Page 48 of Now Comes the Dark

He'd realised in that moment what a terrible company he worked for and that he needed to get out. If they decided to lay him off, they’d be doing him a favour.

The walk home was long, dark and cold but he felt a strange positivity. He’d made a small stand and was no longer prepared to take the shit life threw at him. If it meant giving up his life in the city and returning to the coast, it would not be the end of the world. It could be the start of something new…something better.

As he turned the corner at the top of the street, he saw the lights were on in the apartment. Ashley was home already.Roman hoped he was alone. The mood he was in right now, if he found Patrick spread out on the sofa, he might tell him exactly what he thought of him and throw the fucker out of the door.

As he drew closer, he was aware of someone outside, pacing in front of the steps that led to the entrance.

It was Mallon.

Mallon turned as he approached. He was dressed in jeans and the fur-trimmed flying jacket with a cigarette clamped between his fingers. He dropped the cigarette and ground it out with his shoe, kicking it into the gutter.

“What are you doing here?”

Mallon stepped closer. His eyes were large, glistening pools in the light of the streetlamp. “I had to see you. I didn’t want to text or call. I needed to see you for real, to explain.”

Roman sighed. Despite the anger that had filled him the night before, he was glad to see him. “How did you even know where to find me?”

“It wasn’t hard. You’re famous now. It’s been driving me crazy, not seeing you. After our call last night, I realised how badly I’ve handled things. I fucked up, and I’m sorry. I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am.”

“I have a lot to deal with at the minute. The smallest thing triggers my anger.”

“It’s freezing out here. Can we talk inside? Please?”

Roman climbed the steps to the front door. “Follow me.”

His heart sank when he entered the flat and heard Ashley and Patrick talking in the living room.Fuck.On top of everything else, he didn’t need that bastard.

“This way.” He led Mallon straight to his bedroom and closed the door behind them.

It was a relief to see he’d made the bed and straightened the place up before leaving for work that morning, not that he could remember doing it. The morning seemed a lifetime ago. He tookoff his jacket and hung it on the back of the door, gesturing for Mallon to do the same.

“I would show you around, but my flatmates boyfriend is a piece of shit, and I don’t have it in me to deal with him right now.”

“Why don’t you get a place of your own?”

Roman snorted softly. Like his mother, Mallon hadn’t a clue how life was for regular working people in the city. “If only it were that easy.”

Mallon hung up his jacket. He wore a checked shirt underneath. The red, white and blue colours looked stunning on him. He rummaged in the inside pocket, producing an envelope. “I got you a small present. Just a token to try and make it up to you.”

Roman took the envelope and opened it. There were two tickets to the next Blyham FC home match that Saturday.

Mallon looked at him hopefully. “You said you’d like to go but couldn’t afford the tickets. I thought we could go together.”

He returned the tickets to the envelope and handed them back. Mallon’s optimistic smile faded.

“Sorry. I’d love to, but I’m visiting my parents next weekend. I’ve already committed myself and can’t let them down.” A dark, sadistic part of him enjoyed the flicker of hurt that passed over Mallon’s face. His usual self-confidence, arrogance and ego were absent. For the first time, Roman saw doubt in Mallon’s eyes.

“Oh. Okay.” Mallon stared at the envelope. “Well, maybe we can go another time, when you are free.”

Roman relented. “I’d like that. Just run the date by me first next time.”

Mallon nodded and tossed the tickets onto Roman’s dresser. “Maybe you know someone who can use these instead. Give them to a friend or colleague.”

They stood, looking at one another, the silence lengthening and deepening. Roman didn’t know what to say. He’d never been in this situation before. He felt so strongly for Mallon, wanted him more than any man ever, but there was a gulf between them. The last forty-eight hours had made him realise they barely knew each other at all.

“I don’t know how to do this,” Mallon admitted, letting out an exasperated laugh. “It’s all so fucking strange.”

This side of him was new. In the time they’d known each other, it was the first glimpse of vulnerability Roman had seen. “What is it that you find so difficult?”

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