I nodded. That made perfect sense. With everything that had happened with his parents, how they’d cast him aside simply for being who he was, I could understand John-Francis’s reluctance to come out to Declan. I didn’t honestly know how he was going to react. I barely knew the fella really, but even I sensed how volatile and unpredictable he could be. All Ididknow was whatever happened John-Francis had me beside him and my family supporting him. He would never be alone or cast out again. I’d make sure of it.
“Y’must be knackered. Y’gonna wait up f’Declan an’ help him get settled or—” I hadn’t even finished my sentence before John-Francis’s hands found their way to my arse. He gripped me tightly and I laughed.
“Feck that. I’ll drop him a wee text sayin’ I’d be headin’ f’me bed. I’ll catch up wi’ him in the morning, like. Tonight I’m gonna suck the feckin’ soul outta ya an’ give ya that poundin’ ya’ve been missin’, aye?”
I didn’t respond with words, just crushed my mouth against his. I wasn’t sure how, but even those vulgar words had sparked an aching in my chest like they’dbeen the most romantic of poetry. I knew John-Francis and I had a long way to go, but I felt confident that we could finally start working towards a life together, the sort of life he’d always been deserving of. I wasn’t going to be letting him go again, that was for sure. I’d fight Declan Furey if that’s what it took.
Epilogue
Declan
A Month Later…
“Y’fancy headin’ over t’ Fiadh’s place f’a bit t’ eat tonight?” I asked, reading the text message from John-Francis. I kissed Tess’s hair where she had laid her head on my chest. “Y’still feelin’ rough?”
“A little,” Tess muttered. “It’s not so bad. I find it gets better as the day goes on.”
“Be guessin’ that’s why it’d be called ‘mornin’ sickness’, aye?” I teased, laughing when Tess rolled her eyes at me. “So, is that a ‘yes’ t’ tea?”
She sat up, stretching her back out and rolling to sit on her hip, tucking her legs beneath her. “Sure. I love Fiadh.”
I tapped out a confirmation for John-Francis. “Aye, she’s a gem, like. Still can’t get me head ‘round runnin’ inta them here. What’re the chances, now?”
Tess snorted and I glanced up at her. She had a brow cocked and I scowled. “What?”
“Yeah, it’s a real mystery,” she replied sarcastically. When I continued to look at her, Tess’s smirk died away. “Wait, are you serious?”
“Ya not makin’ any sense, now. Y’sayin’ it’snota coincidence we ran into them here?”
Tess’s eyes widened. “Oh, my god. You haven’t figured it out, have you?”
I could feel heat creeping up the back of my neck, embarrassed to have been slow on the uptake of something. “Tess, f’feck’s sake. Spit it out. What haven’t I figured out, like? Tell me!”
“Well, I mean, it’s obvious. John-Francis and Ronan?” I stared at her blankly, willing her to elaborate. “They’re, y’know…” More staring. “They’re together, Declan. God, I didn’t realise I was going to need to spell it out quite that plainly for you.”
My brow furrowed. John-Francis and Ronan? Together? It was like a missing puzzle piece. My mind went haywire, knitting together all of the evidence I’d been completely overlooking. Fuck.Fuck!
I leapt up from the bed, jostling Tess in my haste and making her squeal with surprise. I was at the door, nigh on pulling it from its hinges as she called for me.
“Declan! Declan! Don’t—”
The door slammed behind me, and I stormed across to John-Francis’s caravan, parked up only a few meters from my own. I hammered my fist on the door, barely allowing any time for him to answer before I was battering it again.
“John-Francis!” I shouted. “Get y’arse out here right now!”
A second or two later, the door flew open, revealing the angry face of my best mate.
“The feck y’playin’ at?” he snapped, though there was no true malice in his tone.
For a moment, time slowed down and I gazed up at him. We’d been mates for years, had been through so much together, and yet I felt like I was seeing him for the first time. It was jarring to be looking at someone so familiar, and yet they may as well have been a stranger.
“Y’gay, like?” I spluttered.
In an instant, John-Francis’s face fell serious and I knew Tess had been right. My mind was blown, and I found myself playing memories back, wondering how the fuck I’d missed something so huge.
“A-aye,” he muttered, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “That a problem?”
I ran a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth. “Jaysus Christ…”
