Harvey’s eyes widened as he peered at Parker. “You’re not going to push?”
Parker shook his head. “You’ll tell me when you’re ready.”
“Fuck! You’re more patient that I am. I’m definitely going to push.”
Shit!He knew he was about to get the interrogation he’d been dreading, but had expected, Harvey being the loyal and protective big brother he was. “There’s not much more than what I told you over the phone.”
Harvey leaned across and placed a hand on his. “There’s a lot more to tell. You split, after four years, from the guy you followed across the world and hightailed it back home to Oz. I know you were the one who broke up with Stav, but I thought you loved London. Why come home then, if it was no big deal?”
Hedidlove London. After being raised in Perth, London was eye-opening—so many people, so much history, so cosmopolitan. He’d enjoyed the restaurants and theatre, loved the pulse of the city, the ability to see other parts of Europe at the drop of a hat, but in reality, that stuff got old pretty quick when you were by yourself. “I guess it was time. There wasn’t anything there for me anymore. I wanted to come home—see Mum and Dad, and you, of course.”
“And nurse a broken heart?”
Maybe his answer would have been different if he’d been asked earlier, however Parker had a flashback to the night before, and to Rafe passing him the mug of tea, to Rafe holding him in the circle of his arms, and of feeling content enough to close his eyes and sleep against the man. “You know something? Like you, my heart’s not exactly broken. I’m not sure there’s even much of a crack anymore.”
“I don’t have to fly to the UK and kick some arse?”
Parker laughed at the faux tough guy expression on his brother’s face. “Not this week. But thanks for the offer.”
“Seriously though, I hate what that guy put you through. No one deserves that.”
There was a brief flash of pain because Stavhadput him through the grinder, and his self-esteemhadtaken one hell of a beating, but he forced aside those feelings because he’d spent long enough dwelling on those dark days. “Maybe not, but I’m not the only guy to find out his partner has been fucking around. Did you know something like 50 percent of partners in same-sex relationships are cheated on? Probably in straight ones too. So I’m not Robinson Crusoe in that regard.”
Harvey’s brows drew together. “What does that even mean?
“Robinson Crusoe. You know, the guy who was stranded on that island? I’m not the only person who’s found themselves in this situation and been cheated on by a partner.”
Harvey shook his head. “I know who Robinson Crusoe is. I meant, why are you sprouting infidelity statistics? The fact that lots of people are in the same situation doesn’t make it any less painful. Iknowyou, Parker. You’re a one man kind of guy, and I know he fucking hurt you.”
Parker sighed. He stared at his coffee, the froth making a swirly pattern on the surface—a little like his thoughts—a jumble of painful memories and some residual anger, but most of that directed at himself, not Stav. He finally raised his gaze to Harvey. “It did hurt, and I didn’t deserve to be treated the way Stav treated me. It’s taken a while but I’m coming to terms with it. He made me feel like shit, like I wasn’t in the same class as he was—”
“He wasn’t—”
Parker raised a hand and continued. “Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re going to say, he wasn’t any better than I was, but he made mefeelinferior.”
“I was actually going to say you’re a muchbetterclass of person than Stav could ever hope to be. That guy is so full of himself and uses other people to make himself feel good, plus he let his ambition get the best of him. I’m just sorry you got caught in the crossfire.”
“Me too.” Parker nodded ruefully. “He’s all smoke and mirrors. He seemed to genuinely want the same things as me until… until he didn’t. I’ll never fall for someone like that again.”
“But the important thing is youwillfall for someone again one day. There are plenty more fish in the sea.”
Parker waved him off. “You sound like Mum.”
“Time for you to go swimming again, little bro.”
Parker spluttered into his coffee. “This boy is all swam out for now. And knowing my luck, I’d find the ocean full of sharks.”
“But—”
“Enough of the heavy stuff.” Parker picked up his now empty mug and carried it to the sink. “I’m here for a holiday and to spend time with you, not to rehash my relationship disasters.”
“Okay. Whatever you say.” Surprisingly, Harvey gave in without a fight. “What are you up to today? I have to go to the studio, and I thought you might like to tag along.”
“I’d love to see you guys practice.” His racing pulse had nothing to do with the idea of seeing Rafe.Nothing.Not a thing.“So long as I won’t be in the way?”
“Are you kidding? I’d love to have you there. Ravi’s coming too. But don’t feel like you have to. You could always spend the day sightseeing.”
“Nah. I can do that later in the week.” The Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House held no appeal, not when spending the day with a certain singer was on offer.
