Page 105 of Our Radiant Embers

“How is it that everyone here seems to have a city flat?” I asked no one in particular. “If I want to get away from my family, I need to go for a run.”

Amit chuckled. “Welcome to orbiting around the rich and powerful, mate.”

We studied each other for a second, and yes, all right—he knew. Wistful understanding was tucked into the corners of his eyes.

“Worth it?” I asked quietly.

His response was equally quiet. “If you’re orbiting around the right person—yeah. Absolutely.”

I glanced at Adam and found him watching me with an unhappy tilt to his mouth. You’re worth every second. Could I repeat it here, in front of Amit, or were we still pretending he was oblivious?

Adam made up my mind for me.

He moved closer by half a step and let our hands touch where Amit could see. “I’m sorry.” His voice was the colour of the night. “I know this isn’t fair to either of you.”

“Mate.” Amit’s smile was brief but genuine. “We’re all paying some kind of price, aren’t we?”

“I just wish we didn’t have to.” Adam didn’t offer more and Amit didn’t ask.

We parted with quick hugs, then Amit turned right towards New Bond Street while Adam and I turned left and onto Regent Street. The hustle of the day had subsided, illuminated shop fronts reflecting softly on the pavement.

“I hope that wasn’t too bad?” Adam sounded apprehensive, as though I might change my mind now that I’d had my first real brush with what it meant to be his secret.

“It was fine.” I let our elbows bump. “Anyway, I just came for the food.”

Adam slid me a warm, cautious look. “That’s a lie.”

“Yeah,” I said. “It is.”

Passing cars streaked by on the road. A couple of blocks over, a curl of air made a wind chime sing. We walked in silence for a minute, then I turned my head to study Adam’s profile, edged in yellow light against the window of a clothing store. A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth, hands shoved into the pockets of his dress trousers.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him, keeping my voice low and easy.

He exhaled through his nose. “Had a semi-fight with my father.”

“The usual?”

“What else?”

I rubbed a hand over the nape of my neck and wanted to run it down the length of Adam’s back instead. “You all right?”

“Yeah. Should be used to it, really.” He shook his head, voice dipping down. “I just wish there were some other way, you know?”

“Me too.”

Another minute of silence extended between us. As we neared Piccadilly Circus, the energy around us began to pick up, the vibrant neon signs ahead contrasting with the historic buildings that lined the street.

“Cassandra wasn’t too harsh on you, was she?” Adam asked eventually, and I chuckled.

“I can handle her. In fact, I think we see eye to eye on a lot of things.”

One of Adam’s eyebrows quirked, the rosy hue of an ad washing across his face. “Such as?”

Keep it light.

“Our profound appreciation for dramatic comparisons, for one.”

“Solid grounds for a lasting friendship,” he said.

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