Page 65 of Animal Instincts
“To travel. It’s what twenty-two year olds do. A backpack, and a ticket to Australia, via the Far East. It’s a well trodden path, but an exciting one for all that, and a world away from a tucked away Devonian village.”
Joss stopped, forcing Oliver to do the same.
“No, I’ve never wanted to do that. Holidays are one thing, but living out of a backpack, sharing dorm accommodation and shower blocks.” Joss shuddered.
“And you’re the man who suggested camping.”
Oliver smiled. It was small but it was there, bringing with it a measure of relief.
“Okay, maybe not one of my brightest ideas.”
In silence, they carried on up the hill. Silence could be good, easy and companionable, but this, between him and Oliver, didn’t feel anything close to that. It was off-kilter, charged, heavy, as though a storm was threatening.
“He’s wrong,” Joss burst out. “Gary was always sneery about the village. In fact he was sneery about most things, when I think about it. He hated living here, but it was because his family situation was bad. Both his parents were drinkers, and his dad was in and out of work all the time, so they never had much. I’m not surprised he wanted to get out as soon as he could. But his situation wasn’t mine.”
They reached the door that bypassed the practice, the one which took them straight into Oliver’s comfortable and familiar home, a home Joss admitted only to himself was feeling more and more like his home, too.
“But he’s fulfilled his ambition, hasn’t he?” Oliver said, turning to Joss as he opened the door and they went inside.
And you haven’t…Joss’ stomach flipped at the implication in Oliver’s words. He wouldn’t let them bother him, wouldn’t let them crawl under his skin.
“Ambitions can change, or rather how you want them to play out.”
Every single word was true, and Joss believed them because he was living proof, yet they somehow felt limp and not enough.
“Are you staying over?”
Oliver’s words were ones of invite, but there was a coolness to them. Joss hesitated. He had expected to stay the night, the way he so often did as, as though it were a given.
Oliver said nothing, silently waiting for an answer.
Joss shook his head. “I want to check in on Gran, so I won’t tonight.” Gran, who was the last person who needed checking in on. “Plus you need to be away early tomorrow, for your conference.”
Oliver groaned. “Three days, and over five hundred vets. In Milton Keynes. God knows why I let myself be roped into being on panels, and making the closing speech.”
“Sounds… fun.”
Oliver huffed, but a small smile danced over his lips. “Sounds like something, but I’m not sure it’s fun. It’ll be full on, and I have to hit the road by 5.00am.”
“Then you’d best get an early night.”
“I guess you’re right.”
All of Joss’ intentions to send Oliver on his way in the morning, sated and blissed out, had crumbled to nothing. The evening had become strained, and he was going home to Gran, the TV turned to another cosy mystery re-run, and his narrow, empty bed.
“Hey, come here.” Oliver stepped forward and enveloped Joss in a huge hug, pulling him into his body and nuzzling into Joss’ hair.
Joss closed his eyes and sighed when Oliver tilted his face up and pressed his lips to his. The kiss was long and sweet, but over all too soon when Oliver eased him away, removing all his delicious warmth..
“I’ll call you as soon as I get there, and as often as I can but it’s—”
“Going to be full on. I know. I’ll see you when you get home.” Joss kissed his fingers, and pressed them briefly to Oliver’s lips, before turning away.
Behind him the door closed, leaving Joss alone on the empty little street, shuddering as a sudden gust of wind, edged with a sharp chill, blew through him, goose bumping his skin and sending a shiver through his blood.
THIRTY-FIVE
Oliver almost shoved the last client out the door before he rammed the bolt home and turned the lock. It’d been a long and hectic day, and it had been just him as it had been a café day for Joss.
