Page 62 of Drink Up, Darling

Athens only smiled with his eyes. “What? Was that not what you were going to say? It’s what I was going to say. I want to be with Godwin sexually. I want to be with you sexuallyandromantically. I want to learn how to love you in all forms of the word.” He spoke as if it had been obvious right from the start.

Has it always been obvious?

“Will he mind?” John finally said after he let out all the breath from his lungs, brows tight.

Athens stayed cheery. “I shouldn’t think so, but all we need to do is talk to him. It’s probably already obvious to him.”

“You think?”

“I do. I really thought we’d already made that clear, to be honest.” Athens downed the rest of the blood, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

John leaned in to kiss him, lifting Athens’ chin. The other man melted into the touch as their breaths mingled.

A bird flew close past their faces, distracting John, causing him to pull away, startled. He turned to follow the direction it flew, then he saw it. Perched on the rim of a plant pot in front of them, twisting its curious head at them. At John.

A sparrow.

Sparrow.

‘Your shadows, I’ve not seen them in days.’Athens rubbed a comforting hand over John’s thigh. Was he seeing what John was?

I know.He thought to himself.Sparrow.

Goodbye, John. My beloved husband. Live well.

The wind kissed his cheek as the front door creaked open.

“Athens, John, it’s freezing, please come inside, breakfast will go cold!” Godwin appeared at the front door, wrapped in John’s white-feather coat—clearly the closest thing he could find for warmth.

“Oh, you look beautiful darling. Really brings out the tones in your beard.” Athens said sarcastically, John already on his feet.

“Eggs again?” John asked cheerfully.

“With a fresh loaf from the market.”

“You went to the market?” Athens piped up, confused.

“John took me yesterday, you said you had something important to do.”

Athens beamed as he stood to join them. “Ahh yes, that I did. Come on then, breakfast awaits.”