“And why would I want to bring him to where I work?”
“It’s romantic.”
I laugh out loud and gesture around the parking area and the piles of pre-cut trees. “I worry about you two if this is your idea of romance.”
Vic rolls his eyes. “Not this bit.” He nods to back where all the cut-your-own trees are. “There’s something special about wandering around all the trees and picking your own.”
I’m not convinced. At all.
I mean,Ithink it’s special, but then again I planted them.
“Ask Jerry,” Vic says. “This is where he kissed Reed.”
“Really?”
“Yep.” Sean points to the saw he’s left on my table. “You could impress him by cutting down a tree for him.”
I think of the picture I sent him and his obvious reaction at lunch. Then sigh, internally. No, we’re not doing that. “He’s staying at the pub; he doesn’t need his own tree.”
“Have you got yours yet?”
I debate lying. “No,” I say eventually, regretting it when Vic’s eyes light up.
“Perfect. You can cut it together, then invite him back to yours to decorate it.”
I hate how much I like that idea. “What part ofjust friendsdid you not understand?”
Vic cocks an eyebrow. “It wasn’t a euphemism. Decorating the tree is exactly that. I never mentioned sex.”
“Do you do that with your friends?”
“No, but I have Sean.”
“I don’t think it’d be a good idea.” Having Charlie in my home, doing something that I’d love to do with a partner... no. I can’t do that.
I’m not sure what expression I’m wearing right now, but it makes Sean lean in a little. “All joking aside, Pete. You could invite him as a friend, it doesn’t have to mean anything more than that if neither of you want it to. He’s away from home; he might appreciate a little Christmas cheer.”
As much as I know it’s a bad idea, I can’t bring myself to say no outright. “I’ll see.”
We make plans to meet up for a beer on Friday night, with Jerry and Reed too. I’ll be the odd one out as usual, but I’ve long since got used to that.
You could ask Charlie,my mind helpfully supplies.
I ignore it and focus on wrapping their tree.
Thankfully, it’s busy enough for the rest of the day that I don’t get a chance to think about it until I’m at home later that night. I’ve spent the last hour getting the Christmas decorations down from the loft. I’m not going to put them up yet, but talking about it today made me feel the need to do something.
My house is severely lacking in Christmas cheer, but it’s only just December. It can wait a bit. I think about Charlie and what Sean said. Then snort out a laugh.
Living at the pub, he’s drowning in Christmas decorations and music whenever he goes downstairs. I highly doubt he’s missing out on anything.
That makes me think of Friday night.
I haven’t made any more plans with Charlie. He’s texted me twice today, but that was this morning before he told me he was going to put in a few solid hours of writing.
Should I ask him?
My phone buzzes and I know it’s Charlie before I even pick it up.
