“I’mnot your girlfriend,” Ash said.
Declansnorted. “No, you’re just married to me. You know, if you die, they’ll look atme first for your murder. I wouldn’t do well in jail.”
“Iwouldn’t have died.” Ash shoved his hands in the pockets of Declan’s coat thistime. “Thank you. I probably should have just saidthank youin thefirst place. Especially after you just said you were trying to take care ofme.”
“You’rewelcome.” Declan stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He hadn’t gottento wear jeans so much lately, and it was nice to be able to dress like a normalperson for once. It was nice torelax.
Heliked taking care of Ash. It made him feel warm on the inside, like his heartwas full.
Likea more intense version of the way he felt about getting to spend more time withhim. He’d missed just hanging out. It was good to make up for all the goodtimes they’d missed out on because Declan was busy working himself to death.
Hewas never doing that again. Both of them deserved better.
Ashwould have looked after him until he actually died of stress. Declan knew thatlike he knew…
Well,Ash himself.
“Youwant a cat?” Declan asked.
“Uh…”Ash looked down at the pavement. “Maybe? I dunno. It might be nice?”
“Becausewe can get a cat,” Declan offered. “You gotta walk it, though.”
“Youdon’t… walk cats,” Ash said. “I can’t tell if you’re serious.”
“I’mnot. I never had a pet growing up, but I have a vague idea of how cats work.”
“Wehad a cat when I was little,” Ash said. “I don’t really remember it much, but Ilike other people’s cats. I’m fifty percent more likely to sleep with peoplewho have cats, since I have to go to their home to meet the cat.”
Declanchuckled at that. He hadn’t realized Ash liked cats so much.
Hewould have gotten one if he’d known.
Notto get Ash to sleep with him, obviously, but Ash couldn’t have pets in hisapartment. Declan’s apartment building had allowed for cats and small dogs.
“Youshould have told me you wanted one. I could have kept it for you.”
“Inever mentioned it because I knew you’d make that exact offer,” Ash said.“You’re too generous for your own good.”
“Onlyfor you,” Declan said.
“That’snot true. You’re a very kind man, whatever other people tell you. Kindness isyour second-best feature.”
Declanfrowned. “What’s my first best?”
“Yourass.” Ash turned to grin at him. “We’ve had this conversation, remember?”
Declanlaughed as he did remember it, from the night they’d first come to HopeSprings. That felt like a lifetime ago now.
Alot had happened since then.
Allof it good, as far as Declan was concerned. He’d been unsure when he first camehere, but now he felt as though his life was all falling into place. The puzzlewasn’t quite complete yet, but at least he felt like he had the right referencepicture this time.
Hell,he’d already made three friends in Hope Springs. That brought him to four timesthe number of friends he’d had this time last week. Thingshadto begoing right.
Declanpaused outside the bookstore to look up at it, amazed that he’d only set footin it for the first time a few weeks ago. It felt more like home than anywhereelse he’d lived.
They’donly been living there since Sunday. He’d stayed in hotel rooms longer.
