Page 129 of The Other Side

Osian came back with two glasses and settled beside Drum.

“I want to lean against you and I can’t.” Drum chuckled and yelped. “I can’t do anything without yelping.”

Osian moved closer so that his leg pressed against Drum’s. “Does that hurt?”

“No.”

“A good start. You probably ought to eat something.”

“I think I’m too tired to eat.”

“Soup.”

Drum laughed and went, “Ow.” A tiny, cracked sound that still somehow filled the room.

“Food first, then I’ll tell you exactly what happened in Faeryland.”

“I thought you had.”

“Just the abbreviated version.” Osian went over to the fridge. “Wow. Just as Mikkel promised. Let’s see. Octopus, liver, carpaccio, oysters, Brussel sprouts and sardines.”

“Hmm.”

“Homemade vegetable soup, fresh bread, butter.”

“I’ll have liver and sardines.”

Osian chuckled. “I’ll heat up the soup. Kit has left cake too.”

By the time Osian called that soup was done, Drum had drifted sideways on the sofa. He pushed himself upright with a groan, made his way slowly over to the table and gingerly sat down.

“Did you think of food when you were trapped?”

“I thought of you.” Drum swallowed a spoonful of the soup. “Though if I’d known how good this was going to be, I’d have thought of this.”

Osian laughed.

Drum slid his hand across the table and touched Osian’s fingers. “I thought… I thought you might never know what happened to me. I’d be gone again like I was before, but this time it would be for good. That was what hurt the most.”

They had just finished eating the soup when Drum’s phone buzzed. Osian went to get it from the couch.

“Who is it?” Osian asked.

“My boss. Former boss.” Drum pressed accept. “Hello?”

“This is Inspector Gordon.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I wanted to make sure you’d reached somewhere safe.”

“I have.”

“I received your resignation. I don’t blame you. I’m sorry the force is losing you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I also wanted you to hear this from me first.”