Page 64 of The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose
Jonah rested his chin on Dexter’s chest to look at him. “Because I’m a mess?”
“Well, yeah,” Dexter said with brutal honesty. “I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine. I’m just worried about my mum.”
Dexter pouted slightly and ran a hand through Jonah’s hair as he leaned into Dexter’s touch. “I know. But you’re doing the best thing right now, talking to her and your aunt every day.”
“I think I’m going to go to Cornwall next weekend, head up Sunday morning and come back Tuesday in time for the show in the evening.”
“I’m sure she would appreciate that.”
“You can come with me if you want.”
Dexter’s top lip twitched slightly. “Really?”
“She’s been going on about me finding a boyfriend for ages. It might cheer her up if you came along.”
“Boyfriend?”
Jonah groaned and rested his head back on Dexter’s chest. “Don’t start with the cockiness. I don’t have the energy.”
“I just didn’t know that’s what we were calling each other now.”
“What else would we call each other? Non-casual sleeping partners? Man friends? Person I like but isn’t my boyfriend?”
“Okay, okay.” He laughed, his chest moving as he did. “You don’t need to be so salty. I like it. Jonah Penrose is my boyfriend.”
“Aren’t you lucky?”
“The luckiest.” His grip on Jonah’s waist tightened. “I will come to Cornwall with you.”
“Yeah?” Jonah tipped his head to look at him. “Really?”
“Really.” The smile Dexter gave him could melt icebergs. He held the sun, Jonah was sure of it; he could light up any room with that smile of his. Jonah wanted to know how he did it, how he always looked so golden and beautiful.
“I love you,” Jonah whispered, and he didn’t regret saying it. He didn’t feel the need to hide behind sarcasm or maybes anymore; he knew how Dexter made butterflies flutter in his chest, and he wanted him to know just what that meant to him.
“I love you too.” Dexter kept his sunshine smile. “But only this much.”He held up his hand and pinched his fingers together, showing only about a centimeter of space between them.
“You’re such a dick,” Jonah said as he batted his hand away.
“But you love me.”
“Yeah, I really do.”
The Forge welcomed its guests with golden chandeliers and white-tiled floors polished to within an inch of their lives. The light from the crystals cascading from the fixtures above reflected on the flooring, creating a stunning kaleidoscope of colors Jonah focused on while he tried to stop his palms from sweating. Melanie sat opposite him, her phone in hand as she scrolled through her never-ending inbox. Jonah picked up the napkin neatly folded on the side plate in front of him and wiped his hands on it.
Melanie glanced up from her phone and raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”
“My hands are so bloody sweaty she’s going to think I’m a tap.”
Melanie gave a laugh, then sipped at the sparkling water she ordered. “Relax. She’s not scary, Jonah.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“Did you... did you tell Dexter about meeting Julianna today?” She fished the slice of lemon out of her drink with one of her nails, then squeezed it into the water before dropping the rind onto her napkin.
“Nope. I stayed hush-hush.”
