I stare straight ahead. “About what? Climate change, the ups and downs of the royal family?”

“No silly, much more important. What do you think about your mum getting married?”

I shrug. “I’m fine. Why?” I give in and look to my side to find him eyeing me knowingly.

“I hope you don’t think that you’re going to lose her, Misha. She’ll still be your mum.”

“Charlie, are you under the impression that I’m seven? Of course I know that.”

He nods. “Hmm, and what about the bit about her taking another man’s name? Are you okay with that too?” I can’t help my flinch this time, and he immediately grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly. “Misha, it’s perfectly okay to feel sad about that,” he says softly. “I know it feels like she’s letting go of your dad, but it’s just a name at the end of the day. She’ll always have your dad in her heart just the way you and the girls do. Nothing and nobody will ever change that.”

I sigh, looking down at the clasp of our hands before bringing them up and kissing his fingers. “I know,” I say quietly. “It was just a bit of a shock at first. It threw me and sort of reinforced the fact that I’m the last Mr Lebedinsky. Made me feel a bit sad.”

I wouldn’t admit that to anyone but Charlie. I can’t tell my mum because it would hurt her feelings, and I’m not good with sharing emotions. But somehow it’s okay with Charlie. It’s safe.

He smiles at me. “Your mum noticed how quiet you were.”

I sigh. “I know. I’ll call her in a bit and have a chat.”

He gives a murmur of approval and reaches over to draw me into a hug. I hug him back, tightening my grip and sniffing the warm vanilla scent of him. We’ve done this so many times, and I’ve felt nothing except contentment, but now that odd awareness stirs inside me again. I can feel the broadness of his shoulders and the silkiness of his hair brushing against my face. He shifts and his lips press for a second against my cheek. It sends a warning trill down my spine, and to my horror I can feel my cock stiffening, the way it did yesterday in the hallway when he stared at my body and licked his lips.

I jump as a car horn blares behind me and someone behind us shouts, “The light’s been on green for two minutes, you fucking muppet.”

Ordinarily, I’d shout something back, but I’m actually relieved that the stranger has broken my moment of incredible stupidity. I stick my middle finger up at him anyway just to reassert my sense of self, and then put the car in gear and pull away, hopefully leaving that mad moment with Charlie far behind.

Chapter Four

Charlie