I returned the favour. “And that’s my promise to you. No more secrets and lies.”
We both jumped as the timer went off on the oven.
“That’ll be dinner.” I got to my feet, only for him to drag me back down to him.
“I never stopped loving you, Harv. Not for one single day."
I gazed into his eyes. Brilliant blue, just as I remembered them.
“Nor did I. It took me a while to realise that, but I think we were always meant to be together.”
When he finally let me go, I got the pie out of the oven and dished up two plates.
“Please don’t burn yourself this time,” I said and placed it in front of him.
“Fuck, that hurt for days, you know.”
“I’m not surprised.”
He ate with relish. “Just as good as before, but a little spicier.”
“I’ve perfected my recipe over the years. My tastes changed.”
“Not too much, I hope. How many have you cooked it for?”
“Besides you? No one else.”
“Not even Chris?” He smiled, put in another forkful, and chewed.
“I told you. We’re just friends.”
“We were friends, and look what we used to get up to.”
“Ah, you got me there.” I pointed the fork at him. Always with the teasing.
He waggled his eyebrows. “We’re friends again now.”
“Oh, I see where you’re going with this. You think you can compliment my food and end up in my bed?”
“Is it working?”
I laughed. “You’re still not well.”
“That’s not a no.”
“We’ll see.”
“Still not a no.” He winked but said no more, and we continued to eat in silence.
“How did your parents take to your fame?”
“As you would expect. They contacted me, wanting money. Cormac’s life was worth more than that. So, I told them no.”
That surprised me. He’d been desperate for their forgiveness since his brother’s death.
“Did you meet with them?”
He put his fork down on his empty plate. “I did, and they weren’t as I remembered them. They tried to butter me up. Told me they’d missed me and had been looking for me for years.”