Page 57 of In at the Deep End

Owen laughed and poured the remainder into the two glasses. Then he tilted his head once more. “Was that the first such film you’ve ever watched?”

“As in gay? Yeah. Not that I usually watch the straight variety either.”

“At your age? That does surprise me. I thought the younger generation were all about what they could find online these days.” Another raise of his eyebrows. “And? What was your opinion?”

He glanced towards the box. “It wasn’t what I expected.”

“In what way?”

Matt searched for the words. “I thought it’d just be…”

“Sex?”

Matt nodded. “But instead…” He stared into his champagne. “They cared about each other.”

Owen smiled. “The better stories usually remember that people fall in love before they take their clothes off.”

“Yeah.”

He sipped his champagne. “So… have I corrupted you yet?”

Matt laughed. “I think you’ve just made me curious.”

Owen held his gaze for a fraction longer than before. “Curiosity is rarely a bad place to start. And while it might kill the odd cat occasionally, it can also be fun.” He pointed to the box. “Any time you want to borrow any of them, help yourself. I mean it.” His lips twitched again. “Only, next time, at least wait until I’m out of the way for longer than forty minutes.”

Matt took refuge in his champagne. “You didn’t want to discuss plans for tomorrow at all.”

He chuckled. “Actually, I did, but I also wanted to discuss your recent… viewing when your parents weren’t in earshot. I have a deadline for you. I’d like the house and garden to be ready for mid to late July for my party.” He raised his glass. “To which you are invited, by the way.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

Owen snorted. “Although this is probably where I should mention the fact that there’ll be two parties. The everyday housewarming variety, to which I’ll invite your parents, Cyn, Callum, people I used to work with—and another kind.”

Matt stilled. “Oh?”

“You can come to that one, too. Just… don’t be shocked.”

He laughed. “By what?”

“Most of my friends are gay,” Owen said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Okay.”

“Some are couples.”

“That makes sense.” Matt wondered where this was going.

“Some aren’t. Some are very… comfortable with each other.” Another beat. “More comfortable than you’re probably used to.”

Matt frowned. “How comfortable?” Except suddenly he had a sense of where Owen was leading him.

Owen grinned. “You’ll see.” He wandered over to the window and stared out at the garden, still visible in the fading light. “When Ben was alive, I never threw parties like that. I didn’t need to. He was enough.”

Silence settled between them.

“After he died…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I spent a long time wondering if I wanted another relationship.”

Matt waited.