Page 160 of Fe
When Ripley came back, Fen had cut the bread in half and was sitting on the couch with two plates, and most of his sandwich eaten.
“Mum’s messaged me,” Fen said.
Ripley dropped down at his side.
Fen read “Right decision, sweetheart. Proud of you.”He finished his half of the sandwich. “That was so good.”
“Do you want something to drink?”
“I’m fine.” Fen began to take off his clothes. “I want to get out there while it’s still snowing. We’ll be like those snow monkeys in Japan. Macaques. The older ones are dominated by the younger ones. Dips in the hot springs lower their stress levels.”
“Is that right?”
“Hurry up, please.”
Ripley laughed. “Please? Is that you dominating me?”
“Yes. Go and take the cover off and check the temperature. I didn’t say please.” Fen whined. “It was really hard not to.”
Fen wrapped the towel around himself as Ripley took off his clothes. Maybe this was their last night. Maybe this was all he’d get. He grabbed lube while Ripley wasn’t looking.
When Ripley beckoned him from the tub, Fen slipped outside and closed the door behind him. Ripley had dropped his towel under the protection of a chair and Fen put his on top. In his hurry to climb into the water, he slipped and would have crashed down hard if Ripley hadn’t caught him. He pulled Fen to his side and held his hand.
“All right?” Ripley asked.
Fen nodded. “Thanks. I missed my footing.” He sank down until only his head was out of the water. “Think they were shocked I turned down the money?”
“Yes.”
“You told me I should have taken it.”
“The £750,000, and then they offered a million. Shows how bad I am at that sort of negotiation.”
Fen tipped his head back and caught a flake of snow on his tongue. “You get why I turned it down, though.”
“I do. Not many people would have done that.”
“A life-changing sum but it couldn’t changemylife.”
“It would have taken you to Japan and back. More than that.”
“But not made up for everything Jack Miller didn’t do. By the way, I had a slight problem giving you your money back. The bank clerk asked me about fraud and money laundering.”
“Ouch.”
“I think I managed to reassure her.”
“Think?”
“You’ll have to wait and see if you get a call from the police.”
“There’s nothing illegal about giving someone money and them changing their mind.”
Fen shrugged. “I really don’t care about money. I care about having enough to get by. I don’t want to be in debt. But money doesn’t guarantee happiness. It can’t solve everything.
“Like poor health.”
Fen nodded. “That was the reason I decided to leave.”
