Just Keep Breathing, GS Rhodes [best book club books for discussion TXT] 📗

They heard him kick his shoes off and head down the corridor towards the kitchen. When he turned into the dining room and saw them all sitting there, his face dropped a little. He’d obviously forgotten that tonight was happening, and Liz had decided not to remind him about it over the phone.

Greg was a fine-looking man, tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair cropped close to his head, a little stubble around his jawline. He was in a shirt and a pair of smart trousers, his collar open, his tie hanging out of his pocket. Kidd knew that look. Someone who had been on shift all day and it had been so hard and tiring that you find yourself half undressed before you’ve even made it to the car. He looked absolutely beat. But there was something else, something in his face that Kidd couldn’t quite place…

“Evening,” he said, his voice a little gruff. “I didn’t know we had company tonight.”

“We planned it a couple of weeks ago,” Liz said quietly. “Remember? Just a little dinner party with Ben and Zoe, this is Zoe, DS Sanchez, they work together in the Met.”

Zoe said her hellos, Kidd waved from where he was sitting. You couldn’t cut the tension in the room with a knife, you’d need something a heck of a lot sharper. A saw perhaps. Liz wasn’t happy, that much Kidd could see and he didn’t want to get in the way of anything.

“Well,” Kidd said, standing from the table. “It’s getting late.”

“Yeah,” Zoe said, quickly following his lead. “We’ve got to be in the office early tomorrow. Thanks so much for dinner, Liz.”

Liz looked up and plastered a smile on her face, but Kidd could tell that she was playing the happy housewife. That Greg coming home had put a damper on what had been a very lovely evening.

“Thank you so much for coming,” she said. “We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

They said their goodbyes, Kidd promising that he’d be in touch with Liz later on in the week to check-in, Zoe promising they won’t leave it so long next time, and then they were out in the cold.

Kidd wrapped his coat around himself, shoving his hands deep into the pockets. It was glacial. It was February, and it felt like this winter had gone on forever. If there was one thing Benjamin Kidd hated, it was the cold.

“That was uncomfortable,” Zoe said as they walked towards her car. “Very uncomfortable.”

Kidd nodded. “They’re obviously going through some stuff,” he said. “I think we did the right thing by getting out of there.”

“I’ll say,” Zoe said. “So, I didn’t get a chance to ask, we managed to avoid the topic for the whole of dinner. How are things with you and John?”

“Me and John?”

“Yes, Ben, you and John,” Zoe said. “Don’t repeat things back at me to save time. What the heck is that?”

Kidd laughed as they walked. “Things are good,” he said. “It’s early days and we’re not about to go booking a venue, but it’s nice. I’m happy.” He checked his phone. “He was at the Druid’s Head tonight with some friends. I might see if he’s still around.”

Zoe widened her eyes at him. “Detective Inspector Benjamin Kidd staying out late on a school night,” she said. “People will talk.”

“And I expect you to shut them up.”

“Sure thing, boss,” she said with a wink. “It’s good to see you happy and before you say that you were happy before.” She’d obviously seen Kidd opening his mouth to retort. “I know you were, but now I’m seeing you happier and it’s nice.”

“Thanks,” Kidd said.

He walked Zoe to her car, bidding her goodnight before he started walking towards the middle of town and the Druid’s Head, the usual haunt for the team at Kingston Police Station. He wouldn’t stay for long, maybe stopping for one before heading home. He didn’t want to get in the way of John’s night.

He got there in pretty good time, making his way to the front door to see John was stood in the window, laughing with a few of his friends. He was wearing a blue checked shirt, his hair, usually in a perfectly placed quiff had fallen a little bit forward, but he brushed it out of his face, still grinning at whatever had just been said.

He looked like he was having a good time. A good enough time that Ben decided that maybe he would leave it for tonight and talk to him tomorrow. That was, until John saw him through the window. He smiled and beckoned Kidd inside. He shook his head.

John made his way outside, not bothering to grab his jacket so the second he stepped into the cold, his hands made their way under his armpits for warmth. He tottered over to Kidd, all smiles, eyes sparkling even though it was dark. How did he do that?

“I was hoping I’d see you,” John said, still smiling.

“Were you?” Kidd replied. “That’s…that’s nice. I’m glad I came then.”

“Are you coming in? As much as I’m enjoying standing out here talking to you, I’m freezing,” he said. “You can meet the gang if you want?”

“The gang?” Kidd replied. “You sure you’re ready for me to meet the gang.”

John shrugged. “If you want to.”

Kidd smiled and looked back at the window at the people who were now staring out at him, the guy who’d dragged their friend away. He instantly felt guilty.

“I actually came to invite you out tomorrow night,” Kidd said, stuffing his fingers down into his pockets, trying to ignore the sweat on his palms. “I’ve got a school reunion that I don’t want to go to, and I thought maybe we could go together. Well, it was DS Sanchez’s suggestion, she thought…” he trailed off. “And I agreed that…” He shook his head. “Do you want to come?”

John was still smiling. He looked like a slightly more frozen version of the John