Page 68 of Love Spell

21

Was this what Rhys had meant when he’d said Timo was never satisfied, impossible to please, endlessly seeking more?Since there was nothing wrong with wanting more and better out of life, Timo had always known that Rhys being irritated with him was a simple character flaw, frustrating but forgivable.

Yet Rhys and Noah did not have similar characters, so why would they have similar flaws?No matter how much more Timo tried to give him and how much better Timo tried to make his life, Noah was still running away.

At least Rhys hadn’t been a runner; he’d stay and fight, which resolved things and kept things moving.Fights had action, momentum, winners and losers — nothing wrong with a fight.But this?Here he was, not satisfied because Noah would soon have to leave the country, seeking more in the form of a long-term relationship, and no, that wasn’t acceptable.Somehow, he’d done something wrong and Noah wouldn’t even tell him what.

Beyond the obvious, it was an extra shame since everything had been going so well all week.Ever since last Friday, Timo had felt revitalised.It wasn’t just constantly being with Noah and their weekend away.He’d physically felt better — more awake, more decisive, nightmares vanished and sleep finding him easily when he was ready for it.

He’d stepped into a new life a week ago and somehow, without stopping to plan or actively think through the matter, he’d embraced it as such.September and before had been Timo alone.October and after would be Timo and Noah.

Then Noah had walked out.Because Timo wanted more and better for him?

He knew he mustn’t chase, but he found himself unable to sit still.Noah couldn’t have gone anywhere in particular since he’d left without his phone or wallet.He didn’t even have a jacket and he couldn’t have got a bus to Hyde Park, which was his favourite place to walk and watch people.Why would he walk around the building with sunset closing in and no escape?

After half an hour, frustrated with Noah but also confused, wondering what Noah thought Timo had done wrong and how Timo was supposed to fix it as long as he didn’t know, he finally also pulled on shoes and went out.

His first hunch proved correct.Noah was walking at a regular pace on a treadmill in the empty gym, simply staring into space.

Timo offered a smile from the door as he let it close behind him and pocketed his key fob.Noah glanced at him and looked away, but he didn’t tell Timo to fuck off.

Timo joined him on the neighbouring machine, matching Noah’s pace.

Noah stared down at the control panel on his treadmill.

Timo considered options before recalling his former lover’s pet complaint about Timo: that he never apologised.The reason for that had been simple.Timo didn’t need to since he didn’t often make mistakes.Rhys saw matters differently and perhaps Noah did too.

“I’m sorry I upset you,” Timo offered after they’d walked for a minute in silence.

Noah shook his head, speaking under his breath.“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Hah.Timo had known it.So what the hell was the problem?

“Then what can I do?”Timo tried.If he could fix this, mend a break he hadn’t caused, he’d still come out ahead.

“Everything with you is so … fast.It’s like your frequencies are tuned to emergency pitch all the time.”

“You’re about to have to leave the country.Do you want me to step back and wave goodbye?”

“It’s not that.Of course there’s a time crunch right now.I just mean in general.Asking me to marry you … It’s …”

“What is it?”Incredible, amazing, awesome — or whatever else Americans said?

Again, Noah shook his head.“I don’t want to be your charity case.”

Timo stared at him while Noah kept looking ahead.“Do you really think I’m the kind of man who takes on charity cases?”

For the first time, Noah glanced at him.There was even a hint of a smile.“I guess not.”

“I love you.”

Noah sighed.“I don’t know what I feel.I probably love you, but everything’s so … and it’s just …argh.”

“Come home.We’ll warm up your dinner.”

“I don’t have a home.”

“You have a home with me.What?Do you need more space?We can move.Two-bedroom?Your own home office?”

---