Theynever said anything cruel, but he was still wary of that tendency. Adorable asit was, Hope Springs was still a small town.
“Yeah.They’re great, and I hope you get to know them. There are people who aren’trelated to me in town, but you kinda moved right into the middle of the peoplewho are.” Charlie shrugged. “Which is fine. You can totally be part of theextended family.”
“Soyou’re not mad at me for lying before? About my relationship with Declan?”
“Youmoved here to spend the rest of your life with him,” Charlie said.
Itclearly wasn’t a question, but Ash felt compelled to answer anyway.
“Yeah.Yeah, I did.”
Thathad more or less been his thought process. If there was anyone he wanted tospend the rest of his life with, it was Declan.
Hejust hadn’t expected that to be as anything other than friends.
Charliesmiled at him. “Good enough for me. And I understand.”
Ashtook a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then closed his eyes for a moment.Everything was okay. His heart could stop racing now.
“I’mscared of losing him over this,” Ash said. “Sex is… complicated.”
“Ifyou need a diagram, I can get you a book all about it,” Charlie said, a tiny,impish smile making his eyes light up.
Ashrolled his eyes, but he couldn’t stop himself from smiling in response. “I knowhow sex works. I’m not very good at all the stuff that happens to arelationship once there’s sex involved.”
“Moreorgasms?” Charlie asked.
“I’mstarting to think you aren’t taking this as seriously as I am,” Ash said, thoughhe couldn’t be mad at Charlie. He knew he was worrying over nothing. He knewthat he and Declan were the same people they’d been last week.
“Experiencetells me that two best friends who’ve been in love for a long time are a lothappier once they start having sex. I’ve seen it personally.”
“That’smore comforting than it should be. Maybe theydoput something in thewater here?”
“Iactually know why Hope Springs is the way it is,” Charlie said. “A whole bunchof queers started a kind of commune here back in the sixties when it waspractically a ghost town, figuring it was a good way to get away from a societythat didn’t want them. They bought up a bunch of the main street stores andstuff. And then other people, other misfits joined them. My grandparents wereamong them. It didn’t exactly stay small enough for a barter economy for long,but the roots of it are still here. We take care of each other and most of usare gay.”
“Orbi?” Ash asked.
“Ortrans, or asexual, or… you know, anything like that,” Charlie added with ashrug. “Gay was an umbrella term there. I got yelled at on the internet forsaying queer the other day, so it’s still fresh in my mind that some peopledon’t like it and I don’t have a better replacement. Our current mayor is a transwoman.”
“Wait,really?”
“Absolutely.”Charlie grinned. “She’s been awesome, honestly. Our mayors generally are.They’re a reflection of the community they serve.”
“Wow.”Ash looked out the front window, marveling at the town he and Declan hadaccidentally stumbled across.
Nowonder Declan was finally comfortable with some feelings he might have beenfeeling for a while. It was a comfortable place for Ash, because he was used tobeing gay. For someone who maybe had some not-straight feelings they’d never processed,this place would probably force them to deal with them.
Ashwondered if Marv had known or sensed something in Declan that he’d been tooclose to see. If that was why he’d wanted Declan to live here.
Thatdidn’t explain the marriage part, but the will had been writtenaftermarriage equality passed, so… maybe?
He’dhave to ask Declan sometime.
“Anyway…you and Declan will be fine. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Just be kind andpatient, which I know you can do.”
Ashnodded. Charlie was right. What Declan needed right now, more than anything, waskindness and patience. He’d come to terms with whatever was going on in his owntime. In the meantime, Ash needed to make an effort not to be weird about it.
“Whatif he’s terrible in bed?” Ash asked.
