10Dylan
“Oh my God, this is gorgeous!” Dylan exclaimed as he followed Callum onto the narrowboat.
He had to duck to get inside, but then he was able to stand up straight. He stared around the space, open mouthed. The boat really was beautiful. Light poured in through narrow windows, giving it an airy feel. It had obviously been renovated recently, because the pale wood floor barely had any scuff marks on it. The lounge area had a two-seater sofa, an armchair, and a flat screen TV. A table that was barely big enough for two was attached to the wall between the lounge and the kitchen.
He ran his fingers along the chunky wooden counter tops. “Nice kitchen.”
“You’re on a boat, so it’s a galley,” Ezra said. “I’m glad you like the old girl. Callum can show you the photos of what she used to look like, if you’re interested?”
Dylan nodded enthusiastically.
“It won’t take long for Callum to give you the grand tour, then you should both sit out on the front deck and enjoy the ride.” He held an envelope out to Callum. “Some post for you.”
He went out the door they’d come in through.
“Does he need any help?” Dylan asked.
Callum shook his head. “Only if we get to any locks.”
“Locks?”
Callum chuckled. “I didn’t know what they were either. They’re for getting to a higher or lower bit of the canal. Boats can’t go up hill,” he added with a wink.
Dylan shivered with delight. He wished it had been a suggestive wink.
A cloudy expression crossed Callum’s face as he stared at the envelope Ezra had given him.
“Is everything okay?” Dylan asked.
Callum replied with a forced smile, before ripping the unopened letter up into several pieces. “It’s from my dad.” He put the pieces into a green recycling bag that hung on the end of the final counter. “I’m supposed to be giving you the grand tour.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Callum shook his head. “We don’t talk anymore and I’m not interested in his letters. Come on.” He gestured for Dylan to follow him.
Despite his curiosity, Dylan could take a hint. He let it go and followed Callum down the boat.
“This is the bathroom,” Callum said, opening a folding door at the other end of the kitchen.
Galley. Whatever.
The bathroom took up the full width of the boat.
“Is that a waterfall shower?” Dylan asked, jaw dropping.
Callum nodded as he laughed. “Yup.”
“Ineedto try it out.” Dylan smacked his hand against his forehead. “Sorry. I’m getting carried away.”
“It’s okay, that was pretty much my reaction too.”
The shower was amazing. It took up a corner of the bathroom and its walls were covered in pieces of slate in a variety of hues. Dylan could only imagine what it would be like to have water pouring directly onto his head, like a tropical rainstorm. It wasn’t a big leap to go from seeing himself in the shower to visualising Callum in there. Naked. He bit back a whimper. Now he really did need a cold shower.
“This is Ezra’s room,” Callum said, opening the next folding door.
There was a bit of space on either side of the door for storage, but the room was dominated by a double bed that took up the whole width of the boat. There was another door at the head of the bed, which was open and led out onto another deck.
“Where do you sleep?” Dylan asked.
