Page 16 of Love Around the Corner

“And batteries,” her husband added. “Plenty of them.”

Nodding to all this, Carter kept writing as others chipped in with ideas. Leo stayed silent, not sure what to add. Were they expected to buy all this themselves? His business wasn’t exactly flourishing and—

“There’s two hundred dollars in the kitty,” Dee said, in anticipation of his concern. Or maybe she’d just read the dismay on his face. “Give me the receipts and we’ll repay you guys what you spend.” She sent Leo a meaningful smile. “It’ll be a fun trip, huh? A good opportunity for you and Alfie to get to know each other.”

“Sure,” he said weakly. “Great.”

The meeting moved on to other issues—sufficient lighting and power for the market stalls, making sure the kids were safe near the giant Christmas tree, whether or not Finn Callaghan was going to be there. “Maybe,” said his sister-in-law. “It depends on his filming schedule. But he’ll definitely be back for the Christmas party. We’d love to see you all there, too.”

God, the Callaghan Christmas party. Next to Leo, Carter shifted uneasily and stared straight ahead, a flush on his cheeks. Was he remembering their run-in last year? Leo certainly was. They’d both said some choice things…

No offence, Carter, but I prefer the more cerebral type.

Arrogant, prissy little prick. I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last gay man on earth.

Awkward.

After another round of coffees, and the rest of the pumpkin cake, the meeting wound up. Leo stood and pulled on his coat. He wanted to talk to Carter, maybe discuss what had happened last Christmas, but didn’t know whether he dared. He lingered self-consciously while Carter gave Dee a hug and said goodbye, and then she caught Leo’s arm, stopping him before he could follow Carter out.

“Did you tell him?” she said in a low voice.

Leo shook his head. “I will.”

“Make sure you do.” Then she gave him a quick, hard hug and let him go. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had hugged him. Not for the whole year, probably. Not since Grayson. He was still considering that as he stepped outside, and was brought up short when he found Carter waiting outside, hands thrust into his coat pockets.

“Hey,” he said, looking awkward. “You, ah, wanna go run our errands tomorrow evening?”

“Sure.” Leo tugged on his hat and Carter gave him a little smile as they fell into step together and headed down the street. Leo lived in rooms above his store and Carter had a nice looking house behind his shop. So they were neighbors, of a sort. Not that they’d been very neighborly this last year.

“I figure we’ll get everything we need at the superstore in Commack,” Carter said. “We can take my truck.”

Leo agreed and they fell into a difficult silence. From the corner of his eye, he watched Carter in the steady orange glow of the street lights. Carter, but also Camaro89—someone Leo cared about. Carter frowned as they walked, his hat pulled low over his ears, gaze straight ahead. He looked pensive, as if he were wrestling with an unpleasant thought. Leo could guess what it was. “Ah, listen,” he said, screwing up his courage. “About what happened last Christmas…”

Carter flung him a glance. “Don’t worry about it—”

“Thing is,” Leo said over him, “it wasn’t a good time for me. I was just coming out of a bad break-up and I wasn’t looking for—”

“It’s fine.” Carter threw him a sheepish look. “I, uh, seem to remember over-reacting.”

“I guess we can both be… prickly sometimes.”

“It happens when you don’t fit the mold, right?”

“Right.” Leo smiled because, yeah, that was it exactly. Leo had never fit the mold—too smart, too nerdy, too gay—and he supposed Carter hadn’t either. His macho looks didn’t exactly scream classic literature enthusiast.

“And for the record,” Carter went on, his smile broadening. “I’ddefinitelysleep with you if you were the last gay guy on the planet.”

“Thanks,” Leo said, blushing as he laughed. “I’ll bear that in mind.”

They walked on in a lighter mood. “I’ve, uh, never listened to an audio book,” Leo confessed after a while.

“I figured. What with owning a used bookstore and all.”

“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with them,” he added quickly. It was important to him that Carter believed that; he didn’t want to sound like he was being patronizing. “I’ve just never… I don’t know, considered it. When do you listen?” Doubtfully, he added, “In bed? I’d probably fall asleep.”

Carter chuckled. “No, I can’t listen to them in bed. I’d be out like a light. I used to listen to them with my dad. That’s how I started, actually. These days I do a lot of listening while I’m working and when I’m driving. Or cooking.” Another smile, a little wistful Leo thought. “I like to cook, even though there’s only me now. It’s one of my favorite things, cooking while I’m listening to a good book.” He shook his head. “I can’t actually figure out how you have time to just sit down and read.”

Leo gave a tight smile. “No social life, I guess.”

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