16. Chapter 16

16

M onday arrived.

Alfie stretched out his limbs with a groan. He showered, shoved on his jeans and a T-shirt and plodded down the stairs. The pizza box caught his eyes, and he sighed, scratching the back of his head. He shouldn't have eaten it. He should have thrown it in the bin and called the prison and reported it. Half asleep and seduced by the smell, he had given in and ate the entire lot.

Alfie plucked the post-it from the lid and ran his finger over the word ‘Freshman'. Not Nate's handwriting, but when he read the word, he heard the purring voice and shivered at its effect. He went back upstairs and shoved it in his bedside drawer, on top of the sketched picture of himself.

All of Monday morning and afternoon, Alfie spent sat on his sofa with his phone in hand, locked in indecision over whether to call the prison, ask for Ryan and tell him about the pizza delivery of the night before.

The box was still on the coffee table and the post-it was upstairs. He'd have to explain about Nate's nickname for him, and their conversation about the type of pizzas Alfie preferred.

He sighed.

Before he knew it, it was time to get ready for work.

After a long-winded handover by Ryan, Alfie sat in the office, fidgeting as he waited for the hours to tick down for roll call.

He trudged up the stairs to tick names off on his list.

Indulging in anything with Nate was stupid, and he needed to rid himself of the temptation. The means of doing so were in the office, but he couldn't bring himself to read the file.

"So how was it?" Nate asked.

Alfie scrunched his face and tapped his pen to the clipboard. He knew Nate was asking about the pizza, but he wasn't going to make it easy for him.

"No idea what you're talking about."

"Yeah you do. Hope you saved me half."

Alfie smiled. "Can't just accept random food, can I? It all went in the bin."

Nate laughed. "I don't believe you."

Alfie darted a look behind, then moved closer to the door. "How did you get my address?"

"Easy," Nate murmured. "Don't worry. I'm not going to share it."

"Are you watching my house?"

Nate sighed. "No, I'm watching my cell door."

Alfie hugged the clipboard to his chest and waited for Nate to speak again.

"Look, Queenie got it for me. He cleans Ryan's office. Your file was on his desk a couple of weeks back, and he wrote your address on the back of his hand."

"You've known where I live for weeks?"

"Yep, and nothing's happened, has it? So, relax, you're being a picky date."

Alfie shook his head. "I'm not your date."

Nate laughed. "You ate the pizza. That was you accepting the date."

"How do you know I ate it?"

Nate smirked. "Stop it. You're embarrassing yourself."

"I hate you," Alfie hissed.

"No, you don't. Pepperoni your favourite?"

"Prefer Meat Feast, and garlic bread, and cola to wash it down."

Nate laughed. "I'll remember for next time, but it'll be your turn to pay. You can deliver it to my cell, serve it through the hatch."

"Not happening."

"Open the hatch, Freshman."

Alfie smiled, then pushed off from the door and walked back to the lobby, shaking his head.

"I'm surprised he hasn't kicked off more," Henry mumbled.

"Who?" Alfie asked.

"Nate. You punched him in the face a few weeks back. I thought he'd at least yell some, kick his cell, and get the others to start mouthing off, but nothing."

Alfie shrugged. "I barely made a mark."

"You split his lip," Henry said, and Alfie winced.

"I'm sure he's had worse in here. That's what the other guys said."

Henry shook his head.

"No, he hasn't. They were just trying to make you feel better, but I'm not going to lie to you. Nate's top dog on that wing. Surely, you've realised that? No one dares to cross him. It's suicide. No officer, no prisoner. Then you come along and wallop him one. A fish, fresh out of the water. He's planning something, mark my words. Never find yourself alone with him, and if you do, there's no point praying for mercy."

Henry marked the end of their conversation by shoving his glasses on and flopping into his chair.

Alfie stared out of the office at the dark corner of the prison.

He wondered whether Henry was right and Nate was reeling him in for revenge. He had said himself he lured young men in and broke their necks. Alfie had assumed Nate was toying with him, coaxing him into reading the file, but it could've been the truth. Nate could be dragging it out for entertainment, for fun, and he was allowing it because he couldn't handle the thought of hating him, of not being wanted.

Alfie awoke to a persistent buzzing. He slapped the mattress beside him, and on the fourth swipe, he connected with his phone. An unknown number flashed on the screen, and he thought about ignoring it, then sighed and pressed his thumb down and sank back into the pillow with the phone held to his ear. There was every chance Tia had got a new one.

"Yep?" he mumbled.

"Freshman…"

Alfie sat bolt upright with a gasp. "What the hell. Nate?"

"I hope no one else calls you Freshman. That's my name for you."

Alfie shook his head. "You can't call me!"

"I can, and I am."

"How did you even get my number?"

Nate sighed like the question bored him. "Queenie, remember? He got your address and your number."

Alfie ran his free hand through his hair and clutched the strands at the back. "You can't call me. Are you on the prison phones?"

"Course not, I won't risk anyone else overhearing us."

"So you have got a phone?"

Nate hummed. "Looks that way."

"I'm going to have to report you, have your cell searched. I can't pretend like I don't know—"

"You could report me, they would search my cell, find nothing, and Ryan would think you were overreacting or you could keep your mouth shut and enjoy the sound of my voice, 'cause I know you do."

Alfie drew his eyebrows together and shook his head. "Nate, you can't call me. I have to report you."

"We both know you won't. Just imagine I'm your hot boyfriend overseas, and we can only talk on the phone. You miss me, want me to come home to you, but you accept you have to wait for now."

Alfie released his hair and pinched the bridge of his nose. "But you're not. You're in prison for murder, and I'm your prison officer."

Nate tutted. "Spoilsport. Hear you later."

The phone went dead, and Alfie glared at it, wondering what to do.

Alfie forced food into his stomach while staring into space, and he took his time as he walked to work that night. He knew he had to report the phone, tell Ryan about Nate's call, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He stayed quiet during the briefing, and at roll call he stared at Nate's cell.

"Hand it over now, and no one gets in trouble," he whispered.

"Okay, just open the hatch, and I'll pass it through."

Alfie narrowed his eyes. "You must think I'm stupid."

Nate laughed. "You're the one that suggested handing it over, Freshman, not me."

Alfie huffed and shifted from foot to foot. "Whatever, you can't call me, and I'll get your cell searched—"

"It would've been searched as soon as you got in if you grassed on me."

"I was giving you a chance, a chance to be good."

Nate groaned. "I'm bad; that's why I'm in here, and I want to do bad things to you."

Alfie swallowed uncomfortably. "Bad?"

"Well, not bad—naughty. I want to do naughty things to you. I want to make you moan and gasp my name. I want your body to shiver and shudder under my touch and you to lose yourself being owned by me."

Alfie released a slow breath through his lips. He forced himself to take another deep breath, as quietly as possible, then released it like a gentle wind.

"Turns you on, doesn't it? Drives me crazy too."

Alfie looked down at the clipboard in his hand, then ticked off Nate's name. "Just because you call, doesn't mean I'll pick up."

"But the option is there. That's all I want, for you to consider. Let me court you a little."

"Court…me?"

"Yeah."

Alfie hugged the clipboard to his chest and left Nate in the dark corner of the prison.

He promised himself he wouldn't answer the phone if Nate called, but he made sure it was fully charged and at its highest volume before falling to sleep.

It didn't ring, and Alfie hated the sting of disappointment that followed him all the way to work. Each day Alfie waited for Nate to call, but it never happened, and by Friday he was angry with himself for caring.

It was Sunday, a much-needed day away from the prison and respite from the constant disappointment at Nate for never calling. Alfie stepped out his front door, and instead of turning left and following the signs to Larkwood, he turned right and walked with his hands shoved in his coat pockets towards the bus stop. Each step away from the prison felt like a shackle was loosening, and when he finally arrived in town and stepped into Mr Cuppa, he felt lighter than he had in days.

Tia waved at him and gestured him closer. There was a queue of people, but she ignored them and moved along the counter straight to Alfie. She pulled him into a hug, and they both groaned with the stretch.

"What can I get you?" she asked.

Alfie flicked his chin at the disgruntled customers. "You want to do them first?"

She sighed dramatically and flicked her hair. "If I have to."

"Your customer service skills are amazing."

Tia smiled brightly. "Thanks, Alfie."

He frowned and shook his head.

He sat down at their usual table in the darkest corner and waited. Tia joined him fifteen minutes later, and her bright smile diminished any lingering anxiety over seeing her.

"So," she said, flexing an eyebrow. "I want all the gossip."

"Gossip?"

She hummed and took the first bite of chocolate cheesecake. "You and this Liam guy."

Alfie sagged in his seat. "Oh."

"I haven't forgotten." Tia smirked.

"What about you and Sarah?"

Tia pouted. "I'll go first, but you will be telling me about the ancient guy you snuck off with."

"He wasn't ancient."

"Me and Sarah are going on a date," Tia said excitedly, leaning over the table.

"A mate date or a romantic one?"

"A romantic one."

Alfie smiled. "That's great—"

"You've got to help me pick an outfit. I want her to think I'm sexy but not easy, if you know what I mean."

"You've known Sarah since you were ten…"

"What's your point?"

"You could turn up in a garbage bag, and she'd be more than happy to hang out with you."

Tia turned her head. An amused smile spread across her lips. "Is that what you and Liam are into? Garbage bag sex?"

Alfie glared at her. "Nothing happened with me and Liam."

"Bullshit."

"I swear it didn't. We went outside, and he started asking me questions…"

"What kind of questions?"

"Whether I'd been tied up before…whether I'd like to be."

Tia gasped, leaning back into her chair. "Are you serious?"

Alfie nodded.

"Christ, then what happened?"

"He tried to kiss me, but I dodged it. He went back inside. I'm surprised Max didn't see him."

"Max was too busy making out with the barman."

"Oh."

"No wonder you bailed on us, with Liam giving off serial killer vibes." She shuddered. "You sure do know how to attract the psychos, don't you?"

Alfie frowned, cutting into the cheesecake with more force than necessary. "Psychos? As in plural."

"Yeah, you've got that prisoner at work, the one you had to do mouth-to-mouth on. The one you…get on with."

"There's nothing going on with Queenie."

"Sure," Tia said, lifting her brow.

"I swear, actually, there's someone else," Alfie said without thinking. "A prison officer," he blurted.

"Really?"

He looked at her pleading blue eyes, brighter than Nate's and not as suffocating. If anything, they were freeing, and he gave in. "Yeah, but I'm not sure it's a good idea." He bit his lip. "I know it's not a good idea."

"Workplace romances rarely are. Is it forbidden?"

"Forbidden?"

"In your contract. Are staff relationships forbidden?"

Alfie slowly nodded.

Tia pouted in sympathy. "What's his name?"

Alfie's mouth popped open. His cheeks warmed, and his words tangled his tongue in knots. "I—I don't think—"

"Take a deep breath." Tia snorted. "You must have it baaaad if you can't even remember his name on the spot."

"Michael."

"Is he hot?"

"Yes. Yes, he's hot."

"Does your stomach go all tingly when he talks to you?"

Alfie shivered and nodded. He saw Nate's lips stretch in his head, the predatory smile that said he was ready to pounce, and Alfie wanted him to, would bare his throat in the hope Nate would kiss it.

"When you see him, does your heart speed up, feel like it's trying to escape your chest?"

Just talking about Nate made it drum faster, and Alfie shut his eyes and released a torturous groan. "This conversation has made it worse. It's made it real."

He opened his eyes and watched Tia suck on her straw with a gleeful expression. She flexed her eyebrow, and Alfie began to wish he hadn't said anything.

"It's against the rules."

"Fuck the rules," Tia announced. "It's kind of…hot."

"What is?"

"Sneaking around, keeping your relationship secret."

"I'd get into so much trouble—"

Tia waved her hand dismissively. "Only if you get caught. Stop being so sensible, live a little. You're young and expected to make mistakes."

"I don't know…"

"What if Michael left tomorrow?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, would you think good, I'm glad he's left, that means I can continue to be a good boy and not do anything wrong, ever, or would you think damn, I could've had that, and I denied myself because of rule 4, clause B of my contract?"

"I don't know."

Tia peered at him. She smiled. "Yeah, you do. Having sex in a prison cell sounds…damn good to me."

"What?"

"You know, as long it's not with a psycho." She shuddered.

Alfie groaned and dropped his head into his hands. He wished he could take back their conversation and keep his interest in Nate buried.

Tia sucked noisily on her straw. "You'd better keep me updated. I want all the details."