Page 149 of He's the One

“If he discovers he’s not split us up, then yes. He wants the last word.”

“It’s harassment.” Theo forked up a piece of battered haddock and blew on it. “He’d be in trouble with the police.”

“He’s so obsessed with coming out on top, he’s blind to the damage he’s doing to himself. Though I have the impression your father thinks he has a way to stop him.”

“I don’t care if it is in the papers about me being gay,” Theo said.

“Except the way you come out should be the way you choose, not the one someone else has chosen for you. Especially not my dickhead of an ex.”

“I really love you,” Theo whispered.

Col smiled. “I really love you too.”

“Enough to give me the rest of your chips?”

“Not that much.” Then Col sighed. “Fine.” He handed them over. “Want to risk the sand again before we head back to the house? It’s daylight this time so I’m not sure if that makes it easier or harder.”

“I need an incentive.”

“You’ve just eaten my chips!”

“A bigger incentive.”

“Want to go to bed when we get back?”

Theo pushed the last two chips into his mouth, screwed up the papers, jumped up to put them in a bin, then ran down the steps onto the sand. Only to freeze. His heart was hammering all over his body until he felt Col at his back, and strong arms wrap around him.

“You can do this,” Col whispered. “You did it before. You can do it again.”

He took hold of Theo’s hand and urged him towards the sea. After a few moments of interior monologue, telling himself he was fine, that nothing was going to happen, Theo began to feel better. By the time they reached the firmer sand near the water, his heart rate had slowed.

“You okay?” Col asked.

“Reeling from the achievement of walking on the beach without my heart exploding.”

“You’ll be wanting to walk across the Sahara next.”

“Er… No I won’t.”

“Good. Know your limits.”

“Take me to bed and let’s see if I have any there.”

“Oh God,” Col muttered. “What have I done?”

Theo didn’t really want to get out of bed once they’d climbed into it. Being with Col was an exciting adventure involving lots of…increasingly exciting surprises. He might have seen some of what they were doing on a screen butfeelingit,experiencingit,sharingit surpassed every expectation Theo had ever had. He loved finding places where Col was ticklish, loved Col doing the same to him. He adored lying with their arms and legs entwined. He loved the way they clung together as if they were afraid to let anything get between them, even air. They whispered into each other’s ears, against each other’s skin, and Theo showed Col he loved him in every way he could think of.

As they finally showered and dressed, Theo wondered how he’d come to be so lucky. If he hadn’t almost died, he wouldn’t have met Col. Even then, if it hadn’t been for the show, they might never have seen each other again. Col was so easy to talk to. He had a slow and gentle way about him that sang to Theo. He’d never had anyone he could rely on like Col. Strong and steady and sexy and mouth-wateringly handsome. Col was his for as long as he could keep him and Theo wanted that to be forever. Someone for himself.All mine.

They were right together. Theo had always felt himself judged and found wanting. Every time he went into the long gallery and saw the paintings of his ancestors, he’d felt he wasn’t good enough. Col had made him see that he was. He could do anything,beanything.

Col locked up the house. “Come round the back. I’ve got a present for you in the gazebo.”

“But we’ve just had a shower!”

Col rolled his eyes but laughed. He unzipped the front panel and gestured for Theo to go inside.

The stone fox was the first thing Theo saw. “Oh God, Col! She’s beautiful.” Theo ran his hand over the fox’s body and down to her curved tail. “I can’t believe you created this out of a lump of rock. It’s amazing.” He looked round. “You made all these?”

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