Chapter Four

He spied them through the window of Price Slice, Leah in a sun hat that dwarfed her and Stephen checking sell by dates and prices with that all too familiar frown on his forehead. Brendan skulked into the shop, ear glued to a phone call that he was pretending to make, making their meeting seem coincidental.

"Leah sweetheart, what juice is it mummy buys you?" Stephen asked her, a strain of stress to his voice. Brendan checked his watch, it was almost ten thirty, Stephen was due in work at eleven and Leah should have been at nursery.

Leah had the head of her new bear squeezed tightly to her chest as she pointed out a drink to her dad.

Stephen laughed, "Nice try, but I'm not buying ya that, your mam would kill me,"

Ste's laughter died quickly in throat when he noticed the man beside them studying the cereal boxes. "Brendan," he said in the irritated tone Brendan expected, "What you doing here?"

"Shopping…that's what people do isn't it? In shops," Brendan replied, lifting a packet of HobNobs in his hands, "Biscuits!"

"Biscuits! My favourite!" Leah cried, interrupting the tension and squeezing Mr Snozzle's belly as she seemed to hop right in front of him.

Brendan broke into a genuine smile, giving the sunflower on her hat a little tweak. Leah picked up her own packet of biscuits and turned to Ste said, "Daddy, these are mine,"

"Just this once," Ste said to Leah, shooting Brendan a glance.

"And some for Mr Snozzle," Leah said about to reach for another, but before she did, she turned to Brendan, "Daddy bought me a new Mr Snozzle,"

Brendan's mouth twitched in amusement, "So I can see. Lovely. Good dad you've got there Leah," he connected his gaze with Stephen's briefly before Ste was quick to look away, "You have a good day," he said as he left, nodding in Ste's direction – leaving him gawping and frowning all at once.

/x/

"It's a posh do, innit?" Ste explained as he buttoned up his shirt, facing the mirror.

Noah had grilled him all evening about the extra shift he was doing that night – a shift that meant he wasn't home until sometime after three. He had rehearsed the lies to himself before explaining the story to Noah. Just a private party being held at Chez Chez, guest list only, expected to run long after closing time.

"Can't you get me on the guest list?" he asked, giving Ste's shoulders a squeeze.

"I thought you were going into town with the lads tonight?" Ste said, combing his hair into place.

Noah scoffed. "Oh cos fending off Riley's groupies all night is much more interesting than spending it with you,"

"I'll only be working,"

"Fine," he said with a sigh, "I get the message. I'll head home then. Where are you staying tonight?"

"Well I dunno when this thing finishes, so I'll just crash here. I don't wanna wake ya,"

"Maybe I want to be woken," Noah said flirtatiously, pulling Ste into a kiss.

Feeling ever guiltier as the seconds ticked closer to the night of poker, Ste stopped him and shifted awkwardly on his feet.

"I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" he tried to smile, to sound natural and not give away that he was desperately trying to lie to his face any longer. For a moment, he thought could Noah could read the truth in his face, but after being reassured by Ste that he'd spend the whole day with him the next day, he left the flat satisfied.

Ste checked out his appearance in the mirror – smart enough. He knew it was just a casual poker game of locals, but there'd be a lot of cash thrown about tonight and a Burton shirt was about the smartest he could go.

A bubble of excitement swelled in his belly and tightened his throat, he could remember the thrill of helping Brendan cheat before and get away with it. That was part of the pleasure, walking away with money that wasn't yours and you'd stolen under their noses. It was the same feeling he used to get as a kid, nicking stuff from the shops, joy riding and at times, sneaking around in the club for a blow job in the office. None of these things he was proud of, but they'd happened and it had given him kicks that some people were too goodie-two-shoes to understand.

It was ten-forty five, he pushed up the front of his hair and left the flat.

/x/

Of course he hated himself for it, but he couldn't deny the feeling in his gut when he saw Brendan, head to toe in black, shirt unbuttoned to the middle of his chest, leaning on the alley wall outside the club. Ste tried not to notice the way Brendan looked him up and down.

"Ready?"

Ste nodded and followed him into the club.

It was a different crowd than in their last poker night – some ten months ago now – fooling the same locals twice wouldn't have been an easy game. Students didn't have the cash to be splurging it on poker and Brendan was only interested in those with more money than sense. Riley Costello and friends were invited on the strictest instruction it was a private game, Riley wasn't to tell Warren or Carl about it.

"And don't tell those low-life lad friends of yours," Brendan had added, knowing if Noah knew about it, he and Stephen could kiss goodbye any involvement.

Predictably the rising football stars on Riley's team had already necked enough free lager to make them fumble with their cards and the dozy WAGS who peered over their shoulders gave the game away without Ste needing to really try all that hard to signal to Brendan. He, having decided it was too risky to host the game and cheat, had persuaded the cockney Savage wheeler and dealer bloke to run the game on his premises. Although Dodger's eyes wandered all too often to the girlfriends of the other men there and his game suffered from it.

Brendan deliberately folded in a few of the early games, planning to win big later on so as not to raise suspicions too soon. When he began to win, he noticed Ste relaxing a little – even enjoying himself – as they shared secret knowing glances and smirks at clueless Riley who might as well have handed over his wallet at the door.

Dodger was the first to give in. He'd even gone as far as fishing a few coppers out of his pocket before he raised his hands. "Look gentlemen, it's been lovely an' all but luck just ain't on my side tonight,"

Riley was eager to play more, but knowing he'd pushed his winner streak close to suspicion, Brendan denied him any more chances to be robbed and called it a night.

Riley, the lager having made him a little unsteady on his feet, gripped Dodger's hand and shook it, before pestering him to host other poker games in future.

"Ask the big man," Dodger replied, nodding to Brendan, "I mean he's the one with the cash now after all,"

Brendan smiled tightly and ushered them out the doors, "Come back when you've learnt how to bluff boys,"

Ste was collecting up the empty bottles and stacking chairs when Brendan returned to the empty club. He stalked over to the table, picking up the fresh wedge of cash and raised it to his nose, letting it flutter against his cheek. He opened an eye when he realised Ste was staring right at him.

Brendan split the pack down the centre and approached Ste.

"I believe this is yours," he said, thrusting the notes against Stephen's chest.

Ste's hand brushed his as he caught the wad of cash. He allowed himself a smile.

Brendan reached behind Ste's head, lifting a bottle from the shelf. "Celebratory drink?"