A Long Way Back (Unfinished Business #2) - Barbara Elsborg Page 0,136
kebabs, tandoori chicken and three different salads. Ink had lost his appetite after Ru turned up and set his world spinning, but he was eating well now. Ink loves me. Tay kept sneaking glances to find Ink doing the same, or he’d turn to smile and find Ink was already smiling at him. Our secret. Too new to share.
The four of them sat outdoors on decking overlooking the beach and the sea. It was chilly and they needed sweaters, but it was quiet and peaceful listening to the crash and suck of the waves. Ink always seemed to have some part of him touching Tay, his foot, his knee, his hand, and Tay liked that, felt it grounded him. They’d both come a long way, Devan was right. No one looking or listening to Ink would know what he’d been through, and for a guy who hadn’t wanted to be touched not so long ago, Tay had made a swift recovery.
“Pudding,” Jonty said as he cleared away the plates. “We have to go on the beach and light a fire.”
“We can toast marshmallows on the BBQ,” Devan said.
Jonty gave him a look of horror. “I’ve got everything ready. Circle of stones. Check. Supply of dry wood. Check. Kindling. Check. Tinder material. Check. But I can always throw you on the fire, Devan.”
“Don’t try it.”
“But you told me you burned for me.” Jonty pouted.
“I have never said that.”
Jonty faked a sob. “You don’t burn for me?”
Tay and Ink laughed.
“You and fire. What can go wrong?” Devan sighed.
“I have a Boy Scouts Pyromaniacs badge,” Jonty announced. “Everything will be fine.”
Devan sighed, but they all trooped down onto the sand apart from Dog, who’d retired to his bed. Tay sat on the sand behind Ink, his legs around Ink’s hips, his face against his neck, and they watched as Jonty tried to make fire by rubbing two sticks together. There was no way that was going to work. One broke in half and Jonty picked up another. That broke too. Devan sat on the blanket, tipped his beer to his mouth and took a swallow.
Jonty finally gave up. “You can be in charge of rubbing the sticks together.” He handed them to Devan. “I’ll be in charge of putting marshmallows on skewers.”
Devan knelt next to the circle of stones. “There is a technique to this. One of the sticks needs to be…special.”
“Like… Stickman? Shall we give him a name? Fire Stick?” Jonty huffed when he saw what Devan was doing. “That’s cheating.”
Devan lit a match and within a short space of time, a fire was blazing. Jonty’s first marshmallow dropped from the skewer onto the fire and he whined. Devan gave him his. Jonty’s next one caught fire. Devan gave him his again.
When the marshmallows were gone, Devan took Jonty’s hand and pulled him down to the sea. Jonty kicked water at him and Devan started to chase a shrieking Jonty down the beach.
“Sure you wouldn’t rather be with Jonty?” Ink whispered.
“No. I want you. You’re marginally less exhausting.”
Ink arched back into him.
Tay kissed his neck. “He needs someone like Devan. And I need you. We’re going to have the most fantastic future. A new life together. One with adventures. We can go anywhere and do anything. We’ve come a long way, but we’re still only just starting the journey. You’re the one I want by my side. Forever.”
“I love you,” Ink said.
Tay gulped. He pulled Inka round so they were facing each other. “Say it again.”
“I’m not afraid anymore, not now that I have you. There’s an old African proverb. If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. I love you.”
Tay let out a shaky breath. “Do you think they’ll guess what we’re doing if I drag you back to the house?”
“Probably.”
Tay pushed to his feet, pulled Ink to his and kept hold of his hand. “Together.”
Ink smiled. “Together.”
Epilogue
Nine months later
“TELL ME THE TRUTH.” Ink stared straight at Tay. “You killed me and I’m dead, right? Because this place…”
“Are you so certain you’ll end up in paradise?” Tay asked. “And that sort of assumes I’m dead as well.”
“I fucking better end up in paradise after all I’ve been through.” Ink paused. “Maybe I’d better cut down on the swearing.”
Tay laughed.
He and Tay weren’t dead. They were very much alive, lying on sun loungers under a huge umbrella on a tropical beach. Between them was a cool box with food and drinks. A large canvas