Chapter Twenty-Four
Alfie
There was something so wonderfully comforting about knowing Jonathan was mine.
He had been for a long time in fact, but I’d been too afraid to see it.
I’d spent so long worrying about what might happen, trying to calculate how long things would last before they fell apart, that I’d forgotten to look at what was right in front of me. My fear had nearly cost me everything.
And I promised myself it was never going to happen again.
Even as summer kicked into full swing, knowing Jonathan wasn’t going to mind if I was busy, or if we only saw each other once a week made things less stressful than they’d been before.
I wasn’t spending half my time worrying that my relationship was going to collapse and it lifted a crushing weight off my shoulders.
The shop was still busy, we still had to spend some nights working late to make sure we had enough stock, and there were still some weeks where I forgot what day it was because they all seemed to blur into one, but throughout it all, there was Jonathan.
He messaged me every morning, sent me pictures of Angus digging holes and the churchyard in bloom, bought me lunch and reminded me to eat, and gave me something to hold on to throughout the chaos. I’d never been so loved or so lucky, and I knew I wanted to do something to show him how much I cared.
It took me a while to decide, but in the end I booked us a weekend away to Bath at the start of October so we could visit the Roman Baths and have a quiet few days to ourselves, complete with a very nice hotel room.
I’d also found a couple of beautiful lingerie sets to spoil Jonathan with, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to resist waiting until then to give them to him.
After all, Jonathan deserved to be spoilt with beautiful things all year round.
“Theo and Laurie have invited us for dinner,” Jonathan said one evening in August when we were stretched out on my sofa watching a documentary series about Ancient Egypt. My head was in his lap and he was stroking my hair, and I kept feeling like I was about to doze off.
There were only another few weeks of the summer holidays left, and the general report we’d gotten from other local traders was that as soon as it hit September things instantly got quieter.
I was counting down to the date change because even though I loved what Lick It! had achieved, a break would be nice.
We’d been so busy that Milo had even entered some form of truce with Rupert. Although I was sure the war would begin again in earnest when things calmed down.
“Yeah? When?”
“Whenever you’re free. Also, I think… I think they’re going to invite you to their wedding.
Obviously you don’t have to say yes, but Theo mentioned something casually about having some spots on the guest list the other day and then asked me how I felt about going on my own—which I’m not really since Fred will be there—but still, I think they might ask you. It’s on Halloween.”
I stared up at him, trying to wrap my head around everything.
The fact that Theo and Laurie were considering inviting me to their wedding meant they clearly thought Jonathan and I were going to be together for a while.
Otherwise, why would they want to invite someone they barely knew to one of the most important days of their life?
“I’d love that, both the dinner and if they asked me,” I said, smiling up at my beloved. “Although, you’ll have to help me get a new suit. Somehow, I don’t think anything I’ve got will be good enough, especially as I’m imagining their wedding will be quite elaborate.”
“I think it will be too. They’ve been fairly secretive about their plans, but I know it’s up at the castle and they’re getting a string quartet to play during the ceremony.”
“That will be amazing!”
“It really will. Laurie’s been listening to various pieces for strings in his office for months, and I don’t think he’s realised I know.” He smiled fondly. “I shall have to remember to act terribly surprised when the secret is revealed. And you’ll have to as well.”
I made a little X across my chest. “Cross my heart.”
“Thank you.” He leant down and kissed me, and I sighed happily. I was exhausted but it was a good exhaustion. A bone-deep, happy, and content exhaustion.
“Just let me know when Theo and Laurie want to do dinner and I’ll be there,” I said. “If they’re up for midweek that might be easier, but any time.”
“Perfect.” Another kiss. “Also, did you see the Sword & Flame miniature sale is coming back? Thirty percent off everything on the website for Saturday only. I’m making a list, so let me know what you want and I’ll order it all together.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. And don’t hold back if there’s anything you desperately want but think it might be too expensive. Trust me, I am considering buying virtually a whole new army.”
“That wouldn’t happen to be the re-released Ghoul Court, would it?
” I asked with a teasing grin, knowing that Jonathan had wistfully been looking at it for weeks since the announcement.
Sword & Flame armies got re-released every so often with updated rules and new figures, but the Ghoul Court hadn’t had anything for at least the past eight or nine years, so they really seemed to have thrown everything at it.
At the time Jonathan had said he wouldn’t be getting anything because he already had too many unpainted minis, but I hadn’t expected his self-imposed ban to last long. And it sounded like I was right.
“Maybe,” he said with flushed cheeks.
“Good. I want you to treat yourself.”
“You are too sweet. I’d have thought most people would remind me I said no more minis.”
“Maybe, but you’re an adult with your own money. If you want the Ghoul Court, get the Ghoul Court. Plus, then I’ll feel better about getting three or four new cavalry units, two commanders, oh and the new dragon lord too.”
Jonathan laughed. “So really, you just want me to splash out to give you an excuse to do the same?”
“Yeah, pretty much.” I grinned. “And it’ll mean we’ll have the coolest armies when we start doing tournaments again.”
“You know the rules say they have to be painted?”
“True, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” I said. “Minis first, painting later.” I tilted my head up and kissed him again, moaning softly into his mouth. “Want to go to my room?”
“I’d love that,” he said, his kiss full of so much love I thought I might burst.
Ten days later, I found myself walking towards Winchester & Sons under the evening sun, adjusting the rolled-up sleeves of my shirt and trying not to nervously sweat through it.
I’d spent time with Theo and Laurie before, so I didn’t know why I was so nervous.
It wasn’t like dinner was going to come with a side of threats.
At least, I hoped not.
Jonathan met me outside, dark hair shining in the golden sunlight and looking more beautiful than ever in his ruffled shirt and pinstripe trousers. Truly, I was the luckiest man alive. “Hey,” I said as I reached him, leaning in for a kiss. “You look gorgeous.”
“So do you.”
“Yeah? This looks okay? I wasn’t sure if it was too smart? Or maybe it’s too casual. Milo said it looked good, but I’m not sure I trust his taste in fashion. Today his shirt had pineapples with sunglasses on.”
“It looks perfect,” Jonathan said, putting his hand on my chest. “I can’t wait to take it off you later.”
I groaned, half in desperation and half in frustration. “Don’t say that! Now it’s all I’m going to be thinking about.”
Jonathan smirked wickedly as he slipped his other hand into mine. “I know, but now you won’t be thinking about what Theo or Laurie might say.”
He led me around the side of the building to a black door and knocked. A few seconds later it opened and Laurie appeared, a good-natured smile on his face. “You know, you don’t have to knock.”
“And yet, I always will,” Jonathan said as he gestured for me to go inside, stepping in after me and starting to remove his boots.
We were in a little porch with shoe racks and coat hooks, and beyond was a set of stairs that led up to the flat.
I could smell something delicious cooking and it made my stomach rumble.
Laurie shook my hand and smiled at me. “I’m so glad you could make it,” he said. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Thanks for having me,” I said before toeing off my loafers and lining them up next to Jonathan’s boots.
He smiled fondly as he glanced at the stairs. “I have to warn both of you that Theo has gone a little overboard. I hope you’re hungry.”
“That’s perfect,” I said. “I only had half a sandwich for lunch because there was a huge WI trip to Heather Bay today and they all wanted ice cream. They were all lovely but it was a bit of an all-hands-on-deck situation.”
“In which case, head on upstairs. And I’ll get you both a drink, I’ve got both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options since I wasn’t sure what you preferred.”
“Choose non-alcoholic,” Jonathan said as I climbed the stairs, which squeaked under my feet. “From what I’ve heard, Laurie’s measures are lethal.”
“I heard that,” Laurie said indignantly. “And I would like it noted for the record that both Jamie’s and Henry’s are worse.”
I didn’t know either of the men he was talking about, but I still laughed.
“I think you and Milo would make a terrible pair. Milo doesn’t believe in measures.
He said the contents of all drinks should be between you and God, so basically if you asked him for rum and Coke, you’re getting ninety percent rum with a splash of Coke for taste.
He is pretty much the reason I stopped drinking spirits. ”
“I always forget the three of you grew up together,” Jonathan said.
“Yeah, we did. It’s a miracle we all made it to adulthood in one piece to be honest.”
“Where did you grow up?” Laurie asked as we entered the living room, which had a cosy, gothic feel with full bookcases, several pink, glittery skulls, and a mantelpiece decorated with numerous pieces of taxidermy including a raven wearing a top hat.
“Here,” I said. “But we all left for uni and then Darcy moved back and dragged us with him. We tease him but it was the best decision we ever made.”
And I meant that. Running Lick It! might have been the hardest thing we’d ever done but it was also the best and I wouldn’t change it.
“This is where it turns out you went to school with half our friends,” Laurie said. “You’ll all have to come to the pub one Friday and meet them.”
“It’s a small town, so there’s a good chance.” I was pretty sure I’d recognised at least one of the men in Novel Tea before, but we’d been so busy I’d not really had a chance to say hi.
“Ah you’re here,” Theo said, appearing out of the kitchen with an excited squeal, the skirt of his summer dress swooshing softly. “I’m so glad you could make it!”
“Thanks for having me,” I said, happily accepting the enormous hug he gave me.
“He’s hardly eaten today,” Laurie said over my head.
“Good! Then I don’t feel bad about how much food there is!
” He gestured at the sofas. “Grab a seat the pair of you and Laurie will get you some drinks. Oh, and while I remember.” He grabbed something off one of the shelves and handed it to Jonathan.
“For both of you. Sorry it’s such short notice, Alfie. ”
Jonathan and I sat down next to each other, our thighs touching, as Jonathan opened the envelope to reveal a black wedding invitation with gold and pink foiled lettering, our names written in silver calligraphy.
And suddenly it hit home how much I wanted a life with Jonathan. Trips and date nights and dinners with friends and family and invitations to celebrations where our names were written as a pair. Alfie and Jonathan. Jonathan and Alfie. Always together like strawberries and cream.
“Are you okay?” Jonathan asked, looking at me with concern. He didn’t need to be worried though. I just didn’t know how to put all my feelings into words, because there were so many, and I doubted I had time to tell him all of them.
I’d have to show him instead.
“Yes,” I said, taking his hand and leaning in for a kiss. “Just realising how much I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Our kiss was light and soft, a quick reminder of the love we had for each other. There was so much for us to look forward to, a whole life for us to build together.
And it would be sweet and delicious, like ice cream.