Page 110 of Commitment Issues
Chapter Forty-Six
Elliot
The early morning sun’s streaming through the window, bathing Freddie in soft gold. He’s so peaceful and relaxed, as he sleeps, his hair tumbled and his breath quietly puffing from his slightly parted lips.
We’ve been home from his parents for a couple of days, and we’ve spent most of the time in bed. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve made love. Sometimes it’s been ten shades of fast and filthy, but other times slow and tender. But there have been plenty of kisses and cuddles, too, entwined in each other’s arms, both of us holding on tight to what we so nearly lost.
Freddie mutters something as he stretches and yawns, his eyes flickering open. He smiles, as bright and sunny as ever, and my heart melts the way it always does when he looks at me.
“Morning,” he says, his voice sleep-rough. “What’s the time?”
“It’s late. Seven o’clock.”
Freddie snorts, and shakes his head.
I’d normally be at work, already shackled to my desk. But not today, and not for the rest of the week. I’ve sent Perry a message, telling him to cancel all my appointments, because I’m taking a holiday.
“We’ve got the whole day ahead of us. What do you want to do?” I trail my fingers through Freddie’s hair. I don’t mind what we do, as long as we’re together.
A shadow passes over Freddie’s face, and I know what’s going through his mind. I’m having none of it. I tug a lock of his hair, and he yelps.
“Stop it,” I say, trying my best to sound stern.
“Can’t help it.” He looks up at me, his lips twisted in a downwards curve. “It seems so unfair. Just as we’ve found each other, I’m going away. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be gone.”
“Freddie, you’re going to Oslo, not the dark side of the moon. It’s a two hour flight. It took me longer than that to drive to your parents.”
“S’pose,” he says, but he’s still looking glum.
I don’t blame him, because he’s right, we have just found each other. Properly found each other, as the lovers and partners I know in my heart we were always meant to be. I’m going to miss him so much, but there’s no way he’s not going to grab the wonderful opportunity he’s been given with both hands.
“Nos’poseabout it.”
He shifts himself up to sitting. “You’re right, I know you are. And I am excited about it, but nervous as well. You are still coming out there with me, aren’t you?” His eyes are wide, as though he’s afraid I’ll say no. There’s not the slightest chance of that, because I don’t think I’ll ever be able to refuse him anything, ever.
“Of course I am. We’ll discover the city together.”
“But you don’t need to discover it, because you already know it.”
“Not with you.”
Freddie answers with a smile, and my heart twists and turns and tumbles. Bright and bold, mixed with shy and bashful. The smile that’s so Freddie.
“I’d like that,” he says quietly. “And like you say, it’s only a couple of hours away. Just a short hop, really. You’ll be coming over—”
“A lot. I’ve got business interests in Oslo I need to keep a close eye on,” I say, smiling.
“Only business interests?”
“Well, maybe there’s another interest I need to keep warm.”
“Oh, I think you need to keep that other interest very warm,” he says as he crushes his lips to mine.
Freddie
“It’s all down to me, you know, this epic love story.” Cosmo crosses his arms over his chest, as he leans against the frame of my bedroom door.
I’m sorting through all my stuff. My room’s in a mess. Books, papers, clothes, they’re everywhere. I’ve got to decide what I’m taking with me to Oslo, in just four days’ time, but it’s proving almost impossible. I sit back on my heels and look up at my friend.
