“In Leeds?” I ask.
“That’s my hope. We have to pay a retainer on the flat anyway, so I’m sure I’ll be able to stay there.”
“Or at mine,” Auggie says.
Em grins. “That’s what I was hoping, but I didn’t want to assume.”
“I wasn’t planning on going home at all over the summer.”
Sadness tugs at my gut. Auggie hasn’t gone home once in the five and a half months we’ve known him. His parents haven’t visited either. I can’t imagine having so little contact with my parents.
“Mum and Dad would like us to go on holiday with them. It would only be for a week if you wanted to,” I say.
“I still can’t believe how welcoming your parents are,” Auggie says.
“You’re part of our families now,” Em says.
Auggie turns his face away from us to look at the forest. “They barely know me.”
Em squeezes his shoulder. “They trust our judgement. But if you hurt me, you’ll feel their wrath.”
“Be afraid,” I say in a serious tone.
Auggie laughs. “Oh, I am.”
I smile at Em to thank him for lifting Auggie’s mood.
“I’m also surprised how easily they accepted the news you were in a threesome,” Auggie says.
I shrug. “Me too.”
“Lots of parents wouldn’t have been so cool about it.”
I assume he’s referring to his own. I lean my head on his shoulder and stroke his thigh.
“Would you hate me if I never told my parents about us?” Auggie asks.
Em and I exchange a glance. I’ve known Em for long enough to understand the sympathetic look in his eyes. I nod.
“You have to do what’s right for you. We could never hate you for that,” he says.
Auggie sighs. “I’m not ashamed of being with you, but they wouldn’t understand. To them, appearances are everything. Dad has made no bones about the fact that he’d rather I was straight so I can turn up to charity functions with a beautiful woman on my arm. In his words, it would look better in the photos.”
I hiss in a breath. “He said that?”
Auggie nods.
I lift my head, turn Auggie’s face towards me, and press a soft kiss to his lips. “All your parents need to know is that we’re friends. And maybe official housemates one day.”
Em snorts. “Housemates.” He clears his throat and makes air quotes. “Historians believe they were good friends.”
We all cackle at that.
“Back to our summer plans,” I say. “I’m happy to stay in Leeds most of the summer.”
“Because the swimming pool is better?” Auggie asks.
I grin. “Yes. Plus, my good friends will be there.”
