“Idon’t, but I might have had. You don’t know.”
“Ithink that’s the kind of thing you would’ve told me at some point,” Ash said.“I mean, what a conversation starter.”
“Iwouldn’t…starta conversation that way.” Declan wrinkled his nose.
Ashwould have. Heabsolutelywould have started a conversation that way.The few times Declan had watched him approach a guy, he’d been very…
Directwas probably the nice way to put it.
Notthat he would have done anything other than immediately walk away if the otherguy looked uncomfortable, but still. He had a lot of confidence when it came topicking up men.
Declanwas glad that Ash was being a little gentler with him. He couldn’t have handledanything more intense than a casual offer with no pressure.
Ashrolled his eyes and went back to his pizza, apparently not impressed that Declanwouldn’t have used his imaginary second dick as an opener.
Thatwas fine. They’d had the talk they needed to, and they knew where they stood,and Ash had agreed to give Declan time.
Nowhe just had to work out what he wanted todo.
ChapterEighteen
Ashlooked up as he heard the bell over the door chime, smiling when he saw Charliecoming through it. After the emotional rollercoaster he’d been on last night,he was glad to have the chance to talk to someone whowasn’tDeclan.
Notthat he was mad at Declan, or anything like that. Just that he had a lot offeelings to unpack, and it was hard to do that with him hovering.
Ashhad sent him grocery shopping as kindly as he could in an attempt to clear hishead, but Charlie was exactly what he needed. A distraction, something to givehis mind a break for a few minutes.
“Justthe man I was coming to see!” Charlie enthused, grinning at him. “How’sthings?”
Ashwet his lips. “Things are good, I think. People seem to be happy to have theirbookstore back.”
“Ofcourse they are. Especially with two charming owners,” Charlie said. “Which iswhy I’m here. Did you find anyDiscworldnovels while you were searchingthrough Marv’s hoard? Scott’s never read one and I think that needs to becorrected immediately.”
Ashblinked at Charlie. Didn’t he run the library?
“Iknow what you’re going to say, but I want him to own it. I want him to havetime toreadit.”
“Iwas actually going to say that’s practically grounds for divorce,” Ash said,happy with that explanation. “I vaguely remember seeing one, I think, but Idon’t know where it is. If you wanna watch the store while I get it…?”
“Idon’t need it immediately. I’d just like to know whether or not you have itbefore Scott’s birthday, which is at the end of the month. You and Declan aretotally invited by the way, I’ll have details closer to the time. I knowtwenty-five isn’t the most important milestone, but…”
“Iwouldn’t miss it for the world,” Ash said. “Our social dance card is filling upfast, though. Apparently we’re going on a double date with the baker and theflorist tomorrow night.”
“Marcusand Lexi?” Charlie’s face lit up. “Lexi’s my cousin. You’ll love him. Marcus isgreat, too. I dated him for a while, but it was always Lexi he wanted. They’reso sweet together.”
Ashblinked at Charlie for a second, marveling at the fact that he seemed to beconnected to everyone in town.
Ofcourse, he was the librarian, and this was a small town. Ash had also learnedthat he had two brothers, and one of them ran the grocery store.
Itwas just that kind of town.
“Wow,”he said after a moment.
“I’velived here my whole life,” Charlie said. “I know everyone.”
“Yeah,I was just figuring that out. Meanwhile, I would have had trouble recognizing aregular customer back…”
Ashtrailed off. He wasn’t sure what to call the life he’d had before this.
