“Oh mygod,” Grey says. “I can’t believe it’s you. Logan said Reuben was on the island, and I guessed he’d be at the beach.”
Reuben groans. “He didn’t say anything about Xavier?”
Grey shakes his head. “No, but he was dealing with a customer.” He looks between us, and I’m stunned to see his smile go impossibly huge. “Oh my god, this isbrilliant.”
Somehow, I didn’t expect that. I thought I’d see some sort of jealousy. God knows if it were me seeing Reuben with an old lover, I’d be jealous. Horribly so.
The ground suddenly seems a little unstable. I look hesitantly between the two of them. Reuben still looks a bit stunned, as if he’s been kicked in the balls, and he keeps shooting me anxious little looks, thinking I haven’t noticed.
Grey steps closer and offers his hand. I stare, and the moment stretches a little too long for politeness. Then I raise my hand and shake his. I stiffen when he then drags me into a hug. “I can’t believe you’re with him. You’re back together. That’swonderful.”
I look at Reuben for help. “Erm.”
He reaches in and pulls Grey gently back. “It’s complicated,” he says.
“But you’ve finally told him everything. That’s obvious. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t know.”
Reuben makes a quick gesture, clearly telling him to shut up, and Grey falters.
“Everything?” I say after a long silence.
Grey licks his lips and looks apologetically at Reuben. “Hmm,” he finally settles for saying.
“Well, it’s time for us to go,” Reuben says, taking my hand. “It was absolutelylovelyto see you again, Grey.”
“Oh, you too,” he says quickly. “You too.” He bugs his eyes out at Reuben.
“Let’s not do it again this millennium.”
I dig my heels in when Reuben tries to pull me along. “Actually, I think I’d like to get to know Grey better,” I say slowly.
“Oh my god,no,” Reuben breathes in horror, and I have the sudden, inappropriate urge to laugh.
Grey’s eyes twinkle, but my humour fades as quickly as it came because my heart is hammering. I need to know what Grey’s talking about, because I have a feeling it’s something to do with the abrupt way Reuben ended things in that Cotswold hotel.
At the time, I’d been blinded with anger at his betrayal. Now I’m seeing many things differently.
That knowledge that Reuben is still wearing his wedding ring and that he loves me has changed everything. Or maybe all the weeks together have done that, and the kiss was a reflection of the alteration in our relationship. I’ve remembered things about Reuben I’d pushed away for so long—how kind he is, how honourable, how much I love him. Because I do, fully and with every atom of my blood and bone, but it’s an adult love with a fullawareness of his faults rather than the idealistic version I’d felt at nineteen.
That Xavier had felt things so passionately but was young enough to be blinded by that passion, to only see part of the picture in front of him.
Now I’m a man fully and clear-sightedly in love with the idiot currently shifting from foot to foot as if preparing our escape route.
And I’m ready to fight for him and fight for my happiness because the two things are so entwined that I’ll never get free, and I don’t want to. And Grey is the key to all of this.
Grey is watching me, his eyes bright, and I’m still not feeling any of my old jealousy. Once I’d entertained myself with visions of Reuben choosing me over Grey and Grey devastated and crying, but that form of entertainment is long gone.
Grey eyes me consideringly. “Why don’t I make us all a cup of tea?”
“Why don’t younotdo that?” Reuben snaps.
“I think that is a very good idea,” I say.
Grey’s eyes twinkle. “Let’s go, then. My house is just up the road.”
“Do I not get a say in this?” Reuben asks plaintively.
I shake my head. “No.”
