Page 187 of In at the Deep End

Because if it was true, then nothing had changed at all.

Owen hadn’t moved closer—Matt had.

And perhaps he’d been so busy hoping Owen was coming with him that he’d failed to notice he was the only one still moving.

Matt called Eric on Sunday evening.

“Hey. Is everything still good for next weekend?”

Eric laughed. “Will you stop worrying? Nothing’s changed. You can still stay. Unless you’ve decided my sofa isn’t good enough for you anymore. I mean, the Savoy, it isn’t.”

“Ooh, I don’t know. I’ve become accustomed to luxury.”

“You’re coming up on the Saturday, right? Staying two nights with us, then heading home on Monday after delivering the precious, precious document?”

“Precisely.”

“You’ve got the right idea. You don’t want to spend more time in Edinburgh than you have to. You know how mad it gets during the Fringe.”

They talked for a few minutes about what time Matt expected to arrive in Stirling and whether Eric had any plans while he was there.

A few days away. A clean break between one thing and whatever came next.

Matt didn’t know what next meant yet. He didn’t know what was going to happen with Owen.

That was the problem.

When he’d first booked the trip, he’d assumed returning to Edinburgh would be something to look forward to. He’d stay with Eric, celebrate, hand in the dissertation, then come home with the whole summer behind him.

Now he wasn’t sure what he was coming home to, or whether Owen would still be part of it.

“You’ve gone quiet.”

Matt blinked. “Sorry.”

“Is everything all right?”

“Yeah.” He forced a laugh. “I’m just tired. Everything’s fine.”

There was a pause.

Eric hummed softly, the sound suggesting he wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t push.

“I’ll meet you at the station on Saturday.”

“Looking forward to it.”

Eric chuckled. “So is Garth. He’s been experimenting with curry and he wants a new victi—I mean volunteer, to try his results.”

Matt laughed. “Maybe I’d better make sure I pack the antacids.”

“Probably wise.”

They said their goodbyes and Matt ended the call. For a while he sat there, the phone resting in his hand.

Everything’s fine.

He’d said it so easily.