Page 148 of He's the One

“Col’s right. Despite mother’s dislike of the press, she won’t want you to tell your side of the story first. She’ll want to paint herself as the martyr, as being discarded for your secret gay lover. Her mother will help her do that. Play thepoor old ladycard.”

His father slumped on the couch. “What a mess. To think I was letting you walk into the same disaster as me. That I wouldn’t have let it happen in the end seems a weak thing to say, but I would have stopped it. I promise I would have.”

Theo wanted to say,why did you let it start?but he and his father were on a different path now and it looked a much more hopeful one.Be happy for what I have now.

There was a knock on the door and James came in. He walked straight over to Theo’s dad, sat beside him and pulled him into his arms. Theo smiled and went back to Col.

“We should leave them,” Col whispered. “They have a lot to discuss.”

Theo nodded and they slipped out.

“Are you okay?” Col asked. “Want to go treasure hunting again?”

Theo went up on his toes and pressed his forehead to Col’s. “Take me back to your place. I just want to be with you for a while, away from here. We’ll come back later and check on my father.”

“But the treasure…”

“I’ve already made the greatest find of my life. In case you’re wondering, it’s you.”

“But a Roman villa would be good too.”

“Not as wonderful as you.”

“But close?”

“Eh…”

Chapter Twenty-Two

When they’d parked outside Col’s place, Theo sighed. “I’m sorry you had to hear my mother say that about your parents.”

“I also heard you say how lovely they are. Whatyouthink is far more important to me than what your mother thinks. You didn’t react at all when you met them. You were your usual self. I often get strange looks. White boy with black parents. People gawp. Mum told me not to let it bother me, that they were lucky to have me.”

“They love you to bits.”

“Which reminds me I’m supposed to let her know I didn’t accidentally detonate a bomb. Except we sort of did.” Col texted her. “She’ll see it when they land. Want to walk down to the sea and get fish and chips?”

“Sounds a great idea.”

Theo’s heart jumped when Col took hold of his hand, and it jumped again when he felt Col rub his thumb on his palm.

“Well, we have horrible birth mothers in common,” Col said. “Damaged brothers in common too. Though at least I know where mine is.”

“I haven’t entirely given up hope of Piers turning up one day. I don’t suppose I ever will. Any word on when Dominic might be released?”

“I don’t think it will be too long.”

“What do you think about coming to live with me?” Theo whispered. “Dominic could stay there too. There are four bedrooms. Well, you’ve seen that. I’ve only used one but the others could be boarded and painted. Maybe you could run your renovation business from Asquith. I could help with the interior design and pick out carpets and curtains and kitchen units and… What do you think?”

Col let go of Theo’s hand and slung his arm over his shoulder. “I think that’s a really generous thing to offer but you should talk to your father first. Plus, I haven’t had the discussion with Dominic that I need to. I was always scared to talk too much aboutwhen you get outbecause it felt like I was tempting fate. And I don’t want to push him into doing something he has no interest in.”

“Do you have an interest in it?”

“Yes, but to be honest, if I had a choice between house renovation and carving—which I don’t—I’d choose carving. But I can do that in my own time. I am already. I’ll show you when we get back to the house.”

They sat on the seawall to eat their lunch.

“Do you think Robert will say something to the press?” Theo asked.

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