‘First of all—’
‘Oh, there are parts, great.’
Lachlan pushes on.‘I want to apologise unilaterally—’
‘Big word.’
‘—for what happened, all of it.Not telling you that I was hurt.The uh.The stuff in the car.I’m really sorry.And I’m sorry for not talking to you about it afterwards.The truth is,’ Lachlan says, coming inside the room only when Jules sets his phone down, ‘I was ashamed of what your father did to me, and it was easier to pretend it never happened.I think the um…’ His cheeks grow warm.‘The almost…y’know, the thing in the car.’
‘You nearly kissing me.’
‘Yeah, that.I think that was maybe due to blood loss, but it’s still no excuse.I’m really, truly sorry, Jules.I let you down and—’
‘You didn’t let me down, you just proved me right,’ Jules says, getting up from his bed.‘It’s fine, anyway.I’m happy to move on.’
‘I know you’re upset.’
‘Yeah, but you don’t know why.’
‘Tell me?’
‘So you can dismiss that too?’Jules makes a face.‘Look, I don’t want to argue.I actuallydon’t.Whatever else, you keep us safe, you make her happy.You try.I see you trying all the time.’He nods, jaw working.‘And that night was still… it means a lot that you let me go.’
‘How’s your thigh?’
‘Healed fine.It scarred, though,’ he adds with a tiny curve of a smile.
‘Oh yeah?’
‘Looks like a rose.’
‘That’s cool.’
‘Yeah.’The small smile vanishes.‘So, we’re fine, all right?All good.’
‘No.There’s one more thing I need to apologise for.’
Jules gives a loud sigh that crackles into a groan.
‘For God’s sake, are you from theeighteenth century?I’m not a kid!You were turned on, I was turned on, it’s fucking fine!A six-year gap isnothingand I don’t give a fuck about your chivalrous guilt complex, you—’
‘We didn’t start CQC.’
‘—dull motherf… what?’
‘Close quarter training.I told you we’d start it.We never did.’
Jules scowls softly.‘I thought you forgot.’
‘If you want to start tomorrow, we can.’
‘Really?’
‘Really.’
‘Huh.Well.’Jules crosses his arms.‘Maybe, yeah.’
‘I’m gonna need a yes or no.’
