Page 57 of Drink Up, Darling
“He will understand. I promise. He’ll be okay.”
Dariel nodded. “We were destined to meet him. Meet each other. It can’t be for nothing,” he stated, though it was more as a reassurance to himself.
The pair dressed, Dariel making note of the way Athens moved as he pulled on a stylishly tattered, knitted dark grey jumper over a thin, black vest top, and slid on baggy, black cotton lounge trousers. Dariel only brought bed shorts, not quite having prepared himself for the evening they ended up having. He thought back to the night before as he stepped out of the taxi—the thoughts that plagued him then. It felt like a lifetime ago.
“Need to borrow a t-shirt?” Athens asked, clearly watching the cogs whir in Dariel’s mind.
Before he had a chance to respond, an oversized white tee was thrown his way. “Don’t worry about giving it back.”
They headed back towards the main bedroom, the winter birds chirping outside with sunlight beginning to beam through every window along the landing. The dawn of a new day.
Dariel entered first, his fresh clothes cool against his skin still, waves reformed in his now dried hair.
Godwin was awake, propped up on pillows with a book on his lap. He’d been up and about, drawing open the curtains and dressing himself in soft pyjamas. Dariel held a breath as he stared at the scene, but at Godwin’s solemn smile, he sighed.
“Good morning,” Godwin said, flopping the paperback shut and wiping his eyes under his glasses.
Dariel’s chest lurched.He’s okay.“Good morning.”
Athens appeared from behind and held Dariel’s shoulder.
“Gentlemen,” Godwin said, pushing himself back against the pillows slightly, placing the book on the bedside table. “Did yousleep well?” he asked, though Dariel knew that wasn’t the main question he wanted to ask.
“Pleasantly.” Athens pinched Dariel’s ass. “You?”
There was a mild heat in the room, the unspoken question waiting in the shadows.
Then Godwin asked it. Inhaling; brows tight. “Why didn’t you do as I asked?”
Before answering, the vampires went up to join him on the bed, Godwin moving to accommodate them both. Athens lay down in the middle, hand caressing Godwin’s chest. “I like you too much to kill you, darling.”
Darling.Memories of the night before, all the way up to a few hours ago washed over Dariel’s brain in a tidal wave.
Godwin didn’t let his seriousness fade. “Why did you really not do it?”
He doesn’t remember.
Athens looked away from them both, hair flicking over the sheets. “You never wanted to die.”
To this, Godwin didn’t react, which said enough to Dariel. He agreed.
“What we did last night, everything—every moment… I thought I was ready. It was everything I’d hoped for and more but…”
“You didn’t want it to end,” Athens finished for him.
Godwin winced a smile for the briefest moment. “Perhaps not.”
“Well it’s always good when we’re all in agreement, isn’t it?” Athens looked back to their host. “And it doesn’t have to end.”
“But my memories, what you are…” Godwin startled forward. “I wish to keep them, please don’t take them. I will never tell a soul.”
Dariel sat upright at the base of the bed, eyes fixed to the other two men. “We’re not leaving, and we’ll stay for as long as you’d like. Nothing will happen to your memories.”
“I don’t understand, you’re both so young looking and attractive, you have your whole lives ahead of you—infinite lives! Why would you waste your time with me, here? It makes no sense.”
“Does it not? Or does it just not make sense to you? Because Dariel and I are very content with our decision,” Athens promised, tone sharp.
Godwin still stared at them both in disbelief. “But I can’t…” He shook his head. “I won’t ever fall in love… not romantically.”
