“You sure? Because—”
“When do they need me?”
“Now.” She laughed at his expression. “I know, I know. But Chrissy’s in and out of the hospital visiting Mark, so she’s not been in the shop much. They’re struggling to keep everything running smoothly.”
“How long for?” This was the part he was dreading most.
“Until the rush for trees dies off. Maybe the twenty-third, possibly twenty-fourth?”
Okay, he could live with that. his plan was to have a few friends over Christmas Eve, so as long as he could still do that, he was happy.
“Right. I’d better go pack, then.”
So much for my day off tomorrow.
* * *
Henry sat slumpedat the breakfast bar, phone in hand, staring at the message he’d sent Dom Thursday night.
Henry: Hey, I know we haven’t talked about this, but fuck it, I’m just going to ask anyway. Do you fancy meeting up? Coffee, beer anything. I’d really like to see you again.
What had possessed him to send that?
You miss him.
He did. Their texts back and forth had only made him realise that he liked Dom. More than for sex. He made him laugh, which his mum had always told him was one of the most important things in a relationship.
And, yes, he was hot as fuck and Henry missed having his hands on him, but he missed cuddling up to him at night too.
Weird how you could get used to something over such a short time.
He sighed and reread the message for the hundredth time.
Way too fucking desperate.
He should’ve known after the first text when Dom didn’t add anxto his reply. A small thing in theory but it had clearly spoken volumes.
Which Henry blissfully ignored.
Dom isn’t interested in anything more.
His lack of a response to Henry’s question made that glaringly obvious.
Fuck.
Why didn’t I take the hint?
He knew this feeling, recognised it from when he’d caught Kyle cheating.
Stupid and embarrassed.
The texts that he’d thought of as them getting to know each other, connecting while apart, now took on a new meaning. Had Dom been humouring him? Replying to his ridiculous messages while thinking of a way to let him down gently?
He had to know how Henry felt. Subtlety wasn’t his strong suit.
His phone buzzed with a message, and for one heart stopping moment, hope flared big and bright and Henry snatched his phone off the table.
Jason:Stuck at fucking work. Sorry. You still okay to get the tree? Mum’s given us a box of decs so we’re all set for later.
