Declanwould have said they wereallsub-par. Hehadsaid that, even.But this one had been especially so, and Ash didn’t anticipate moping about itfor too long.
Hewas mostly here as an excuse to see Declan. Seeing Declan always cheered him up.
“Sleepover?”Ash suggested. They hadn’t done that in a while, but there was nothing thatmade him feel better than falling asleep in front of the TV with Declan when therest of the world exhausted him.
Hewas pretty sure Declan felt the same way. He hoped so, anyway.
“Soundsgood,” Declan said, working his way through the remainder of the ice creamsteadily, a strand of dark hair flopping over his forehead. Declan’s hair wasrarely out of place, but it was a good look on him. “I’m starving.”
Ashlaughed at that. It was so easy to forget all his problems when he was here.Declan had always had a way of making him feel better, even back when they’dfirst met in college. Hell, even on the first day they met.
Declanhad always looked after him.
“I’llorder pizza if I can liberate the bourbon from your liquor cabinet,” Ash said,standing do so before he’d gotten permission.
He’dnever reallyneededpermission. He and Declan were good at sharing.
“Youcould pour me one, too,” Declan said. “Or six.”
“Startwith one and work your way up,” Ash suggested, though he wasn’t about to stopDeclan from whatever he needed to do to get over his day. As long as it meant hewas done with that job.
Ashnever wanted to see him that miserable again. He was hoping he’d get the oldDeclan back now. The soft, warm Declan he’d fallen hard for all those years ago.
“Lookat us,” Declan said. “First week of the new year and we’re drowning our sorrowsin junk food.”
“Hey,new year, new me,” Ash said. “This year I’m planning on eating more ice creamand dealing with less men. Present company excepted.”
“I’mhonored,” Declan responded, scraping the bottom of the tub of ice cream to getthe last mouthful out. “I don’t wanna do marketing anymore. I hate it.”
Thatwas a surprise, but Ash understood. He’d watched Declan’s passion fade over thelast few years, and he could understand wanting something different now.
“Well,we’re always in need of reliable retail assistants at the store. And themanager already likes you, so…”
Declansmiled at that. “The manager seems to be a good guy, so I might take him up onthat. In a week or two, though. I need a break first.”
Ashnodded. Managing a bookstore might not have been the most exciting career, buthe liked it. If it meant he could help his friend out when he needed it, thatwas a bonus.
“Well,offer’s open,” Ash said. “At least, until they decide to sell it off and notgive anyone any notice, like they did with the other two in the area.”
Worriesthat they were going to snatch his job from under him aside, Ash would secretlyhave loved to work with Declan. He wasn’t about to push, though. Not right afterDeclan had quit a nightmarish job.
Retailwas soul-sucking in its own way, but he got to walk away when his shift endedand not care about it until he got back in. Declan hadn’t had that luxury.
He’dbeen working nights and weekends for years, unpaid and unthanked. Ash wanted tosee him take a break.
“Thanks,man. What would I do without you, huh?”
“Buyyour own ice cream,” Ash said as he unscrewed the cap on the bourbon.
“Soundsawful. I’d rather keep you around.”
“I’mnot going anywhere,” Ash promised. “From now on, you’re the only man I need.”
Declanwas the best man Ash had ever known, and getting to spend more time with him washis number-one priority for the year.
Anyonewho didn’t like that didn’t belong in his life. Declan was his best friend, andno one got to take that away.
Nomatterhownice their dick was.
