Page 71 of Key Change

“Agreed.”

“Did you used to come here?” Was this where Anthony took his boyfriends before?

“No. Never been here. I wanted to try something new with you.” Anthony brushed his fingers over the back of Cillian’s hand. “Make new memories. A new life.”

A smile curved his lips. “In my old apartment.”

“It’s an easy train ride for me, and I work normal hours. You aren’t worried that I’ll sell all your furniture while you’re away?”

Cillian finished the glass of bubbly. “Spoken like someone who hasn’t peeked beneath the sofa covering.”

“What do you mean?”

He topped up his glass. “That sofa was there when my friend got the apartment. It has been around the block more than once and has some stories to tell.”

“Don’t we all.”

“True. I put the white cover on it, hoping to make the place appear bigger and less like a university dive, but it shows every ginger hair.”

Anthony laughed. “Maybe it’s time for a new cover.”

“Have you got secret interior design skills?”

“Not really. I used to pay someone to do that.”

“Welcome to living like the rest of us.”

Something flickered in Anthony’s eyes. “Can I ask what you did with your competition wins?”

Cillian paused, even though it was a valid question. “Why?”

“You don’t have a flashy car or lifestyle, but you seem very comfortable.”

“I am. Because I don’t live a flashy life. With the first small one, I bought the piano, With the bigger one, I bought the car and invested the rest. I don’t want to retire a penniless artist on my brother’s farm in the middle of nowhere, so I am fairly careful how I spend my income.” Money wasn’t something they’d talked about aside from the fact that he earned it in a variety of ways and Anthony had lost all of his.

Anthony nodded. “I won’t be retiring penniless either.”

“Why’s that? I thought it was gone?”

“Everything except my superannuation. With compound interest over the next thirty years…” Anthony picked up his glass and smiled. “I had a good lawyer.”

“This is not a prelude to you…?” He didn’t want to say “return to a life of crime,” even though that’s what he meant.

“No. I’m not going back. It was hollow and lonely, and I’d much rather curl up on your dodgy sofa with you and Snap than be making deals of any kind. I mean that. I love you, and I don’t want to fuck this up.”

Cillian drew in a sharp breath. “I love you, too.”

That had become clear while they were staying apart. He’d missed Anthony far too much for it to be anything but love.

Anthony reached into his pocket, and Cillian nearly died.

“This is for you. While you’re away.” Anthony held out a slip of paper.

Cillian accepted the paper and scanned it. A smile curved his lips as he realized what it was from. “We should make sure the app works before I leave.”

Anthony nodded; lips pressed together.

“Are you…?” He lifted his brows and looked at Anthony and then the paper, which held the details to connect the app and the plug.

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