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Fuck, Brian was almost ten years older than Mum, but like I said, it always seemed more acceptable for girls to be with older men. Not that I was looking to settle down or anything. I was too young for that, but Mac was nice. Better than anyone else I’d been with, not that there were many, but guys like me didn’t attract the likes of him.

Class. It all boiled down to class.

Born to parents who couldn’t give a shit and a school dropout? Nah, he’d be better off with someone else.

But there was I, jumping the gun. Just because we were having a late-night burger together didn’t mean we were anything more than friends. Hell, he might not even be gay, but something about the way he looked at me earlier made me wonder.

The restaurant overflowed with late-night revellers. Seemed like everyone had the same idea. It’d take ages to get served at this rate.

“Fancy a kebab instead? There’s a place around the corner. Might not be as busy.” He bent to speak in my ear, and a shiver ran through me. His warm breath ghosted across my already hot skin.

“Yes,” I croaked, the word sticking in my throat.

“Let’s go.” He ushered me out of the door, his hand on the small of my back, gently guiding me, and as much as I wanted him to leave it there, I stepped away when we reached the road.

He was right, though, about the kebab shop, and we got served quickly, both ordering a chicken kebab with a pitta bread to share.

Mac groaned as he ate, devouring the food. I ate mine at a steady pace, but he was like a demon possessed.

“Slow down, you’ll get indigestion.” I said. “At least, that’s what Gran told me.”

“Sorry, I’m just so hungry. I didn’t realise how much until I started eating.” He smiled, and for probably the first time, I took in his features.

He was definitely good-looking with a stubble-covered square jaw. His hair was dark, with a few reddish strands running through it. Deep brown eyes, and lips that were the pinkest I’d seen on a guy. He said he didn’t have a girlfriend, but anyone would be lucky to have him.

Handsome with a damn good job. He’d never be interested in the likes of me.

“Tell me more about your family,” I asked when we’d finally finished. He sucked on the straw, draining the rest of his drink.

“Not much more to tell. All three of my brothers are doctors. Consultants, actually. My older sister is a psychiatrist, and my younger sisters are currently at uni. One of them wants to be a vet. She loves animals, especially larger ones. She’s hoping to get a job at a zoo. And the other one is training to be a lawyer.”

“Wow, so they’re all highflyers. All of you got a profession.” Not like me, I thought. I’d never had a job, let alone a career.

“Yep, we all got a profession.” Was it my imagination, or was there a hint of sarcasm in his voice? I didn’t know him that well to tell, but there was definitely a hint of something.

“Don’t you like being a doctor?” I took the straw out of my cup and drank the dregs. I could really do with another, but I had no money.

“I love it. I always wanted to be a doctor ever since I was a kid, and when my other brothers qualified, it spurred me on, you know?”

“But…” I knew there was more to this story and urged him on.

“They did well, and each of them is a consultant in their field.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “Oncology, Paediatrics, Cardiology. Aileen, my oldest sister, is a psychiatrist and a mother to two toddlers.”

“That’s a lot.”

“Yeah, it is. Plus, my older brothers have families too. Excelling in every field they enter. Do you want another drink? I’m parched.”

Without waiting for my reply, he wandered over to the server and placed his order. I watched him as he waited, leaning on the counter, hands clenched before him, his knuckles white. Tension filled his body, his jaw clenching over and over.

Why did talk of his family bring out such a reaction? It hadn’t happened the last time, but sometimes alcohol removed all our inhibitions, and the truth often spilled out of our mouths.

I looked closer. Not only was he tall, but he was lean. He’d rolled the sleeves up on his pale blue shirt, revealing tanned, muscled arms.

Fuck, Frankie, you’d be punching well above your weight there.

Lost in my daydream, the appearance of a drink in front of me startled the crap out of me.

“You okay? You looked miles away.” Mac asked, a frown on his face. “Anything you want to talk about?”