Page 7 of Our Bright Christmas Town
“Why what?”
“Things never work out for him. And it seems there’s enough disappointment he doesn’t see them after.”
As a matter of fact, I hadn’t. Most of Ashby’s boyfriends I’d never met—they just kind of came and went without leaving much of a trace, rarely warranting an introduction to his friends.
I took another sip of hot chocolate, frowning. “What are you implying?”
“Two things.” Dom dropped his voice, uncommonly serious. “Or three, maybe. I’m thinking as I speak, so bear with me. Okay, one—is he really not the commitment type? In which case, how would you feel about being just a passing fling?”
Surprisingly... not very good. I pressed my lips together and waited for Dom to continue.
“Or two,ishe the commitment type—which, yes when it comes to literally anything else—but there’s someone who already holds that spot? Like, say, the same bloke who made him act like a jealous prat when I started tagging along. The same bloke who’d be the first person he’d call with good news, or if he needed someone to bail him out of jail.”
Something hot expanded in my chest. “You think so?”
“I don’t know.” Dom’s mouth twisted into a little smile. “If so, he might have told Jude or Ezra—they’re closer to him than I am. Doubt they’d blab, though.”
I inhaled around the treacherous spark of hope that glowed behind my sternum. It was possible, at least. Dom sure seemed to think so, and he was far more perceptive than people gave him credit for.Ifhe was right, andifAshby had confided in anyone...
In our final school year, the five of us had been near-inseparable—Ashby and me, Dom and his big laugh, Jude’s gentle air, and Ezra’s quiet humour. The two of them had stayed in town, Ezra as a teacher and Jude as a policeman. Once Dom and I had left for uni, we kept meeting up on weekends until our London move, but the other three hung out several times a week.So, yeah. If Ashby were to tell anyone—if there was anything to tell—he’d confide in one or both of them.
“Yeah, no.” I shook my head. “Even if, you know... There’s no way they’d rat him out.”
“Agreed.” Dom took a healthy swig of his hot chocolate, then fixed me with a clear gaze. “Anyway, so.Three. Let’s say I’m right, let’s say he wants your body?—”
“Wants my body?” I cut in. “That sounds like some hair-metal band doing their best sultry growl.”
Dom laughed. “Guilty as charged. But my point is, okay, let’s say I’m right. If I am, then you’d be the reason his relationships never go anywhere—and I don’t think a quick shag is what he’d want from you.”
Oh.
Sweetness coated my tongue. I swallowed, and then swallowed again. “You think he might be, like... in love with me?”
“I’m saying it’s possible. And if he is...” Dom’s lips quirked upwards. “He might not be terribly keen to be your short-lived gay experiment.”
I sat up, something strange and cold clamped around my ribs. “It’s Ashby. He could never be just that.”
“And is that what you told him?” Dom asked.
I opened my mouth to say yes—and closed it again. Because, nope. Of course not. I hadn’t even told him what I really wanted, so… “It was implied,” I said. “Kind of.”
With a tilt of his head, Dom raised his mug as if in a toast. “Well, then. Food for thought.”
Yeah. It was.
I took a breath and clinked my cup against Dom’s. “Thanks, mate.”
He contemplated me for a second, then grinned, easy as anything. “You know, I thought about a quip—like how youshould name your firstborn after me. But it’s Christmas, so I’ll embrace my inner sap and say: you’re most welcome, mate. Anytime.” A short pause. “Plus, I think you and Ashby are more likely to adopt a dog than a baby.”
Me and Ashby.
“You’re a riot,” I said flatly, stomach tight with the sudden memory of how I’d asked to accompany Ashby to the shelter, help him pick a dog.
Just a friends thing, though. Wasn’t it?
“I can do your eyes.”
At Shelly’s offer, I stopped fiddling with my hair and turned away from the mirror. My sister sauntered into the bathroom, bundled up in a garish Christmas jumper with reindeer and bells that tinkled when she moved. It rather clashed with my fitted black jeans and slim turtleneck.
