Oliver sighed. “Let’s just say she needs a bit of help around the house, so I moved in while we sort out a more permanent solution. Cheaper rent for me, and Betty has someone she knows helping her instead of some stranger. It’s only supposed to be temporary, though.” He said the last few words so quietly Ed had to strain to hear them.
He got the impression it wasn’t a subject Oliver was keen to talk about—at least not with Ed—so all he said was, “Sounds like a perfect arrangement.”
Oliver brightened almost immediately. “It is.” He laughed. “Never a dull moment.”
From conversations with Elise, Ed could well imagine that Betty was an entertaining lady, but surely living with her put a serious damper on Oliver’s social life. Ed studied him out of the corner of his eye. Early twenties, maybe? Heat rushed to Ed’s cheeks as he remembered what he’d been up to at that age.
Curiosity ate at him as they drove along, but it really was none of his business, so he swallowed the words and made idle chatter about the weather and anything else he could think of that didn’t involve Oliver and his sex life.
The estate agents sat in the middle of the main street, and like most of the businesses around it, had already added a bit of Christmas cheer. The streets lamps were hung with lights in the shape of bells and holly, and a large decorated tree took centre stage in the shopping centre. All of it reminded Ed that this would be his last Christmas with family so close by.
At least for a few years anyway.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, he concentrated on finding somewhere to park.
Dropping the keys off took two minutes, and he was back in the van and on the way home when Oliver shifted in his seat to face him.
“Right,” he said, crossing his arms and looking purposeful.
Ed got the feeling he wasn’t going to like whatever it was Oliver had to say. “What?”
“Whatever it is you want to ask me, just spit it out.”
Heart skipping a beat, Ed shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re on about.”
Oliver snorted. “Right. Ever since I said I was living with Betty for a while, you’ve had this look about you, like you’re itching to ask me something but think you shouldn’t.”
“I do not.” Ed tried to inject as much sincerity as he could into it, but even to his own ears he sounded fake.
“Oh my God, you so do.” He pulled one knee up and tucked his ankle under his other leg. “What do you want to know? If I don’t want to answer, then I won’t. No hard feelings.” When Ed still didn’t say anything, Oliver poked him in the arm. “Come on, curiosity is killing me. What have you got to lose?”
Fine.
Curiosity was killing Ed, too.
“I was just wondering how...”How to phrase it without sounding like an arse?“It’s just when I was your age, I went out a lot.” He swallowed, aware he was probably blushing and that the conversation was headed in a direction he’d wanted to avoid. “And...”
“And?” Oliver prompted, silently laughing at him.
Ed waved a hand about, deciding he might as well plunge right ahead. “I brought a fair few guys back to my shared house, but no one cared since we were all doing the same sort of thing.” He kept his eyes on the road. “Must be difficult to do the same, living with Betty.” Ed played his words back and groaned, kind of horrified. “Not that I’m implying you do that sort of thing. Or that you do it with guys. Or girls. Or anyone for that matter. Not that you shouldn’t, I just...”Should stop talking right this second.Oh my God.
Weighted silence filled the van for what seemed like an hour before Oliver’s laughter broke it. He grinned at Ed, eyes crinkling. “I honestly don’t know where to start with all of that.”
“Feel free to pretend I didn’t actually speak.”
“No chance of that happening.”
They were about ten minutes away from home. It was going to be the longest ten minutes ever when all Ed wanted to do was get out of the van.
Looking positively gleeful, Oliver clasped his hands in his lap. “I’m not sure how old you think I am, but I’m actually twenty-eight.” Ed failed to hide his surprise at that. “I know I look younger.” Oliver shrugged. “But what can you do?”
Ed was busy adjusting to the idea that Oliver was about six years older than he’d originally thought when Oliver added, “But you were spot on with one part. If I was to bring anyone back—and Betty has told me repeatedly that she doesn’t mind and is too deaf to hear anything when she takes her hearing aids out—then it would be a boy, girl, or anyone.” His easy smile didn’t falter, as though casually dropping his sexuality into the conversation was no big thing.
Ed still struggled telling people even now. Although a big part of that was because he believed it was none of their bloody business.
But you told Oliver easily enough.
True. But that was because—
