Page 83 of Poles Apart
“Do you think Joe and Seb will stay together?” He was curious to see what Dom thought.
“I think so, they seem happy enough, and Joe is completely head over heels for him. I’m so glad it worked out and that the stalker’s gone.”
“He died, Dom. He didn’t just go away.”
“I know that. But think how it would have been if there’d been a court case. It’s a shitty thing to say, but I think it was for the best all around.”
“Mm, maybe.” He hesitated for a moment, reluctant to know the answer to his next question. “Are you going to tell him about us?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?” Dom looked at him, his green eyes wide. “I didn’t want to tell him before, you know, when he had all this going on with Joe, but now it’s done, I’ll tell him. He’ll be fine with it. He might be a bit upset at first that I didn’t say, but he’ll get over it.”
Jacob hummed. He had another question too but wasn’t sure whether to ask it yet. His breath came quickly as his nerves grew.
“So, I was thinking… Why don’t we stop pretending and say that you’ve moved in already? Most of your stuff is here anyway, and didn’t you say Charlie pretty much lives at yours now? Jordan’s back to working part-time, so money isn’t an issue with him now.”
Dom gently laughed and stroked his face. “I have pretty much moved in, haven’t I? Do you think he’d notice if I didn’t go back?”
“He might, but I don't think he’ll mind. Do you?”
“I can’t believe that we’re here, eight years down the line. You and me, right where we were meant to be. I think I always knew you were the one. I was going to tell you too, you know? That night when it all changed. I was going to tell you I thought we should be boyfriends, but I didn't get the chance.
“But I'm telling you now, Jacob Greyson. You are my person, were always my person, and in a way, I’m glad we didn’t get together then because we wouldn’t have had all this time together now, and I wouldn’t want to change that for the world.”
Jacob didn’t know what to say. So he didn’t, but he did show Dom Tyler how much he meant to him. They always said that actions speak louder than words, and in this instance, his actions shouted his love for him.
Epilogue
Six months later
Jacob
Jacob hated January. The cold, the slush, the frost and most of all, the rain. Give him sunshine any day. A sandy beach, a cold cocktail and his boyfriend by his side.
Speaking of his boyfriend, they’d arranged to go to Molly’s Tea Shop for a well-earned slice of lemon drizzle cake and a hot pot of tea.
As usual, he couldn’t wait to see him, and he smiled at the thought of his little firecracker. Moving in together had been the best decision ever, and he thanked his lucky stars every single day that Dom had come back into his life.
But today had been brutal at work. He hadn’t realised how much admin would be involved with the Deputy Head’s job when he’d accepted it. Adding in his lesson planning as well, he reckoned he deserved this treat.
It was Friday afternoon, though, and he would be spending most of the weekend getting his work done, so a brief interlude at the tea shop was welcome. They had more plans for the weekend too, visiting Joe and Seb for dinner tomorrow, then Sunday lunch with Jordan and Charlie. Abby would be going with them, of course. They’d become one big happy family, which they’d both appreciated. It’d been the two of them for far too long.
They’d had an amazing Christmas, spending the day with Jordan and Charlie, who’d come round to the house for lunch and present opening, followed by an afternoon spent playing games and watching movies. It was the best fun they’d had in years. When Joe and Seb came to visit in the evening, sporting matching rings, it had made it all the more special.
A cold blast awakened him from his thoughts, and Jacob shivered, pulling the collar of his coat a little higher as the biting wind continued to blow. Jesus, it was enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, and why they couldn’t have had tea and cake at home, he didn’t know.
He walked a little quicker and arrived at Molly’s early. Dom would probably be late as usual, but as he entered the shop, he was surprised to see him waiting there. He stamped his feet and rubbed his hands together, trying to lessen the chill as he looked around. The tea shop hadn’t changed much. The decor still like an old parlour with pictures on the walls and lace tablecloths on the tables; mismatched chairs completed the look. But where were all the people?
Dom rose from his chair and came towards him, reaching up to give him a kiss.
“Hi, babe, you’re here!”
“Yeah, Jodie kept me behind a while to discuss some stuff, but I managed to sneak away.”
Dom laughed, and if Jacob didn’t know any better, he’d say he was nervous. He glanced from side to side, but he couldn’t have been looking for somewhere to sit. There wasn’t anyone else around. He thought it would have been heaving today with the weather, but a roaring fire in the hearth made the room warm and cosy.
Dom led them to a table, and as they sat, he gestured for the waitress to bring over their tea and cake. He must have ordered before he arrived, but it was no problem; Jacob ordered the same thing each time, a pot of hot tea and a slice of lemon drizzle cake. Dom changed his mind like the weather, though, never deciding until the last minute what he wanted to eat. Today he’d ordered carrot cake, and they thanked the young girl as she placed it all in front of them.
“Mm, I needed this today. I can’t believe how cold it is and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was going to snow.” Jacob was unnerved by Dom’s silence. Something was definitely wrong.
