Itwas nice to be somewhere he felt like he fit in. That hadn’t happened a lot inhis life.
Charlieput the boxcutter down and closed the gap between them, hugging Ash tight.“Welcome to Hope Springs,” he said.
Ashlaughed, hugging him back. Charlie was a little more enthusiastic than he wasused to, but it wasn’t a bad thing at all.
“Youhave to come to dinner some night. Maybe Wednesday? I’m getting in first,because you’re gonna get a whole lot of invitations like that.”
“Ithink we’d love to,” Ash said. “Wednesday sounds awesome.”
Thedoor opened again, and this time, itwasDeclan.
Charliefinally let go of Ash, taking a half-step back.
“Hello,”Declan said, looking between Ash and Charlie with one eyebrow raised. “I don’tthink we’ve met.”
Heoffered his hand to Charlie, smiling a warm, friendly smile that Ash hadn’tseen on him in a long time.
“Charlie.”He beamed at Declan, taking his hand. “I was just about to get out of Ash’shair, but it’s great to meet you. I’ll be back tomorrow on my lunch break tobuy out the store, but I have to go back to work now.”
Ash’sheart sank a little at having to say goodbye to his new friend so soon, butthey lived in the same small town. He’d see Charlie a lot,andhe knewwhere Charlie worked.
Hedefinitely needed to check out the local library. If nothing else, it’d givehim an insight into local taste in books. Besides, he needed all the friends hecould get if he was starting over.
Notthat he’d left a whole lot behind. Acquaintances, mostly. No one he feltcompelled to go back to see.
Theonly person he really wanted in his life was Declan, and Declan had come withhim.
“I’llsee you later,” Ash called after him, earning himself a wave and a bright,honest smile that made him want to smile back.
Hehadn’t felt like that in a long time.
“Thatyour new boyfriend?” Declan teased.
“That’sthe local librarian,” Ash said, turning back to the pile of boxes he still hadto go.
Itwould have gone a lot faster if he didn’t keep pausing to read the books.
“Heseems nice,” Declan said. “We can definitely pretend this is an openrelationship…”
“Hejust invited us to dinner with him and hishusband,” Ash said. “Sounfortunately, he’s off-limits.”
“Sothe good ones are always taken even if you’re gay, huh?” Declan asked.
Ashsnorted. Declan wasn’t exactly wrong. “I’m not taken,” he protested.
“Thatring on your finger says otherwise,” Declan nodded to Ash’s hand.
Ashhad almost forgotten about his ring. The plain gold band had almost become apart of him, like a tattoo would have. He’d never taken it off since Declan hadput it on him.
Thatwas… probably a little pathetic, but Declan had worn his since, too. Ash wastrying desperately not to read anything into that.
Orthe fact that Declan had just implied that he was taken.
“He’snot really my type, anyway,” Ash said after a moment. “He probablyshouldbe, because he does seem sweet, but I think I made a friend. Friends are good.More friends, less fucking this year. I’ve decided.”
Declanchuckled. “I don’t think it’s possible to, uh, havelesssex than I hadlast year, but… I could go for more friends, too. This place seems friendly.”
Ashhad suspected that Declan hadn’t gotten laid in a while, but over a year seemedexcessive.
