Page 74 of Deep Down
None of the beds in the second or third shop took Craig’s fancy, but when he entered the fourth one, he found it. It was a king-size bed with antique pine head and footboards with a complicated pattern embossed into them. Craig fell in love and ordered it straight away. The shop had wanted it delivered the next day, but Craig explained he had nowhere to put it until the room was done, and they agreed to deliver it in four days. It could be too far ahead, but he might be able to bring the delivery forward if they were ahead of schedule—whatever the schedule would be.
Craig had been enjoying himself until he remembered he had to get boxes. It brought a slight shadow to his good day, but once it was done, he’d hopefully never have to deal with it again.
Last thing on his list was paint, and Craig carried it all back to his car and drove home.
When Max returned to start the job, he’d brought with him several of the other guys: Sean, Zak, Ethan and Josh. He’d seen Josh several times at Crush but hadn’t spoken to him. He knew Josh was close friends with everyone.
When Max saw what Craig had achieved the previous day, Max was amazed. He said he’d been expecting everyone to get to cleaning out the room first, but Craig had made things easier. Max ordered Josh and Zak to get dismantling the wardrobe because it wouldn’t fit through the door. Sean and Ethan were charged with taking apart the bed. Craig was issued with removing the curtains, the bedside tables and the chairs.
Once the room was empty of everything, Max held out cloths to everyone, and the floor was covered. Setting the paint tins in the middle of the room with rollers and everything else, Max instructed everyone what he wanted them to do.
By lunchtime, the ceiling had been painted, and several paint-splattered friends sat on the floor in the living room, munching the club sandwiches he’d made and talking about their families and friends.
“Craig, why did you decide to redecorate?” Ethan asked. Craig watched Zak nudge him and shake his head, and Ethan shrugged back, his expression confused.
“No, it’s fine, Zak.” Craig inhaled and lowered his sandwich. “It has come to my attention recently that my ex-boyfriend is an asshole.”
Everyone could hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence before Sean, Max and Zak howled in laughter. Craig knew those three would understand his comment because he’d briefly—very briefly—explained his situation when they’d been out one night.
“What are you laughing at?” Ethan asked, frown lines deepening in his forehead. Josh stayed silent but raised his eyebrows.
“My ex was abusive.” Craig paused. Every time he had to admit he was stupid for putting up with it, he felt ashamed. Something he would eventually have to get over or put up with. “I hadn’t understood how bad it had become. When he tried to kill me, and almost succeeded, everything became clearer. And with the help of people from the hospital.”
“Like Casey and Alex.” Sean nodded.
“And Logan.” Craig couldn’t forget how much Logan had helped him. “I’m redecorating because I want my house back. It used to be mine. Until Darren moved in. Now I want it back again. Ineedit back again.” Craig stared at his sandwich, unsure if he wanted to finish it.
“Well, this will make you laugh.” Ethan had kept them amused all morning with his jokes. “A girl went home happy, telling her mum about how she earned twenty pounds by climbing a tree. Her mum said, “They wanted to see your pants!” The girl replied, “See, Mum, I told you I was smart. I took them off first.””
“Oh my god, you are the worst, Ethan.” Zak threw a piece of bread at him while the rest of the group chuckled under their breath.
Craig studied the people surrounding him. Here were five guys he’d not known long, and they were helping him redecorate, distracting him and making him one of them. He wasn’t sure if he should laugh or cry. So, he sat there instead, basking in the feeling of having friends again.
