Page 15 of Strawberry Moon
“Absolutely not,” I say obediently.
Her face clears. “Oh, no need at all, boys.” She smiles at Harry. “I realised a few months ago that I was imposing het norms on you. After all, the homosexual community doesn’t like to conform to cis sensibilities.”
I’m vastly entertained by this and fight the urge to laugh, but Harry’s expression has become even more wild. “What onearth? Where did you get all that from?”
His mum tuts. “Althea at the golf club. We’re the only two ladies who have gay sons, so we always have a nice chat in the bar while your father and her husband are on the course. You knew her son, Neil, didn’t you? I bet you never guessed he was gay.”
Harry coughs and mutters, “I might have had an inkling.”
“He’s married to two lovely men now.”
“What?”
“Oh yes. His husbands are big and very hairy. Althea says they’re moose.” She looks thoughtful. “What is the plural of moose, anyway?”
Harry stares at her. “Moose.”
“Good heavens, that’s easy. Good job you have a bookshop.”
“Yes, this moment is theexactreason I bought it.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile, and she drifts over to the bed to plump up the pillows. “So, Neil’s husbands Phil and Brad are moose.”
“Do you mean bears?” I offer.
Harry looks as though he’s been struck over the head with something heavy.
Her face lights up. “Maybe. It’s something that lives in Canada, anyway. You’re so clever, darling. Thank you. I must have you on my team at Christmas for Trivial Pursuit. Anyway,Neil and his husbands came to stay for Christmas, and Althea looked into getting one of those special beds they make in America for just these sorts of social situations, but her spare room isn’t very big, so they ended up with a small double and a camp bed instead. I believe they rotated.”
She pats Harry on the shoulder, offering him a vague smile. “See you at dinner, darling,” she murmurs and drifts out of the room, leaving us standing in silence which I promptly break by collapsing onto the bed in a fit of giggles.
CHAPTER THREE
The corner of Harry’s mouth lifts as I chuckle and snort. Eventually, I sober and sit up. “Okay. I’m ready.”
He blinks. “What for?”
“Your freakout.” I gesture to him. “Give it to me. I amready.”
For a second, the green in his eyes glows, and then he sighs and rubs his eyes. “The things you say.”
Concern floods me. “Are you alright?” I knee walk along the bed until I’m in front of him. I grab his T-shirt and immediately get a little distracted by how the fabric is warm from his skin. Then I remember what I’m doing and pull him forward. “Do you want to tell them it was a joke and we’re just friends?” I ask.
He scrutinises my face, and for once, I can’t read his expression. “Doyouwant to?”
My instinctive reaction is a resounding no. I like being able to stand close to him and put my hand in his and feel his arm come over my shoulder, but more important than those silly longings are Harry’s feelings.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” I say, smiling at him. I raise my hand daringly and stroke his cheek, feeling the sharpness of the bone and the soft, crushed-silk texture of his skin. “I just want you to be happy.”
His eyes are very green, and I fall into them. Then he nods as if he’s come to a decision. “We’ll leave it as it is.”
We watch each other for a few seconds longer, and then I smile at him. “I’ll unpack if you want to have a shower.”
“A shower?”
“A thing in the bathroom that gets you wet. Goodness, it’s a good job I work in your wordy bookshop.”
He rolls his eyes, looking more like himself. When he steps away, it feels as though he’s taking all the warmth in the room with him. “Okay, if you don’t mind.”
