Page 217 of In at the Deep End

Matt’s breathing hitched. “Oh. That looks great.”

The large frame had his master’s certificate in the centre, and around it were photos Owen had taken of the awards ceremony. Jeff and Babs, glowing with pride, Matt in his mortar board and gown, Owen grinning in the one photo Jeff had managed to take without chopping his head off.

“I’ll put it up later.” He glanced at Matt. “No news?”

Matt shook his head.

He’d started looking for work, which was proving a less than straightforward task. His degree was useful, just not in the immediately employable way he’d once hoped. He’d had interviews, rejections, and so many emails beginning with Unfortunately that he was only now learning to delete without taking them personally.

Owen had never once suggested he was taking too long.

“There’s no rush,” he always said.

Matt had argued with him about that the first few times.

“There is if I don’t want to spend the rest of my life unemployed.”

“You won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re irritatingly determined.”

“That’s not a qualification.”

“It should be.”

There were still days when Owen took a step back to survey their life.

Their life.

It had taken a while to get used to that.

It was the ordinary things that still caught Owen by surprise. Finding his clothes mixed in with Matt’s. Being the person Matt texted when something funny happened. Buying groceries together. Arguing over which film to watch. Knowing that if Matt said he’d be home at six, he meant he would be home at six.

Knowing where he would be tomorrow, and the day after that.

And the day after that.

Matt had changed. He was more certain of himself now. He spoke his mind more readily. He no longer apologised for taking up space in Owen’s life.

What Owen hadn’t expected was what happened behind closed doors.

The first time Matt had taken six of Owen’s ties from the wardrobe, and proceeded to tie him to the bed, Owen had been so surprised he’d stared at him.

Matt had looked almost amused. “Do you have a problem with this?”

“Not remotely.”

That had been the beginning of a discovery neither of them had seen coming.

Matt had always known what Owen wanted. Now he was beginning to understand what he wanted too.

And Owen was more than happy to let him discover it.

Occasionally, Matt caught him gazing at him afterwards with an expression that made him laugh.

“What?”