Page 37 of Love Punch

“But I can,” I told him. “I want to treat you.”

“You…you can’t.” He bit his lip. seeming to stave off tears.

“Arthur, I’m not threatening you. I just want to do something good for you.” I was exasperated. How was I supposed to navigate this emotional minefield?

“I…I just, I’ve joked before about how I’m living off your time by living with you. I don’t want that to become reality. I don’t want to rely on you like my parents do on me. And Idefinitelydon’t want to take advantage of your generosity.”

“You’re the most generous person I have ever met, Arthur. You’ve given your life to this job, to me. I just want to give you something you deserve. Isn’t that fair?”

After a brief hesitation, Arthur nodded, though the stricken expression hadn’t left his face.

“Which of these is best for your drawing?” I asked again. Arthur pointed at the cheapest tablet: a little plastic thing that looked like it was falling apart even as a display unit on the wall. I pointed at another, much closer to the expensive end of the scale. “Isn’t that the one you were using at Sophia’s? Wouldn’t that be better for you?”

Arthur grimaced. “I guess…”

“What’s really bothering you about it? You bought yourself the best phone to do your job. You’ve helped me spend thousands on Christmas presents for my family and friends.”

“Because that’s all for you!” Arthur threw up his hands in defeat. “I would never spend your money in a way that outwardly benefits me, and I don’t want to start now. Even my fancy work phone only has apps for work.”

“And is that all we are?” I asked. “Colleagues?”

“No,” said Arthur, finally without a hint of uncertainty.

I took his hand and held it in mine. “Then can I treat my boyfriend? Please?”

Finally, that earned me a little smile. “Okay…and, thank you.”

“Pick what you like, you’ve seen my bank account. And if you think a better model will help you to do work more efficiently too…”

Arthur nodded. “Fine. I’ll get the same one as Sophia. And a pencil too.”

“Good. Get whatever you need, love.” I held the few items he grabbed, but he still looked guilty as he put them into my arms.

“Are you sure?” he asked quietly, when he was finished grabbing what he needed.

“I love you. Of course, I’m sure.”

“Thank you.” Arthur finally gave what seemed to be a proper, genuine smile. “I promise, one day, I’m going to treat you too.”

“I’ll hold you to it,” I said. I paid up, and we asked back hand-in-hand to the car. “Is it okay with you if we go home?”

“I didn’t have any plans,” Arthur said. “I’ll let your mum know that we’ll be there for dinner.”

“No, I meanmyhome,” I clarified. “You were right, earlier. My parents would take me in no matter what. But I want to be closer to the gym. I need to stand on my own two feet again.”

“Then let’s go home.” Arthur smiled at me, and then stretched up on his tiptoes to give me a kiss on the cheek. I knew that if he and I could figure our shit out, we’d be kings of the fucking world.

Chapter 16

Arthur

Bradley was reclining on the sofa, seemingly oblivious as he watched some action film starring Sly Stallone. It certainly wasn’tRocky,unless they’d decided to remake it with tanks and guns and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Either way, it worked for me that he was looking elsewhere, because it let me draw put pen to screen and sketch him out. Michaelangelowishedhe had a model as muscular as what I was looking at, and Bradley certainly put David to shame in the genitalia department, if only I could get him to take off his pants for a picture…

I leaned in closer as I started to draw some details. The way the light struck his strong, angled jaw and the smirk that was slowly lifting at the edges of his mouth…

“You bastard,” I said. “You knew I was drawing you this whole time!”

“If I wasn’t posing or you I’d be on the same sofa as you,” Bradley said. “Doing very dirty things.”

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