“Howlong until we’re meeting the lawyer?” Ash asked.
“Isaid ten, so we’ve got a couple of hours. I thought we could take in thesights, maybe. If you want..”
“Soundsgood. I’ll put on pants. After I’ve finished this coffee.”
“Hey,if you wanna be the town weirdo walking around in his underwear, I won’t stopyou,” Declan said, shrugging.
“Thecold will stop me,” Ash said, draining the last of his coffee. “But I’mthrilled to have your unconditional support.”
“Always.”
ChapterSeven
Nowthat Ash had mentioned them, Declan could see the rainbow flags he’d been talkingabout everywhere. Both the florist and the craft store, which were either sideof the bookstore, had one in their windows.
Declanhadn’t been able to stop himself from noticing just how many gay couples wereout and about this early on a Saturday morning, either. Maybe it was just moreobvious because there were less people overall, no huge crowds to get lost in,but… it definitelyfeltweird.
Notbad weird. Weird in a way he couldn’t exactly identify.
Itseemed to be making Ash happy, though. He’d sighed dreamily half a dozen timesby now.
Declanwondered if this was what he longed for. A boyfriend he could walk along thestreet holding hands with, whispering and laughing at private jokes. Having anearly-morning breakfast together.
Doingnormal couple stuff.
Noneof which Ash did with his boyfriends, as far as Declan knew. He didn’t seem todate them for their personality.
Notthat Ash wasshallow. There wasn’t a shallow bone in his body. Declansuspected that the opposite was the problem: few people lived up to his depths.
“Look,”Ash said softly, nudging Declan to look across the street.
Straightat a gay couple kissing.
Declandidn’t see that often, and seeing it wasweird.
Hewasn’t sure how to process that. His best friend in the whole world was gay, sohe couldn’t be a huge homophobe, could he? It was normal. It was a normal thingfor couples to share sweet kisses in public every now and then.
Andthat was all it was. A quick peck on the lips, and then laughter and broadsmiles. Like any other couple in love.
Declanjust… never saw it.
Ashseemed excited, though.
“Isthis what it’s always like to be straight?” Ash asked.
Declanturned to look at him, confused. “I don’t… oh.Oh, right. Yeah, I guessit is.”
Hewouldn’t have thought twice about it if it’d been a straight couple. He sawthat all the time.
Washe being an asshole?Hadhe been an asshole?
Ashdidn’t make him uncomfortable, but Ash also rarely let Declan meet hisboyfriends, and when he did, it was only ever for a few minutes at a time. Henever even saw Ash do any of this.
Suddenly,thatseemed weird.
Didgay couples make him uncomfortable? He wouldn’t have said so, but he definitelyfelt something. Something that wasn’t quite sitting right yet.
Itdidn’t feel like disapproval or disgust, but there was some strange,unidentifiable feeling sticking in his chest.
