He frowned. “Explains what?”
“Why you didn’t react at my news,” I said. “You must see a lot of people like me around here.”
Karl studied me for a moment. “People like you?” he repeated.
I hesitated. “Men who don’t quite fit where they thought they did.”
Something in his expression softened. “Yes. Berlin is very good at making space for that.” He paused, then added in a gentler tone, “You don’t have to decide what to call yourself just yet, you know.”
I let out a small breath. “It doesn’t feel that simple.”
“It rarely is.” He smiled. “Some men spend years trying to find the right word. Others never bother.”
I glanced at him. “And you?”
A flicker of amusement crossed his face. “I learned not to rush it. Labels can be useful, but they can also close doors too quickly.”
I considered that. “I just don’t want to get it wrong,” I admitted.
Karl smiled, a little more warmly now. “This isn’t an exam, Kieran. There isn’t a correct answer waiting at the back of the book.”
I huffed a quiet laugh. “Then what is there?”
He raised his glass. “Experience.” That twinkle was back again. “Berlin is very good for that too.”
He spoke like a man who knew what he was talking about.
Karl nodded towards my plate. “Now, finish your lunch, and then I’ll take you for a walk.”
Ten minutes later, we were strolling once more, and Karl pointed out good restaurants as we passed them. “Food is getting so expensive, it’s cheaper to eat out these days.”
I tried to suppress a yawn and failed.
He came to a dead stop and frowned. “What time did you get to the airport in Manchester this morning?”
“Four-thirty.” It already felt like a lifetime ago. There’d been the flight?—
And Stefan. Don’t forget Stefan.
I gave a mental huff.No, Ishouldforget him. I’d seen the Berlin skyline from the airport. The city was enormous. The chances of meeting him again had to be equally huge.
Karl rolled his eyes. “No wonder you’re tired. You need a nap. Let’s head back to the Treehouse. And when you’ve slept a little, there’ll be more than enough time for exploration.” He grinned. “Of all kinds.”
My stay in Berlin promised to be interesting.
And maybe educational.
Stefan
I found Cole exactly where I expected him to be, at a café on Winterfeldtplatz, one hand wrapped around a coffee, the other resting possessively on the thigh of the man seated beside him. A very handsome man, roughly the same age as him.
Then I recognised him.Perfect.
Cole looked up first. “Thereyou are,” he said, grinning. “Back from Rome.”
I smiled as I approached their table. “Back from boredom.”
He laughed and stood, pulling me into a brief, familiar hug. “You remember Luis?” Cole turned towards the other guy.