“I’m sorry, Olivia.”
“What for?”
“When you first came to Cubworthy, when you and Charlie . . . it all happened so fast, and I was very judgmental.”
“Ah, well. It did all happen suddenly.”
“But I never gave you much of a chance.”
“That’s not true. You came here.”
Bennet cleared his throat. “But I was ready to think it’s a bad idea. I just came for Charlie. The fact is, love comes in all shapes and sizes. Why should something only be right if it is understood? Who says co-parenting isn’t as good—who knows, maybe it can be better?” He took Olivia’s hands in his. “Charlie will make a wonderful father, and I wish you both all the happiness.”
Olivia’s smile, so warm and bright, melted his heart. She lifted on her toes and kissed his cheek.
A throat cleared, and Bennet spun. Charlie. Bennet let go of Olivia, squeezing her hands.
Charlie’s dark eyes danced. He opened his mouth, shut it, and hauled Bennet in. “Aroha ahau ki a koe.”
“I love you too, Charlie.”
Charlie eyed him soberly. “Lyon said he’s packed and ready if you are?”
Before the email, he’d been looking forward to going home, but like everything else this morning, his feelings had changed. He needed more time to recalibrate. Not that he knew what he’d do exactly if he stayed. He felt . . . upended. But they’d been here long enough; recalibration would have to happen in Cubworthy. Alone.
He frowned. He wasn’t alone. He had Lyon, and Charlie would be there another six weeks, and . . . and Darcy had said he was coming back. For a bit.
And he’d been open to the idea of friendship.
He met Charlie’s eye with more enthusiasm. “I’m ready.”
You have my number if you want to use it.
Home again and settled, Lyon fussing about in his room, Bennet perched on his favorite spot at the windowsill overlooking the main street and choked his phone. In his peripheral vision, Darcy’s number glowed from the screen. It was time to man up.
Bennet scrolled a hand through his hair, even though this wouldn’t be on video, and hit call.
Darcy picked up within seconds, and Bennet’s heart leapt onto his tongue. He swallowed it down and took a breath. “About the kiss.”
A surprised second passed and Darcy hummed. “Jumping right into it. Understood.”
“It’s been on my mind the entire drive home. Did you want me to segue into it?”
“It’d give me a little time to steel myself.”
Bennet smiled at the blatant honesty and imagined Darcy rolling his shoulders back, preparing for whatever it was Bennet had to say.
“I can do some trivial chit-chat,” Bennet said. “Charlie is moving to Port Ratapu in February and having a baby with Olivia.”
“A baby?”
“Miniature human? Gestation period nine months?”
Darcy snorted. “Didn’t they just meet?”
“Yes.”
“That’s not trivial chit-chat. It must be difficult for you. He’s your closest friend in the village.”
It was true. Bennet swallowed. He was happy for Charlie and Olivia and the unique love they were nurturing, but he couldn’t deny the splicing pain at the idea of having no-one close to see and talk to while Lyon finished his schooling.
His voice broke. “I—yes. Not so trivial. Let me try again. We talked on the ride home and decided I’ll take over his volunteer shifts at the library, effective immediately. I’m happy about it, I want to update the stock. They’re severely lacking in mysteries. And gay romances. Oh, and comics. And if I think about it for a while more, I’m sure there are no books about sexual education either.”
Geez, he was babbling.
“Is that right?”
“Yes. And Caroline’s been helpful about the Cubworthy Pride thing. She’s booking the town hall for us. It’s not cheap, so I’m thankful for her generosity. We’re making it a real event. Much like the Wool Ball, but with body paint and people of the same sex holding hands.”
“Well that sounds . . . Hmm.”
The flutter in Bennet’s chest started to fade. Of course Darcy wouldn’t be enthusiastic about the event. Even if he was willing to change, it might be too soon to bring on a big gay party.
Bennet hurried on. “Anyway, the kiss.”
“We’re back there already?”
“Haven’t readied yourself enough?”
“I’m not sure any amount of time could do that.” Darcy’s soft voice was tinged with confusion. Bennet imagined him frowning, his mouth quirked up between a smile and a grimace.
“There was no repulsion on my part, Darcy,” Bennet said quietly. “I believe anything more than friendship between us is a bad idea, but I definitely didn’t dislike it when you kissed me.”
A long silence followed, then the crackle of breath down the line. “Thank you for saying that.”
Bennet was tracing his bottom lip again. He dropped his fingers. “Anyway, you told me to use your number. . . . And I wanted to tell you that. Perhaps I’ll see you if you return to Cubworthy.”