14
Kit
“Isthat my jumper you’re wearing?” I asked, looking over at Andy packing his overnight bag for our trip today.
The thought of getting to be alone with him now that he knew how I felt—and I knew howhefelt—was so exciting I could barely contain myself. I couldn’twaitfor us to be truly alone, in each other’s company.
Andy grinned over at me, zipping his bag up. “Yep.”
“Dare I askwhyyou’re wearing it?”
Not that I minded him wearing it. In fact, he was very welcome to wear all my jumpers. He was welcome to dress exclusively in my clothes from now on, if that was what he wanted.
I liked the subtle way it marked him out asmy boyfriendrather more than I thought I should have.
Andy shrugged. “Smells like you,” he said. “We’re boyfriends now, I get sweater privileges.”
“Sweater privileges,” I pronounced, sitting down on the bed next to Andy and reaching out to toy with the soft fabric. I’d always thought this one, rust-colored and a touch oversized, would have suited him better anyway. “I’m afraid you’ll have to explain that one to me. Is it some kind of American tradition?”
“Oh yeah.” Andy nodded seriously. “Centuries old.”
“America is barely centuries old. This bed is older than America,” I said, gesturing at it.
“Shit, really?” Andy asked, looking up at the headboard and quarter-canopy above it.
“Really,” I said. “Mid-eighteenth century. Solid enough for its age, though.”
“Felt pretty solid last night.” Andy looked up at me under his eyelashes, fingertips drawing circles on the back of my hand.
Did he know what he was doing to me?
I thought he probably did, and was enjoying doing it on purpose.
“We’re due for breakfast in a few minutes and will beverylate if you keep giving me that look,” I said, but I wasn’t about to move my hand away. “Tell me about thesesweater privileges.”
“It’s not complicated. Just that we get to borrow each other’s sweaters. Theywouldbe hoodie privileges...”
“If I was the sort of person who wore or indeed owned hoodies,” I finished for him. “I begin to see the roots of the tradition.”
“You can always borrow my hoodies,” Andy offered.
“In addition to, or instead of jumpers?”
“In addition to. It’s not a business negotiation. You could always have borrowed them anyway.” Andy looked down at his knees. “Hell, you bought me, like, half of the sweaters I own. And then pretended you didn’t like them and couldn’t face returning them.”
I laughed. “Ah, now, in fairness, I couldn’t have faced returning them if I’d actually wanted to do that. I can’t face returning anything.”
“I guess that’s one of my boyfriend jobs.” Andy beamed up at me, all light and happiness.
I wanted to kiss him, but judging by what kept happening when I kissed him behind closed doors, that reallywouldmake us late for breakfast.
Not that I was entirely opposed to forgoing breakfast in favor of having Andy, but if we didn’t eat now, we wouldn’t have another chance for anything substantial until we got to London.
“Is there anything else I need to know about being your boyfriend?” I asked, catching his fingers and curling mine around them. I still wasn’t over the novelty of being allowed to touch whenever I wanted, and I didn’t think I would be for quite some time. “Secret handshakes, family feuds, anything like that?”
Andy laughed. “I just like that the sweater smells of you. Figured you wouldn’t mind.”
“I don’t mind in the least. I’d go so far as to say I’m rather enjoying it. I like the idea of providing for you. Oh! There’s a thought, if we’re claiming privileges. I want to buy your coffee without having to make up excuses.”
