Page 136 of In at the Deep End

Eric continued, his tone gentle. “You’ve spent the last twenty minutes telling me how Owen smiled. How he laughed. How he kept checking you were okay. How he kissed your shoulder this morning.”

Matt swallowed. His gaze drifted towards Owen’s house. What filled his head was watching Owen laugh, seeing his smile, observing him with Phil…

Watching Owen sleep.

“You don’t only want Owen.” Eric’s voice was low. “You only see Owen.”

The words created a sharp ache in his chest as he remembered waking up wrapped in Owen’s arms, wishing the day would stay like that.

It hadn’t been the sex.

God, it had never just been the sex.

Eric broke the silence. “Matt…”

“Yeah?”

“You’re in love with him.”

Matt opened his mouth. The denial reached his lips…

And stopped.

Suddenly everything made sense. Every smile that had lingered a little too long, every excuse to stay another hour.

Every disappointment when he had to leave.

He covered his eyes with one hand. “Oh.”

“The funny thing is, I don’t think this is the day you fell in love with him.” He paused. “I think this is simply when you finally noticed.”

Matt couldn’t reject Eric’s hypothesis, not when every piece of evidence pointed to the same conclusion.

“Have I shocked you into silence?”

“Not shocked.” Matt let out a humourless laugh. “More terrified.”

“I think it’s wonderful.”

Matt uncovered his eyes and looked towards Owen’s house. “Not if he doesn’t feel the same way.”

Eric was quiet for a moment. “Maybe he won’t.”

Matt closed his eyes.

“But maybe he will. So what are you going to do?”

Matt opened his eyes to stare at the sunlight dancing across the surface of the pool. “I don’t know.” His stomach fluttered.

“Well, let me tell you one thing I do know.”

“What?”

“I’ve never heard you sound this happy talking about anyone.”

Matt turned his head to gaze at the glass panels surrounding the roof terrace next to Owen’s bedroom. “That’s the problem.”

“No.” Eric’s voice was gentle once more. “That’s the privilege.”