I turn to see who’s come out and almost swallow my tongue.
Even bundled up in an enormous parka, I can tell he’s hot. Dark eyes widen as if he’s been caught off guard, eyebrows rising to his hairline. “Oh. I didn’t realise anyone else would be out here.”
He’s also someone I’ve never seen before, which happens so fucking rarely around here it takes me a minute to get over my surprise. He starts to frown, so I smile quickly and gesture to the bench beside me. “I’m willing to share if you are.”
“Why the fuck not?” He grins back at me, stepping closer, and the twinkling lights from the enormous Christmas tree outside illuminate his features. Brown eyes crinkle at the corners, full lips stretched wide in a smile that remains as he takes a seat next to me, then immediately shivers. “Shit, it’s cold.”
I laugh because he’s not wrong. I nudge him and nod towards the pub. “Why did you leave a perfectly warm and toasty pub then?”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Why did you?”
Touché.
I’m about to laugh it off, give him some bullshit excuse, because he doesn’t know me and I bet the last thing he wants is to listen to me moaning. But I’m feeling a little vulnerable tonight. And when I meet his dark, curious gaze, the truth slips out easily. “I didn’t fancy being the sole single guy in a room full of couples at midnight on New Year’s Eve.”
I expect him to politely make his excuses and head back inside. I wouldn’t blame him. But what he does is laugh.
It’s a little sad and a lot wry.
“Totally fucking with you on that.” He lets out the biggest sigh, resting his elbows on the picnic table and leaning back to look at the sky. “As beautiful as it is out here, freezing my arse off and sober and fuckingaloneis not how I planned to spend New Year’s Eve.”
Curiosity pushes everything else into the background as I turn to face him. “Oh?”
It’s none of my business, but he can’t dangle a carrot like that and expect me not to bite. I also want to tell him he’s not alonenow, but a total stranger probably doesn’t count. “Want to talk about it?” I add when he doesn’t answer, obviouslynotwanting to talk about it, but I can’t help myself. His story is clearly a lot more interesting than mine.
The silence stretches and I’m about to suggest we go back inside before we freeze when he sighs again, his whole body sagging as he exhales. “Not much to say. My boyfriend broke up with me this morning and left me here alone.” He shrugs like it’s nothing, but there’s an edge to his voice that suggests there’s a whole fucking lot to say.
And also, what the fuck? “What do you mean, heleftyou here?”
He gives me a pointed look, like I’m an idiot. “He drove.”
“And then just expected you to find your own way home?”
He shrugs again. “Pretty much.”
What an absolute wanker.
“To be fair, he did try to get me to leave with him, but I told him I’d rather cover my bollocks in honey and let the bees have at them.”
I’m torn between laughing and grimacing.
“Sorry.” His smile this time is small but genuine. “Probably not the image you wanted.” He waves a hand before I can answer. “Anyway, it’s fine. My mate’s picking me up in the morning on his way back. I was angry and upset, but not stupid enough to send my ride away without a backup plan.”
Fair enough.
I hold out my hand to him. “I’m Pete, by the way. I figure we should at least know each other’s names after all that.”
“Charlie.” He shivers again as his fingers close around my gloved ones. Hisbarefucking fingers.
“Jesus, come here.” I’m moving before I even register it, taking both his hands in mine and rubbing them vigorously. “No wonder you’re shivering.” I stop to pull the spare pair of gloves from my pocket and tug them onto his hands. “There, is that better?”
When he doesn’t say anything, I glance up to find him watching me, eyes wide.Fuck. “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have?—”
“No.” He shakes his head quickly. “Itisbetter. Thank you.” He flexes his fingers, and the smile he sends my way this time hits me low in my belly. It’s warm and a little bit shy. “Pretty sure my fingers were about to drop off.”
I want to reach for his hands again or, better yet, wrap my arm around him to warm him up, but I manage to keep my hands to myself this time. “Can’t have that,” I mutter, voice surprisingly rough.
It’s probably the cold, but the pink on his cheeks seems to darken a bit.
