And if Reed sells his house, that means?—
“Have you found anywhere yet?” Vic asks, then grunts and shoots a glare at Sean, who I presume has just kicked him under the table.
Reed is oblivious. He shakes his head but suddenly looks a lot more animated.
I try not to feel offended at that. He has every right to get excited about finding a new place to live.
“No,” he says. “But I’ve a had little look at what’s out there in my price range. My boss was telling me about a few areas that might be a good fit.” He rattles off the names of places that I recognise. He’s right, they probably would be a good fit.
They’re also on the other side of Sheffield.
My heart sinks.
If he’s considering moving what would more than likely be an hour or so’s drive with traffic, then that doesn’t bode well for usseeing each other after he moves out. I mean, I know it’s not that far, really. Vic lived an hour or so from Sean when they first got together.
But they already had their own houses then.
Reed choosing to live that distance away feels like he’s making a choice about us too.
Don’t assume things, Jerry.
I’m pretty sure I gave that advice to Sean. I was right then, and I’m right now. Even if it’s hard not to jump to conclusions. Especially with Sean giving me pitying looks on the sly. I glare at him until he stops.
Eventually we finish our drinks and decide to head home for food, and in Vic and Sean’s case, probably sex first, judging by the looks they send each other.
Lucky them.
Reed and I shared a very lovely frottage session on the sofa the other night before I fell asleep on him, but I’m still unsure how to instigate things between us.
Unless we somehow fall into it, I don’t feel comfortable saying something likeWant to fuck?But then I don’t want to leave it to circumstance in case it never happens again. Would Reed object if I just kissed him out of the blue? Is that allowed?
Meh, too many fucking rules.
I could just ask him.
Apparently everyone’s said their goodbyes while I’ve been brooding and they’re all looking at me. “See you on Sunday.” I give Sean a hug, then Vic.
As they leave, Reed asks, “Still leaving your car here?”
I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah, if that’s okay.” I’ve not had a lot to drink, but I’m never going to risk it. It’s not worth the possible consequences.
“Course.” I follow him out, wondering how to bring up the subject of spontaneous kissing and sex as we walk the length of the car park.
It takes me the whole journey home, before I thinkfuck it. I’m just gonna come out with it.
When Reed pulls onto the drive, I stop him from getting out with a hand on his arm. “This thing we’re doing...”
He sits back in his seat. “Yeah?”
“We said we’d ask when we wanted something, right?” I don’t miss the sudden blush creeping over Reed’s cheeks. I like it. But I don’t want to embarrass him, so I reach for his hand. “Is that still the case?”
He nods. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Well, this is me asking if I can kiss you.”
“Now?” he murmurs, already leaning towards me.
I was about to say no, because that’s not what I meant, but I catch it just in time. I can just imagine Reed’s reaction to that. Instead, I say, “Yes, but also when I come in from work, or when you do, or...” I hold out my hands. “I don’t know what I’m trying to say, exactly. Just that there are times I really want to kiss you, but I don’t know if it’s allowed, so I don’t. And then I regret it.”
