“Yes,” he replied. “I do.”
27Jared
“Are you sure you want to do this alone?” Kyrone asked as they stood outside the back of the Heaven and Hell Club.
Jared hugged the copy ofJonathan Livingston Seagullthat Kyrone had bought him to his chest. “Ineedto.”
Kyrone squeezed his shoulder. “Want me to stay?”
“No.” Jared turned into Kyrone and hugged him. “You’ve got things to do on campus. I’ll be fine.”
He’d thought a lot about speaking to Jag over the last few days and had realised that Kyrone was right. It had to be him who told Jag what they’d discovered in Surrey. It wasn’t thatheneeded any form of closure—he had the answers he’d been looking for and a few more besides—but that he felt like he owed Jag something, even if it was just an olive branch of friendship.
Kyrone pointed to steps that led up to the flat that was situated over the club. “Jag will probably be in. Michael should be taking pole fit classes, so the two of you will be able to talk without interruption.” He hesitated, and Jared could see the worry in his eyes.
“I’ll be fine,” he reiterated. “If Jag freaks out again, I’ll leave. If I get upset again, I’ll call you.” He pushed up onto his tiptoes so he could kiss Kyrone’s cheek. “I’m in a much better place than I was a week or so ago. Mostly thanks to you.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Kyrone said.
Jared raised an eyebrow. “You did everything.”
Kyrone laughed. “Well, okay, I’m amazing.”
“You really are.” He kissed Kyrone again and then pushed him away. “Now go, before you miss your appointment with your uni tutor.”
“Bye-bye economics, hello physical therapy,” Kyrone said, grinning.
It was good to see him so animated about his future. He needed to talk to the careers advisor to make sure he could switch his degree without having to do any additional bridging courses.
Jared waited for Kyrone to walk away. When his lover got to the corner of the street, he turned around and blew dramatic kisses to Jared, making him laugh. Then he vanished around the corner, and Jared turned to face the stairs. He took a deep breath and then released it slowly before climbing the steps to Jag and Michael’s flat.
He didn’t have to wait long for Jag to answer the door. Jag stared at him, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Jared allowed a few seconds to pass between them before speaking. “Can I come in?” He hadn’t meant to sound so hesitant, but that was how the words came out.
Jag nodded dumbly and stood aside. He shut the door behind Jared and then turned to face him, rubbing the back of his neck. “I thought you didn’t want to see me.”
“I didn’t,” Jared admitted. “I didn’t think it would be helpful to you.”
“What’s changed?”
Even though Jag didn’t suggest they sit, Jared made his way over to the sofa and sat. He was too tired from a morning at work to stay upright during what was starting out to be a tense conversation, although he hoped it wouldn’t be for long.
“I went to visit my parents.”
Jag jerked his head back, panic filling his eyes.
“I didn’t break my promise,” Jared assured him. “But wedidtalk about you.” He smiled fondly. “My sister wasn’t shy about mentioning you.”
Jag narrowed his eyes. “Cordelia or Bianca?”
“Bianca.”
Jag’s expression softened a little. “She always was gobby.”
“You’d know better than me.”
Jag’s expression fell again. “I’m sorry.”
