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“Hi yourself,” Alec replied, lips stretching in an answering smile.
They stared at each other for a moment, and suddenly Alec knew. He knew with a deep certainty that everything was going to work out. This moment would be the one he’d look back on, years from now, and remember as the point in their relationship when the future unfurled before them, bright and full of hope. There would be twists and turns and choices to make, but he knew they’d be travelling that road together.
They spent the day hanging out with Ed’s family. Alec was blown away by their easy acceptance of him. Ed didn’t try to hide their new relationship, touching Alec often, holding his hand when people could see.
While Alec played on the Wii with the twins in the living room, he overheard the murmur of a conversation in the kitchen between Ed and his mum, but he couldn’t hear what they were saying. Ed returned smiling and squeezed in beside Alec on the sofa.
He kissed Alec on the cheek. “Mum likes you,” Ed said. “You’ve passed the boyfriend test. I think it was washing up the breakfast things that did it.”
Alec felt inordinately pleased to have the seal of parental approval. “Good to know.”
When they left to drive back to London, Greg shook Alec’s hand warmly, the twins hugged him, and even Gemma gave him a smile. He said goodbye to Janine last. “Thank you again. It was so kind of you to let me turn up out of the blue.”
“It was nothing.” Then she added quietly, “I’m sorry things are difficult with your family at the moment. I hope they come around.” She stepped forward and hugged him tight. Alec was swamped with a confusing mixture of emotions: warmth, gratitude, sadness.
“Thanks.” His voice came out choked and raw. “Me too.”
Everyone waved as they drove away. When they turned the corner at the end of the street, Ed settled back in his seat with a sigh.
“Your family are great,” Alec said.
“Yeah. I know. I’m lucky.”
“I’m afraid I probably won’t be introducing you to mine any time soon.” Alec couldn’t imagine how awkward that first meeting would be. “My brother, yes. But not my parents. Maybe eventually….”
“There’s no rush.” Ed put a hand on Alec’s thigh and patted it. “Give them some space, let it sink in. They might surprise you.”
“I guess what I realised this weekend is that even if the worst happens, even if they cut me off and never want to see me again… that’s still better than being in the closet. It will hurt like fuck if it comes to that, yes, but it’s not like we were ever very close. You can’t lose something you never really had in the first place. And at least I still have Caspar.”
“Tell me more about him,” Ed said. “I’d like to meet him. He’s important to you.”
“He is. He was great this weekend. Oh! I never told you the other drama.” With his preoccupation about his own problems, Alec had forgotten to mention the other surprise revelation to Ed. “Caspar’s getting married. That was rather a shock for my parents too because she’s much younger than him, and she’s pregnant.”
“No way!”
“Yes. I’m going to be an uncle.”
“Wow. That’s exciting”
“I know. Caspar’s besotted, and Serena—his fiancée—is great. I liked her a lot. I think it will work out just fine for them.”
“Lots of new beginnings in your family at the moment, then?” Ed squeezed Alec’s thigh.
Alec reached down and took his hand. He glanced sideways at Ed and flashed him a quick smile. “Yes, it seems that way.”
As they drove into the city, Alec was jittery at the thought of their impending separation. He wasn’t sure he wanted to let Ed go. He felt fragile and uncertain again, and filled with the irrational fear that once he was alone, Ed might have second thoughts. He knew he was being ridiculous. They could both use an early night to be ready for Monday. It was going to be a big week for both of them, with Ed joining a new team and Alec having a new deal to get to grips with. New relationship or no new relationship, they still had demanding jobs, and that wasn’t going to change.
“Do you want me to drop you back at your place?” Alec asked. “You’re welcome to come to mine, but—”
“No, I need to be at home tonight, sorry.” Ed sounded as disappointed as Alec felt. “I have laundry to do and all my work clothes are there. Plus if I come to yours, I’m pretty sure we’ll keep each other awake most of the night.”
Alec laughed, even as heat flashed through him at the idea of what that might entail. “Hold that thought,” he said, “and keep next weekend free.”
“I’m not sure I can wait till next weekend.”
