When he got to the driver’s side of the van, it dawned on him that he didn’t have the keys.
Arse.
With a deep sigh, he rested his head on the door for a second, then turned around and went back to where the others were just about to walk over to him. “Keys,” he muttered.
Aiden jangled them but snatched them out of the way before Ed could take them. “Actually, I’m going to come as well, give Sarah a hand to find hers and carry it back.”
Sarah huffed. “More like Ian doesn’t trust me not to get some huge thing that’s too big for the lounge.”
“Well, that too, but mainly he doesn’t want you to put your back out again.”
Mollified by that comment, Sarah’s expression relaxed. “Is that all right with you?” she asked Ed. And really, what could he say to that? He wasn’t the one who’d wanted to get a tree. But he had been looking forward to spending some time with Oliver away from decorating, as much as he liked him in those jeans.
Maybe this was for the best.
They’d talked, agreed even.
As tempting as it was, as Oliver was, nothing could happen between them.
“We’re not all gonna fit in that van, though.”
It’d take three of them up front, but there was nothing but empty space in the back. “You and Sarah take the van,” he said to Aiden. “We’ll follow in my car.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They parted ways, Ed secretly glad he got Oliver to himself for a bit longer, even if that went against everything he’d just decided.
Friends spent time together.
“She seems nice.” Oliver clicked his seat belt into place and looked over at him.
“Who, Sarah?” Ed barked out a laugh. “She’s a horrible person, full of sarcasm and mischief.”
“Runs in the family then?” Oliver was watching him, smirk in place, when Ed stole a quick glance.
“Oh, you’re funny.”
“See?” Oliver held out a hand to him. “I rest my case.”
The car fell quiet as Ed concentrated on reversing and then pulling out onto the main road.
Oliver waited a few moments, then shifted in his seat so he was more or less facing Ed. “Is Aiden married then?”
“Yeah. He and Cam tied the knot in June last year.” Ed remembered it well. Beautiful ceremony, gorgeous weather. He’d vaguely entertained thoughts that he might be next, but deep down he’d known he and Tom wouldn’t make it that far.
As if reading his mind, Oliver asked, “You ever thought about it? Ever come close?”
“Um...” Ed bit his lip as they pulled up to a roundabout.
“Sorry. That’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s not that. I wasn’t sure how to answer.” He felt Oliver’s gaze on him, bright blue-green eyes drinking him in from his side view. “I guess I’ve thought about it. But never seriously considered it.”
Oliver chewed on that for a bit. Ed sensed him open his mouth a couple of times to speak but obviously thinking better of it. Curiosity finally got the better of him. “If you want to ask me something, go ahead. I won’t be offended.”
“The house you just sold, you lived there with your partner before that, right?”
“I did.”
