Page 33 of Crying in the Rain

Shaunna tilted her head, listening. As soon as the bathroom door closed, she whispered, “I love him. He’s perfect for you.”

“What does that mean?”

She shrugged. “He’s sweet and intelligent and fun. And he adores you. And he adores Casper.”

“And you.”

“We do seem to have hit it off, don’t we? We’re going to have so much fun together if you can make this work.”

“Hey!” Kris nudged her, feeling the weight of the judgement, which had been given in jest, but there was a truth to what she’d said. His insecurities had been a big part of why their marriagefailed. Even now, after a successful date and Ade sticking around, he was still thinkingI hope I can be good enough, notI am good enough. If he could find a way past that, then maybe he could make it work. He definitely wanted it to, a fact confirmed when Ade reappeared and floored him with a single, dazzling smile.

“I’m just going to pop upstairs myself,” Shaunna said casually, as if Kris wouldn’t know it was a ploy to give him and Ade a moment alone and an opportunity to figure out their sleeping arrangements. As she passed Ade in the doorway, she kissed his cheek and murmured, “Welcome aboard.”

He watched her leave and then turned back to Kris. “Hello, you.”

“Hey.”

Ade held out his hands, and Kris took them.

“This is so…” Ade trailed off and shook his head. “I confess, I was a tiny bit worried it would be awkward, but it’s not at all. Shaunna is amazing. Casper is an absolute sweetie. And this house…it’s everything I thought it would be. I see now why you both stayed. Who’d willingly give up all this?” Ade looked around him in wonder as if he were in the ballroom of a grand country mansion rather than an ordinary kitchen in an ordinary semi-detached house.

Kris tugged gently on Ade’s hands to bring him closer. “I know it’s weird—”

“Not weird. Different. In a good way.”

“OK,” Kris conceded. “I just wanted to say thank you for being so accepting of ourdifferentliving arrangements. It means a lot.”

Ade moved closer still, their faces only inches apart. “Thank you for being so open with me. I’d tell you it doesn’t matter what I think…”

“It does,” Kris whispered, closing his eyes as Ade moved their hands out to the sides and reduced the space between them to zero. Ade’s scent filled Kris’s senses, already so familiar, their chests meeting as they breathed together, in and out, falling into a synchronised rhythm. Kris hardly dared move, afraid ofending what was surely a prelude to their first kiss, but if Ade was holding back because of where they were, then Kris needed to take the lead.

Eyes still closed, he swayed forward, his lips brushing against Ade’s, feather-light but electric. Ade gave a tiny gasp, which Kris hoped was because he’d felt it too. Before Kris ruined the moment by asking, Ade freed his hands and slid them around the back of Kris’s neck, drawing him into another kiss, firmer than the last. It zinged through every muscle, sparking myriad sensations and making his breath catch in his throat. Ade laughed against his lips.

“What you said in the taxi about giving me your bed for the night…”

“Hmm?”

“Would you consider sharing it with me?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“I only said I’d consider it—”

Ade cut off Kris’s tormenting with another kiss, this time with lips parted, breath mingling. Their tongues touched and darted away, then touched again, no longer an intrusion but an invitation. Ade’s hands slid down to rest in the small of Kris’s back, and Kris mirrored Ade’s pose, keeping the kiss going, slowly, lazily, no pressure to do anything more, although it was as arousing as it was comforting.

They could probably have kept going for hours, but the sound of footsteps on the stairs reminded them they were not alone, and they eased apart as the door opened. Shaunna didn’t even look at them—Kris envisaged he was as flushed and plump-lipped as Ade. She scooted past, picked up her tea and scooted back again, calling, “Going to bed. Good night!”

“Oops,” Ade mumbled and tried to move away, but Kris kept hold of him, watching over his shoulder. Shaunna peered over the banister on her way up the stairs and grinned at him. “Have fun.”

A moment later, her bedroom door closed.

“Is she OK?” Ade asked.

Kris smiled. “She’s fine. She’s giving us some privacy.”

“Probably for the best,” Ade said, his words merging into a yawn. “Oh God. Sorry.”

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