“Yes.”
“When did he tell you who he really was?”
“I worked it out just before Christmas.”
“Is that who you were with when nobody could get hold of you?”
“Yeah, we were in Norway.”
“Always wanted to go there, so we’ll come back to that later. What’s the situation now?”
“I love him,” said Milo, his voice cracking.
Liam sat next to him on the sofa and pulled him into a hug. Milo was determined not to cry. His friend’s mum had just died, and he was the one comforting Milo. That wasn’t right. What was Milo supposed to do? Edward had promised to go on the London Pride march in June, together, as boyfriends. Was this how it was going to be until the summer? A few stolen moments in a hotel room, or their plans being cancelled at the last minute? Milo would never want to force someone to come out of the closet, but with Edward, they couldn’t even meet in secret. He was starting to wonder whether it was all worth it.
CHAPTER 16
EDWARD
Everything was in place. Edward had the numbers, and if his source was correct, Hargreaves didn’t. This could all be over in three weeks, and he’d be able to come out and be with Milo publicly. Barely spending time with him the past two months had been hell, but Olivia was announcing her resignation on Monday, and the leadership contest would kick off.
After a late sitting in parliament last night, he was planning not to head into the office until late morning. He’d done his morning workout. He had equipment at home because going to a local gym would invite unwanted attention. Someone could come up to him on the treadmill to complain about their pothole, or a guy might unsubtly try to look at his dick in the changing room. He’d just finished his breakfast of scrambled eggs on soda-bread toast when his phone rang. It was Derek, who was never up at this time of the morning.
“Did you shit the bed?” asked Edward.
“Get to mine as quickly as you can.”
“Why?”
“No questions. Just get here ASAP.”
“Okay. Give me half an hour.”
“Good. We’ll talk then,” he said before hanging up.
What the fuck was that all about? So much for a relaxing morning. Not knowing what this was going to be about, he drove himself over. He didn’t want to leave his driver hanging around, and if he needed to make a quick getaway, then he could just leave.
“Thanks for getting here so quickly,” said Derek, opening the door.
“What’s going on?” he asked, walking inside.
“Go through to the kitchen. You’re going to need a drink.” He closed the door, and they started walking.
“It’s ten o’clock in the morning.”
“Hold that thought.”
Edward walked into the kitchen and his jaw dropped in shock.
“Milo, what are you doing here?”
He looked upset about something, so Edward instantly went to him, grabbed his hands, and scanned his whole body, hoping it would give him the answers to whatever had made Milo make that face.
“Has someone hurt you?”
“No . . . well, not really. It’s just . . . I don’t know how to say this.”
“There are explicit pictures of you and Milo together,” said Derek. “They’re going to print.”
