“Idon’t think you’ve ever said anything stupid in your life,” Declan said. “Lemmethink about it?”
Itcouldn’t hurt to consider the option. Just not right now, when he was about topass out from tiredness.
“Considerthe offer open,” Ash said. “I’d be handy for tax purposes, too, consideringwhat they pay me at the store.”
Declansnorted. Ash was paid about a tenth of what he was worth to the place. Hedeserved better.
“Ineed to sleep,” Declan said. “But you can keep your light on, or whatever. I’llbe out as soon as my eyes are closed.”
“Ineed a shower first,” Ash announced, standing. “I’ll talk to you in themorning.”
“Soundsgood,” Declan murmured in response, already stripping the rest of his clothesoff in anticipation of getting to curl up and sleep. “Night, Ash.”
“Night,”Ash said as he closed the bathroom door with a click.
Declandidn’t know what the morning was going to hold, but he was glad Ash was herewith him. He wasn’t sure he could have done this alone.
ChapterSix
Ashwoke to an empty bed, which, while not unusual, wasn’t exactly his favorite wayto wake up.
He’drolled over a few times in the night and felt Declan close to him, his warmthheating the whole bed. That had been nice. Different to crashing in the sameroom with three feet of mattress between them.
Now,he was cold. Declan’s side of the bed was still warm, so he couldn’t have beengone for long, but long enough for Ash to miss him.
Ithad been strange to sleep in the near-silence of a small, out of the way townin the middle of winter. Strange, but not by any means uncomfortable.
Peaceful,actually. Ash hadn’t once woken to the sounds of blaring car horns, sirens, orpeople shouting outside, and he didn’t miss it.
He’dhalf expected to hate it here and want to go home immediately, but so far, HopeSprings was a nice place to visit.
Justas he was thinking that, the door to the room swung open and Declan steppedthrough it, carrying two takeaway coffee cups and a paper bag.
“Morning,”Declan said, his tone cheerful. Declan wasn’t usually a morning person, but agood night’s sleep had obviously done wonders for him.
Helooked happy. Well-rested for the first time in a long time.
Ifsleeping curled up next to Ash made this much difference to him, Ash was happyto volunteer to sleep with him indefinitely.
Heblushed at the thought. Not sleepwithhim. Next to him. In the samebed.
Notthat he would have objected to sleepingwithDeclan, either, but Declan wasstraight. Finding that out had been one of the biggest disappointments of Ash’slife, because he was so perfect.
Itwas still nice to have him as a friend, and he was glad he hadn’t let thatdisappointment get in the way of their friendship.
Butthat didn’t stop him wishing things were different sometimes.
“Morning,”Ash mumbled after a moment, rubbing his eyes. A glance at the clock told him itwas a little after eight, which meant he’d slept in.
MaybeDeclan wasn’t the only one benefitting from a good night’s sleep.
“Ihave coffee and a chocolate chip muffin the size of your head,” Declanexplained, sitting down on the bed and passing the bag over to Ash, setting thecardboard tray the coffees were in between them.
“Nothingfor you?” Ash asked, peering into the bag. The size of his head was a slightexaggeration, but only slight.
Notthat he was about to say no to a chocolate chip muffin, no matter how big.
“Toonervous to eat,” Declan said, taking one of the coffees for himself.
