Page 86 of Crying in the Rain

“Ah, well, I’ve just started work on a farm, actually. An educational farm, with lots of miniature animals—Shetland ponies, pygmy goats—I’m only part-time till spring, but it gets busy then with lambing and school visits, the boss says, so hopefully, he’ll make me full-time. And you’re a radio producer?”

“I am,” Ade confirmed. “Drama and documentaries. Mostly drama.” He tilted his head in Kris’s direction.

“I hear you,” George said.

“If you two gang up on me, I will be…outraged!” Kris declared over-dramatically, appreciating that he’d put the other two men in a potentially awkward situation and they were giving their fullest efforts to stopping it from becoming so. He looked around, searching for Shaunna in the hope of having someone there to stop him further dropping himself in it, quickly locating her on the opposite side of the atrium, talking to Jess. Shaunna saw him, excused herself from her conversation and headed over.

“Hey,” she said, giving him a once-over, followed by a small smile that confirmed she knew he’d told Ade. “I’m going for a drink. Anyone else want one?” The question was intended to give him a get-out, but he didn’t take it.

“I’ll come with you,” Ade volunteered and hooked his arm through hers. Kris watched until they were out of earshot and turned back to George.

“So what do you think? Honest answer.”

George shrugged. “He seems nice.”

“Nice?”

“Right for you.”

“That’s what Shaunna said.”

“Well, then.”

“Is that all I’m getting?”

“What d’you want me to say? I like him.”

Kris sighed loudly.

George grinned. “He’s got the measure of you already, and he’s not gonna take any of your melodramatic crap.”

“I am not melodramatic!” Kris protested. George was still grinning. “I’m not!”

“If you say so.”

Kris was about to complain further but contained it, as it only would only serve to prove George’s point. “But you do like him?”

“Yeah. He’s kinda…cute.” George’s attention had wandered, no need to check why.

“Not as cute as Josh,” Kris remarked.

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you thought it.”

George gave him a sheepish smile. He was blushing.

Kris hugged him. “I’m so happy for you, George.”

“I know. You told me weeks ago.”

“OK. I’mstillhappy for you. And you’re definitely OK with me and Ade?”

“Yep. You know what they say—first time for everything.”

“Us agreeing on something, you mean?”

“Well, yeah, that,” George said, “and us both having boyfriends at the same time.”

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