A splash of Hugo Boss aftershave, and I was ready to head to the train station.
I was more than ready to pick up Ashton and take him with me to Sunday dinner.
ASHTON
Gavin was staring athis phone, lounging across two seats.Laughing at his screen.
He was a good friend, biscuit theft aside.
When he learned I was going to have dinner with Robbie’s family today, he interjected himself into the mix.
Few friends would be that considerate.
Not buying it?Nah, me neither.
He was, however, a nosy-parker, chaos goblin.Who suffered a bit from F.O.M.O.As in Fear.Of.Missing.Out.
If there was the possibility of there being some drama, then there was no way he was going to stay home.Hence why he was tagging along, under the guise of offering moral and emotional support.Sometimes I think it would be easier if I just got a cat...
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket.
Robbie
That’s how it started, that first Sunday with messages.
Late-night ones.
Early-morning ones.
The kind that made my chest feel too full.
He sent a shy emoji after that.I stared at it for a full minute, smiling like an idiot.
That, and every day since.
It wasn’t just texts; it was video calls and days out visiting museums.
I remember our first day out.The British weather was not cooperating, and it was raining cats and dogs.I never understood that saying, but ‘when in Rome,’ or London, you just go with it.
I’d suggested the Wallace Collection.A Museum that had a bit of everything.Not knowing what kind of thing Robbie would be into.
As soon as we walked through the door and saw the exhibits, Robbie’s eyes turned to me, wide and overcome with excitement.
“I want you to explain things to me,” Robbie said.“You light up when you talk about stuff you love.”
I didn’t know what to do with that.
No one had ever wanted my explanations before.
So, I told him everything: about the paintings, the sculptures, the suits of armour.He listened like every word mattered.
At one point, I was rambling about the way the artist had used light and shadow to create depth when I noticed a woman nearby watching us with a thoughtful expression.She approached, smiling.
“Excuse me,” she said.“Are you studying art here?Your knowledge is impressive.”
I blinked.“Oh, no.I’m not studying anymore; I graduated from The Royal College of Art a few years ago.”
Robbie snorted.I elbowed him.
