Page 158 of In at the Deep End

“Which is kinda surprising, given the age difference.” Dad chuckled. “I did warn him, though.”

Matt frowned. “About what?”

“I told him you were an old soul. Well, not in those words, but he got the right idea. And I’m glad you get along so well.”

Matt lowered his gaze to his tea. He could still feel Dad’s gaze on him, however.

“You seem to have spent a lot of time together this summer.”

“Yeah.”

“More than I expected when you took the job.”

Matt shrugged, trying to sound casual. “I had a lot to do over there. And he’s good company.”

“I can see that.”

Something about the way Dad said it made Matt glance up.

Dad was smiling. “I think Owen’s seen more of you this summer than we have. Maybe the trick was to pay you. That might’ve worked.”

Matt laughed. “Definitely. You should’ve tried that years ago.”

Dad laughed with him.

Matt looked down at his tea, smiling. He really had spent a lot of time with Owen this summer.

And I wouldn’t have changed a minute of it.

His phone buzzed on the table, and Matt glanced at the screen.

Owen: Coffee’s on. I know you’re planning to spend the day chained to that laptop, but if you fancy a break, there’s a mug here with your name on it.

Something warm and ridiculously pleased unfurled inside him. It was only a coffee, but Owen had thought of him.

“That’s Owen, isn’t it?”

He glanced at his dad. “Yeah, he wants me to come over and talk about the garden over a coffee.” Another shrug that managed to appear way more casual than Matt felt. “I think I might take him up on that.”

Dad raised his eyebrows. “Now?”

Matt nodded, already closing the laptop. “I’ll only be half an hour.”

Dad glanced at the screen, then at the laptop disappearing into its case. “Interesting.”

Matt paused. “What?”

“Nothing.” Dad pushed his chair back. “I just thought the dissertation was important.”

“It is.”

“Apparently not as important as coffee.”

Matt grinned. “It’s Owen’s coffee.”

Dad laughed. “Ah. Of course. How could I have missed that distinction?”

Matt shook his head, trying his best to hide the happiness still there, bright and alive.