The Law of Attraction

Much later, when the game was over and the girls were in bed, Ed and Alec sat in the living room with Greg and Ed’s mum, watching TV and finishing up the wine from earlier. Ed noticed Alec trying to fight back a yawn. The strained look he had worn when he arrived had gone, but he looked exhausted. He’d done a lot of driving on top of an emotionally traumatic day.

“You look knackered,” Ed said softly. “Want to head up to bed?”

“Yes.” The yawn won, and Alec covered his mouth as he gave in to it. “I’m shattered. Sorry to be so antisocial.”

“It’s fine,” Ed’s mum said. “Ed told me about the crazy hours you both work. It’s a miracle you can get out of bed at all at weekends. Go and catch up on some sleep.”

Ed stood. “Come on.”

“Goodnight.” Alec smiled at Ed’s mum and then at Greg. “And thank you again for making me feel so welcome. It means a lot.”

“Anytime,” Greg said. “It’s no trouble.”

Ed’s mum agreed.

“Night,” Ed said with a wave of his hand.

“Sleep well,” his mum called after them as they left the room.

Ed felt weird leading Alec up to bed in his family home. He’d never had a boyfriend stay there before. Well… not since the mates he’d occasionally fooled around with when he was at school, and then his mum and Greg hadn’t really known they were boyfriends—or if they did, they’d turned a blind eye. This felt very different.

Ed let Alec use the family bathroom first, and then went to take his turn. When he came back, Alec was down to boxers, a T-shirt, and socks and was just getting into bed.

Ed stripped down too, keeping on his T-shirt and his underwear. “Mind if I join you? It’s a bit of a squash, but I thought you could use a hug.”

Honestly, Ed could use a hug too. He felt nervous again, uncertain about this tenuous new arrangement between them. He needed the reassurance of Alec’s arms around him, the warmth of his body.

Alec smiled and lifted the covers up so that Ed could slide in beside him.

“Is this okay?” Ed asked, fitting himself against Alec’s side and putting an arm across his chest.

“It’s perfect.” Alec’s voice was a deep rumble in Ed’s ear, and the thud of his heart was comforting and real. The old, well-washed fabric of Ed’s Harry Potter duvet cover was soft against the bare skin of Ed’s legs, and the warmth from Alec’s body was already seeping into his own.

Ed enjoyed it for a moment while plucking up the courage to speak. “I guess we need to talk.” He drew back a little so he could see Alec’s face.

“I guess we do,” Alec replied with a smile.

“So, what you said earlier….” Ed was almost afraid to believe it was true. “You really meant it? You want a relationship—and not a secret one?”

“I mean it. I’m going to come out at work, and I’d like people to know we’re an item, if you’re happy with that. You’re likely to be joining a new department next week, so we won’t be working closely together anymore, which is probably for the best. But that means there’s no reason we can’t be open about our relationship. Workplace relationships are hardly unusual.”

“How open are we talking? I mean… are we putting an announcement in the Times or what?”

Alec laughed. “There’ll be no need for that. I’m going to explain the situation to the partners when I meet them next week. Not because I anticipate it being a problem, but just in the interests of moving forward honestly. Then once that’s done, I’ll tell the rest of my team. Word will get round quickly after that.”

“God.” Ed cringed a little at the thought of being the subject of office gossip. “I hope people won’t think I’m a star fucker. The lowly minion and the high-flying partner….”

“Don’t speak too soon,” Alec said. “I haven’t got the job yet. But partner or not, they can think what they like. You’re a good lawyer, Ed. Your work speaks for itself. And we’ll only be a scandal for a week or so. Then something else will happen and we’ll be old news.” Alec shifted and the hairs on his thighs brushed against Ed’s where their legs were tangled together. “So, is it okay with you if I tell people about us?”

The way he said us made Ed’s insides melt into warm syrup. “Absolutely.” He smiled. “It’s completely, 100 percent fine.”

Alec kissed him, and Ed kissed him back. A sweet, slow brush of lips, filled with unspoken hopes and promises. When they separated, Ed took Alec’s hand and held it between them, stroking Alec’s palm with his thumb. “What made you decide to come out now? I mean….” He trailed off and looked at their joined hands. “I have to ask. I’m worried you’re only doing it for me, that I forced you into it somehow, and if that’s true, then I’m sorry. What if I’m not worth it?”