Page 79 of A Box of Wishes
“You’re all about fulfilling wishes, aren’t you?” Ben panted, breathless after reaching his release. “I’ve bloody dreamed of doing this again. Especially after we—”
“Me, too.” Ryan stretched, relishing the gentle drag of skin on skin. They’d have to get up and shower in a while, and Morris the alarm cat would wake them before they were ready, but for the moment he didn’t want to move. He wanted to bask.
If only his mind would let him.
Their dinner conversation had been light and careful. But there was something Ryan hadn’t said, and it nagged at him now.
“It doesn’t really matter,” he said, staring at the ceiling.
“What doesn’t?”
“How much furniture you have in your house. Or whether I sleep in the break room.”
“How can that not matter? Surely, moving out of your flat made you feel… sad, unsettled?”
Ryan remembered the day and nodded, even though Ben couldn’t see it in the dark. “Unsettled, certainly. But only because I had no other place lined up to move into. Not because I was particularly attached to that flat. It was just a house.”
“How do you mean?”
Ryan turned onto his side so he was facing Ben. “My gran told us that you build a house with walls and beams, but you make a home from hope and dreams. When I moved out of my flat, I realised that she was right. It was a house, not a home.”
“Despite your beautiful drawings?”
“Despite… My drawings didn’t make that flat any more home-like. Nor did I leave them behind.” He traced his fingertips over Ben’s scruffy cheek, along his strong jaw to his lips, back and forth until Ben caught his hand and twined their fingers.
“Would you want to make a home with me and Morris?” he asked, barely loud enough to be heard.
Ryan didn’t answer with words. He leaned over Ben and kissed him instead.
Rothcote High Street was busy with shoppers. With only a day to go, the race for cards, chocolates and flowers was hotting up. Ben ignored the queue at the florists and the groups milling outside the town’s gift and stationary shops. He had his eye on bigger game.
When the pavement cleared a little, he sped his steps and caught up to Paula. “Can I have a word, please?”
Paula squealed. Loudly. “Ben! For crying out loud, warn a woman! You almost gave me a heart attack.” She grinned up at him. “Why aren’t you at work?”
“Because I need help and I knew you were finishing your shift. Can I… I don’t know… you must be sick of coffee. Lunch? Can I buy you lunch?”
As if she had eyes in the back of her head, she stepped out of the way of an elderly couple and pulled him with her. “You’re too sweet for your own good, really you are. I’m glad you and Ryan have made up.”
“So am I, believe me. Now, lunch?”
“No, thank you. I have a baby to collect from the nursery. What is it you need?”
Ben felt his face heat. “I want to take Ryan out for Valentine’s Day.”
“I know,” she said. “His mother told us. Have you asked him yet?”
“That’s what I need help with.” Ben fished a tiny envelope from his pocket, red and pink and barely two inches long. “Do you think you could clip that to Morris’s collar tomorrow morning and make him take it to Ryan? I’ll come and pick Ryan up at nine.”
She didn’t roll her eyes, but Ben reckoned it was a close thing. “You two, honestly.” She took the envelope. “Did I say I’m glad you made up? Ryan can do with a spot of romance, even if it’s sappy. Consider it done.”
She didn’t wait for Ben to thank her.
The town hall clock struck nine, and Ben checked the basket in the backseat for the fifth time. It took up one whole seat and Ben had tied it down with the seatbelt to stop it moving. The basket held breakfast, a substantial lunch, a bottle of fizz, and a sketchpad and set of pencils. Ben had assembled it after dropping Ryan and Morris off at the coffeehouse, and before loading the car with cushions, blankets, and two umbrellas, even though no rain was forecast.
His plan to treat Ryan to a day out had come together without a hitch. Paula and Rebecca were managing the coffeehouse, while Alastair had offered to take Morris home for the night and spoil him rotten.
So why was Ben sitting in his car with hands shaking and heart beating almost out of his chest? Did he really believe that Ryan would turn him down?
