, and I sip my sparkling apple juice. How slowly do I need to drink this before I can leave but not seem rude? Heath sits beside me, and I'm sandwiched between the pair. I hold my breath. God, don't let either of them brush my arm, leg, anything because this effect is freaking me out.

"Listen, I invited Verity tonight as a thanks for giving me a ride from work tonight. I didn't realise you were in full-blown-asshole mode." He looks at me apologetically. "I'm sorry if we're making you uncomfortable. We kind of... banter."

"Or argue," puts in Joss.

"Long-term friends, I'm guessing," I say. "If you're behaving like this together."

"A few years, yeah." Ewan drinks.

"Maybe Verity could invite some friends next time? Make it less uncomfortable?" asks Joss, raising a brow. Of the pair, I can't stop looking at Joss, and not only because he's friendlier to me. His relaxed attitude and stomach-flipping smile draw me towards him. Do they have a magic ability to attract girls?

If the hypothetical—and a hundred percent unlikely to happen—situation arose, I do not know who I'd choose between Joss and Heath.

See, crazy hormones?

“Maybe," I say with a bright smile, knowing full well I don't have any friends I could introduce them to.

Which means I could keep them all to myself.

I smirk at my thought. Joss clears his throat, and when I look up, he tips his head and fights a smile.

My glass empties at what I hope is a respectable pace and conversation switches to general talk about everything from what it's like to live here for years, to the last best meal we ate. I glean little about the trio apart from they've known each other three years, Joss works part-time at a hotel, and Ewan is “something to do with computers,” and that they share a house.

I gradually relax around them, as if I've met with old friends after years now the suggestive comments have stopped. I've missed socialising, and they're intersecting to be around. I'm tired and need to leave, but there's something else persuading me to stay. Each guy has a weird, but different, effect on me. I’m curious about the Ewan hidden behind his taciturn reaction to me and by Joss's opposite friendly nature, and how he looks at me as if seeing into my mind. Heath’s effect is stronger as we’ve interacted more, but this doesn’t stop me wanting to do the same with the others.

I grab my hoodie from the seat beside me and stand. "Thanks for the drink."

Heath and Joss look at each other as I shove an arm into the jacket.

"Already?" asks Heath.

"I said just one."

"Take her home," puts in Ewan in a low voice.

"I'm fine," I say and smile though his comment sounded like a command.

"The weather isn't great," Ewan retorts. "What if you have an accident? Hit someone again?"

At this Joss can barely contain his mirth. I shoot a look at him, and he bites down on his lip, them mouths “sorry.”

"I'm walking," I say through gritted teeth.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for another and more of our scintillating conversation?" Heath stands. "I'll buy."

"No. It's fine."

Nobody speaks and weirdness seeps back into the situation, as I picture the three of them frogmarching me out of the pub and accompanying me home.

"I'll walk you home, at least," says Heath.

Hmm. "Okay."

I say my goodbyes to Joss and Ewan; Joss waves and Ewan nods, and I'm relieved when only Heath walks into the night with me.

My breath mists as we head back towards my place, relieved the rain stopped. All the way back, I waver between do I invite him in or do I not? He doesn't speak as we walk. Is he thinking the same?

"Thanks for an interesting evening," I say as we reach outside my flat.

"I'd rather you stayed longer." He inclines his head to the building. "Don't worry, I won't ask you to invite me in. I just wanted to see you were safe."

I nod through my disappointment as he pulls out his phone. "Can I give you my number? In case you want to contact me?"

"Sure."

Heath holds his hand out, and I place mine in his palm. He types, long fingers sweeping the screen and hands it back.

I stare blankly at the phone. Heath steps backwards into the car park and looks from side to side. What's he looking for?

My stomach flips as Heath reaches out and takes hold of my jacket collar in both hands and tugs it closer around me, looking down with curiosity in his eyes. For one heart-stopping moment I think I'm about to receive a good night kiss. "Take care, Verity."

"I will."

As he walks back into the evening, what sticks with me the most isn't his almost kiss, or the fact he never asked for my phone number, but the earnestness in his voice when he told me I should take care.