Page 76 of Forgiven

“Sounds boring,” Dylan said.

“There’s nothing boring about cuddling up under the stars.”

“Fake stars.”

Jag shrugged. “It was beautiful, trust me.”

“Somehow I don’t think that Michael is going to let me have a date here after hours. Besides, it would be weird knowing you two were fucking like rabbits upstairs.”

Jag laughed. “You could go for arealstarlit picnic.”

“At this time of year? You’ve got to be joking. My nipples will freeze off.”

“It’s September, not the middle of winter!”

“Yeah, the weather’s still pretty mild,” Kyrone said. “Wear a jumper.”

“Do you have anyotherideas?” Dylan asked.

“Take him out for a meal,” Kyrone suggested.

“Boring.”

“What about the cinema?” Jag asked.

“We can watch films snuggled up on the sofa.”

Kyrone scratched his chin. “Skydiving?”

Dylan almost choked. “Are you serious?”

“Sure, why not? Or indoor skydiving, if you don’t fancy chucking yourselves out of a plane.”

“I really don’t.”

“A hot air balloon ride?” Jag suggested.

“An escape room?” Kyrone said when Dylan pulled a face at Jag’s idea.

“That would involve other people, wouldn’t it?”

“We could do it as a quadruple date,” Kyrone said. “You and Callum, me and Jared, Jag and Michael, and Taylor and Logan. It would be fun.”

“It would…” Dylan pursed his lips. “And I’ll hold onto that idea for the future, but I want something a little more intimate.” He realised his two friends were staring at him. “What?”

“I never thought I’d hear you utter the word ‘future’ when you’re talking about a guy you’re fucking,” Kyrone said.

Dylan rolled his shoulders back. “I’m not fucking him,” he said in a hushed voice. “We’re taking things slow.”

He thought both of his friends were going to faint from the way they were staring at him.

“It’s notthatbig of a deal.”

“You really are serious about him, aren’t you?” Kyrone asked.

“Yeah,” Dylan admitted, even though the thought was terrifying. “I am.”

“Another thing Michael and I did was read bits from our favourite books to each other,” Jag said. “That was really nice.”