Seeker Read Free

he’d been with Jacen for quite a while, but once the laptop was ready to go it was webcam time, and he was almost certain Charlie would be seeing the scar today.
    Before even putting the kettle on he released the lock off the back door, and opened the top window above the sink. It was a thing with him; he didn’t like the back door being locked while he was home and awake just in case he needed to rush out in an emergency, and he also hated not having fresh air running through the house. Of course, the concept of “fresh” air was a bit of an oxymoron in London, but better to have external air running throughout the house than the stale air that circulated in a closed environment. The plants played their part in oxygenating the house, but there was no harm in offering a little help, Willem reasoned.
    The kettle now on the boil, Willem checked in the lounge to see how the laptop was doing. It was all ready to go; he simply had to await the connection of the net. He opened the main messenger window in preparation, just as he heard the back door open.
    He let out a groan of disappointment, hardly able to believe his luck. The one time he didn’t want his sister to come back early…
    â€œHazelnut Macchiato for me,” said a male voice containing a very slight American lilt to it.
    Willem smiled ruefully. Getting rid of his sister would have been difficult enough, but getting rid of Jake…In what he would have called a mini-strop had Curtis done it, Willem slammed the laptop shut knowing full well that the scar exposure would have to wait.
    â€œMate, kettle’s boiled.” There was the scrape of a stool being pulled across the lino and Willem knew that Jake was plonking himself by the back door so that his smoke wouldn’t waft into the house.
    Willem grumbled silently to himself and pulled out his phone. “Get making it, then,” he called out to the kitchen, satisfied by the loud sigh he received in response. He could just see Jake stubbing the cigarette on the wall in the back yard before returning to the kitchen.
    â€œSome host you are.”
    â€œI think after almost thirty years your guest status is well and truly revoked, fella,” Willem called back as he began texting Charlie, “so quit the bagging and get on with it. I’ll be there in a sec.”
    â€œFine, let me do it, then, see if I care. Hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
    â€œNo,” Willem said, looking up from the phone, “unless you count my wet dreams about you.”
    â€œMate! You’re ill.”
    Willem laughed and shrugged; there was probably some truth in that.
    â€œAnd anyway, guy, you haven’t lived here for thirty years, so I should still be treated as a guest,” Jake continued, his tone still light and playful.
    Normally Willem would have continued the banter but right now he wanted to get the text sent before Jake decided to come and see for himself what was holding Willem up. Once finished he quickly hit send and closed his phone. On the way out to the kitchen he bumped into Jake, literally, who was indeed coming to have a nose.
    â€œShit, guy,” Jake said, rubbing his shoulder, “you should watch where you’re going.”
    Willem looked incredulously at his best mate. Like he could hurt that brick-house of a body. It was his own fault, though, since he’d been so intent on quickly stashing his phone away that he’d got it stuck on a piece of thread in his pocket. “Shut up, you girl. Coffee done?”
    Jake eyed Willem in mock pain. “I thought I’d go for latte today, actually. Coffee is so last year.”
    â€œWhatever. Shift your ass.”
    Jake turned and headed back into the kitchen. “Commencing the shifting of the ass,” he said, mincing his way ahead. Willem couldn’t help but laugh; no one could do camp as well as Jake and it was always guaranteed to get a laugh out of him.
    Finally the