Page 106 of He's the One

Chapter Seventeen

After Col had brought down the suitcases for his parents, he changed his clothes and went out to work in the gazebo. Before it was late and he disturbed his parents’ neighbours, he drilled two holes into the rabbit’s ears. Once he’d made a template and marked the corresponding places on the rabbit’s body, he drilled there too and inserted metal rods. He’d saved all the stone dust to use to fill in gaps once the two parts were cemented together. While he was waiting for the epoxy to go off, he chipped away at Theo’s fox. Isla was taking shape.

He had music playing through his earbuds, but his head was full of Theo. Col hadn’t wanted to rush him into anything. He’d never been with anyone like Theo before. It felt weird to be the one who was…in charge. Col had always been the guy who bottomed, and he’d sort of been okay with that even though he’d wished he could change roles sometimes. He still couldn’t believe what he’d said to Theo, that he wanted to take him to bed and fuck the living daylights out of him. And for Theo to do the same to him.

Col got a semi thinking about it and he smiled. Maybe therewasa future for them. Except for thebeing discreetbit. That didn’t sit easily in Col’s heart. He’d done with hiding his sexuality a long time ago. Robert hadn’t been into PDAs and now Col knew why, but on the odd occasion that Roberthadheld his hand, or kissed him in public, it had made Col happy. On the other hand, all that paled into insignificance if Theo was expected to marry a woman, have kids and Col was his dirty secret.

Except I’m getting way ahead of myself.

Then again, maybe it was better to think about it now before things got too intense. Col might have his own reason, aka Dominic, for keeping out of the public eye, but he knew the chances of being identified as Dominic’s brother were small. After Dominic came out was another matter.

What doIwant?Maybe for the first time in his life, Col had that at the forefront of his mind. He’d spent a long time doing what others wanted and making decisions that weren’t solely in his best interests. He was inherently unselfish, but maybe that was because he hadn’t wanted something for himself strongly enough. He’d thought stonemasonry was his world, but he could compromise.

Before things got too intense.Was that really what he thought? He was already emotionally involved. How could he not be? Despite all the problems, all the reasons they should walk away from each other, Col only wanted to walk towards Theo.

It was almost one in the morning before Col climbed into bed. He hadn’t realised how late it was. When he checked his phone, he groaned. Theo had called several times and left a flurry of texts.

It’s me. Call me back plz

Ten minutes later.

Me again. Where are you?

Another ten minutes.

Col! I’m worried now. Did you make it home? Were you abducted by aliens?

Twenty minutes later.

Okay so don’t be mad but I might have called the hospital to see if you’d had an accident. Phew, you didn’t. Only now I wonder if you’re lying somewhere waiting for me to rescue you.

There was a gap of thirty minutes before the next message.

I get it if you don’t want to see me again (though I don’t really get it jsyk) but tell me you’re okay. Plz.

The last message had been twenty minutes ago.

I’ll stop now.

Ten minutes ago.

Now I’ll stop.

Two minutes ago.

Stop now I will. See! Can’t even txt

Col rang him.

“Sorry,” Theo whispered. “Sorry for being a pain.”

“This spaceship is really huge. So are the aliens. They look like Titicaca frogs. I don’t want to know how you found out about them. Can you get NASA to launch a rescue mission?”

Theo growled. “It’s not funny. I was worried. Are you okay?”

“I’ve been working. I had my earbuds in and I didn’t hear the phone. I’m sorry I worried you.”

“I don’t mean to be clingy. I’m sorry.”

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