Page 42 of In at the Deep End

As they headed for the kitchen, Owen shook his head. Somehow, in the space of one morning, they’d gone from discussing Powell and Pressburger to laughing over a box of porn.

The DVDs would still be there after lunch.

So, he suspected, would the questions Matt hadn’t asked.

Chapter Ten

Matt lifted the cardboard lid on the fried rice and helped himself to a couple of spoonfuls. “Is there any more of the roast pork?”

Owen pushed the carton towards him. “Help yourself. There’s more chicken Chow Mein if you want it.” He reached out to take the last prawn cracker, and Matt growled. Owen burst out laughing. “Okay, okay, it’s yours.”

Matt beamed. “I knew you’d see it my way.” He gazed at the diminishing pile of boxes behind him. “We’re getting there.” The dining room looked less like a warehouse now. Three bookcases stood against the far wall, one already filled with DVDs.

Owen smiled. “Yeah. When you go home tonight, I might pick a favourite film and veg out on the couch with popcorn and maybe a beer. I’ve earned it.” He glanced at Matt. “You don’t have to go, you know. You could always join me. You could even pick the film.” His eyes twinkled. “After today, I don’t think I’d be worried about your taste.”

Matt chuckled. “I think our problem might be too many films to choose from.” His gaze drifted towards the DVDs, then to the sealed box beside them that contained the home movies.

Then there was the box of those other DVDs.

He took another mouthful of noodles.

Nothing about Owen seemed to fit neatly together.

He loved old films and history. He’d obviously adored his husband. The tenderness in his voice when he spoke about Ben had caught Matt off guard.

And yet he was once married to a woman who’s still one of his closest friends.

He was quiet, thoughtful, cultured—with a collection of gay porn large enough to stock a small shop.

Matt wasn’t judging him. He just didn’t understand him yet, and that made Owen even more interesting.

Mum described him and Cyn as inseparable. Everyone had assumed they’d end up together. And they had—until they hadn’t.

Matt frowned at his plate.

How does that happen? How do you marry your best friend, and years later realise the love of your life is someone else?

He genuinely couldn’t see the path between those two versions of Owen.

Perhaps there wasn’t one.

Perhaps there were a hundred tiny steps nobody else ever saw.

“You’ve gone quiet,” Owen observed.

Matt blinked. “Sorry. I was thinking.”

“That can be a dangerous pastime.” Owen pushed his plate away and leaned back in his chair. “So what’s on your mind? If you can share it, of course.”

He hesitated. Maybe this was his chance to start joining the dots.

“There are a few things I don’t understand.”

Owen took a drink from his water glass before speaking. “I rather suspected there might be.”

Matt bit his lip. “Mum was talking about you when you were at uni. Except I’m now realising she only saw a part of you, not the whole picture.” He paused. “And then I saw you and Cyn.” Another pause. “Can I ask something a bit personal?”

Owen smiled. “You’ve earned one question.”