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of discussing Marian while he was still in Jamie’s bed. “She is not going to like my new apartment though. Speaking of which, it’s time I headed home.”

    With that, John got off the bed and started to dress. Jamie raised his eyebrows at John’s haste, but made no move to follow and lay back propped against the pillows to watch him. He took a long draw of the cigarette before stubbing it out in the ashtray. “You know, you shouldn’t stay with someone you don’t love, John.”

    John stopped buttoning his shirt and looked at Jamie. “Meaning?”

    “Just that, John,” Jamie said quietly.

    “What makes you think I don’t love her?”

    “Well, the fact you just fucked me through the mattress is a bit of a giveaway.”

    John gave a short laugh and finished dressing without answering.

    Driving home, he did give some thought to Jamie’s words; he knew he wasn’t in love with Marian and she didn’t love him. They were both okay with that because neither had time for the distraction of a “real” relationship.
     
    Even though thoughts of Marian and work had occupied him most of the drive, by the time he was nearly home John realized he’d been subconsciously scanning the street looking for David, and had been since leaving Jamie’s.

CHAPTER 4

    John watched Jamie come through the front door of the store and had all his excuses ready, ranging from Man, we were so drunk last night to … . Actually, that was his only excuse other than admitting that he’d been lonely. As Jamie approached, John cleared his throat and said gruffly, “Morning, Jamie.”

    Jamie just looked at him with a grin and replied, “Good morning, John.” When he thought John had squirmed enough he laughed. “It’s okay. I know it was just a fun night and nothing more. My arse is sore but I’m not going to pine away until you swear your undying love for me.”

    John definitely looked relieved but had to ask, “It was just your comment before I left…. I wasn’t sure?”

    “Oh fuck, John. I didn’t mean me. I may look it, but I’m not that naive,” Jamie exclaimed, slapping John across the shoulder. “Although I do think you’re missing a lot of… of… I don’t know, stuff , the way you live.”

    “Oh yeah, much clearer now, Jamie.” John smiled and raised an eyebrow.

    “Oh shit. Um… okay, I’ll tell you why the name of the store is Margins; that might help, yeah?”

    John folded his arms and leaned back against the counter waiting for Jamie to tell his little story.

    “I remember when I was little I got really upset about something—can’t remember what now—but my dad asked me if Mum had ever told me why they called the store Margins. I said she hadn’t and….”

    “Get to the point, Jamie,” John sighed.

    “Anyway, he explained that the most important things aren’t always in the main story; sometimes the real meaning is scribbled in the margins. You know, when you pick up a secondhand book and people have written stuff in it. Um, read what other people think is important. Maybe they underline a sentence or just a word. Sometimes it has nothing to do with the story but how they feel at the time.” Jamie frowned because he could see John was not getting his point. “All I’m saying is that there is more to life than the main story. Check out the notes in the margins because maybe they’re even more important.”

    “So tell me, what scribbles are important here, Jamie?” John asked sarcastically.

    “Oh, I don’t know.” Jamie shrugged, frustrated but not defeated. “Um, okay. Look how you are so caught up with profits and meeting deadlines, yeah… and then you meet someone like David. He’s not part of your story, but he means something. He might be important.”

    “Oh, that is total shite, Jamie,” John grumbled, his good mood starting to slip. “Go and put the kettle on. You’re making my head thump.”

    John fished in his pocket for his headache pills while Jamie’s