“Not terrifying. Risky perhaps, but I think it could help you decide.”
“Decide what?”
“Whether to try for something more with Milo.”
“I don’t like you getting in my head all the time. Okay, what’s your idea?”
“Take him to the cabin.”
“Your cabin?”
“Yes, it’s sitting there empty. You get about five hours of daylight at this time of year, so lots of cosy nights to get to know each other better.”
“What about you at Christmas?”
“I’ve got the club and I can find someone to entertain me.”
Edward chuckled. He knew his friend could find someone to keep him company. He did not discriminate on gender or age, so he had a lot of options, although Edward was not aware of him ever fucking around at his club. Perhaps that was a hard limit for him– not shitting in your own back garden. The same philosophy did not apply in politics. If only those walls could talk.
“I don’t know if he’d want to go. He’s probably got plans for Christmas already.”
“Ask him... and use the time to see if there’s more there than what you’ve already been doing. See if he’s worth it.”
“Worth what?”
“Blowing your life up.”
“Thank you for that!”
“You know what I mean. If it came down to having to choose between your career and him, which would you choose?”
“My career, of course.”
“And if that meant you’d never see him again?”
Edward hesitated.
“Exactly. There’s something more there. It’s worth seeing if it’s reciprocated, and if it’s not, at least you know. If it is, then you’ve got January to decide.”
“Why can’t I have both?”
“I’m not the one who said you couldn’t. That’s your dad, who’s still in your head.”
Derek leaned back in his chair and took another sip of his wine. He’d said his piece, and it was for Edward to process. His head was spinning. What was he supposed to do? Even if Milo wanted to spend Christmas with him in Norway, he might just see it as some privacy to fuck all day. I mean, that’s what they’d done all weekend. And if he suggested to Milo he wanted more, he might lose him. Edward would hardly be easy to have a relationship with. He came with a lot of baggage, and he could be the prime minister in a couple of months. Was that the time to start a relationship? Logically, he knew he needed to end this thing with Milo and focus on the leadership contest, but the thought of never seeing that beautiful young man again was the thing that made him hesitate. Whether it was being driven by his heart or his hormones was something he wasn’t sure of yet, but Derek was offering him an opportunity to get his answer. Why shouldn’t he take a chance?
“I’ll ask him.”
CHAPTER 11
MILO
Milo had dealt with almost two hours of interrogation from his flatmates when he got home on Sunday evening, and it was all three of them. Even Liam was in on it, the traitor, although he mentioned nothing about their previous conversation.
Kieran was like a dog with a bone, and finally went to bed assuming Milo was sleeping with a married man who had a wife and kids, which is why he was “too ashamed” to say anything. There was no point in trying to correct him, or he’d just make another wild accusation. At least this one wasn’t close to the truth.
Hassan had sided with Kieran’s suggestion. Liam had said nothing, and he suspected he’d be wanting a word with Milo when they were next alone. Liam would know that if Milo had spent the weekend with the guy from The Back Room, he would now know his identity.
For that reason, Milo had spent the last two days in the office, even though it was quiet. Many people were working from home this week. It was Christmas Eve on Friday, and that was when he was travelling with Lexie to stay with their family. Liam was going back to his family tomorrow, so hejust had to avoid him until then, and Kieran and Hassan always did their own thing for Christmas, given that neither of them spoke to their families. Milo knew it wasn’t an easy time of year for them, so he didn’t pry into what they did, but whatever it was they went away for it.
