They trundled up the path, arms bumping, rain dripping around them like a canopy, like they were the only two people in the world. Back then they’d have bantered the whole time. Now, they were too conscious of one another, of themselves.
Wentworth had shaved. Not a close one, but closer than he’d worn so far. Elliot had thought he was wet from the rain, but the scent of honey melon suggested he’d just showered. He breathed in deeply, causing Wentworth to side eye him.
“Shower’s working again?” Elliot asked.
“Turns out I was able to fix the problem.”
Honey greeted Elliot with the wag of his tail and paws on his legs. Elliot scooped him up and cuddled his small squirmy body against his chest. He kissed the top of his head, skin and fur so soft. Honey was his now. He got to take care of the sweet bundle. “Mary’s babysitting you while we’re at the opera,” he said, and nuzzled another kiss.
Wentworth took off with Elliot’s suitcase and a dripping umbrella and Elliot toed out of his shoes and followed to the bathroom. The umbrella was hooked over the curtain rail, dripping into the tub. “See. All shiny and new.”
The pipes gleamed.
“Ah, so you couldn’t save the old ones.”
“No. Those pipes were too old, and the pipes available now are better, more durable. They’ve developed in the last decade or so.” Wentworth gripped them. “They should last a lifetime now.”
Elliot wanted to cross the bathroom, turn Wentworth to face him. He wanted to thread his fingers through his hair and kiss him.
He might have got swept up in the emotion, too. If his phone hadn’t rung.
“Cameron?”
“Hey, just checking you’ll be here on time? We’ll wait in the foyer. Rain’s insane.”
“Right. Yes! I’m on time. Heading there now.”
“Good. Look, I couldn’t get through to Philip, so if you see him waiting outside, drag him in with you?”
Philip had the other ticket?
He probably should’ve put that together quicker. It made sense. He’d seen Cameron chat with Philip before he’d crossed to him. “I’ll make sure Philip doesn’t catch a cold.”
They ended the call, and Elliot suddenly felt the texture of the silence in the bathroom. He looked over at Wentworth; Wentworth looked away and moved past him out the door. “I’ll let you get ready.”
Honey scrabbled to escape his hold; Elliot set him down to chase after Wentworth and stared into the space where Wentworth had been. He needed to remain calm.
Oh God! He was so not calm.
He hurried to shower and dress while Wentworth took Honey to Mary for the evening.
He met Wentworth coming out of the lounge, where he’d been sleeping the last nights on the pull-out bed. He’d redressed into a sleek grey suit, tieless, top button open.
“You look amazing.”
Wentworth startled, and then let himself look back at Elliot. Admiration glittered in his eyes, but as he drew his gaze up to his face, they dimmed. “You look great too, Elliot.”
They scored a park only half a street from the theatre, but Wentworth seemed in no hurry to exit the car. He looked over at Elliot with a small smile. “It’s good to have you back in Port Ratapu.”
“It’s good to be back.”
“It’s been strange without you in the office. Especially because. Well. Every time I go there, I’m struck with images of Louisa falling.” He rubbed his forehead, eyes closing. Then he smiled, gently, again. “I’m glad you asked me to look after Honey. Though in truth, perhaps he took up where you left off, in looking after me?”
“I hardly looked after—”
“You rescued me that day. You were calm and resourceful . . . I was all over the place with shock, and I was sure you would kick me out of the room when I came back with Benny, but you didn’t. Because of course you were also shocked, and you needed me too, and . . . thank you, Elliot. For letting me lean on you, and for letting yourself lean on me.”
“I needed you, too,” Elliot whispered. His body hopped with agitation; he gripped the wheel, leaned back in his seat, twisted around to Wentworth again. “This week has been . . .”
A rumbling laugh. “Quite something, hasn’t it?”
“I thought you were falling in love with Louisa.”
He stilled. “No. She was never . . . I never felt . . . She was never on my mind. Though the Benny twist surprised me.”
Elliot swallowed, his throat dry. “Me too. I—I hope they’ll be happy together.”
“They’re quite different personalities, but maybe that’s what attracts them? I wish them all the happiness; may their last kiss be an arthritic one—”
He halted. As if, like Elliot, he recollected their last kiss. The soft touch to either side of Elliot’s lips, and then the flourish at the bow.
Elliot heated and stared at the rain drizzling down the windscreen.