Page 9 of Forgiven

Callum frowned. “What makes you say that?” It was more like getting something horrible over and done with.

“I don’t normally tell people about my head injury so quickly. I’m used to being treated differently as soon as it’s out in the open, so I keep it secret until I really to get to know someone.”

“That’s different.”

“Is it?”

“You didn’t ask to have a head injury. I’ve got no one to blame but myself for getting into trouble with the police. Like I said, you don’t want to be my friend.”

“Let me decide that. Please?”

Callum took a breath and nodded. He knew what Jared’s decision would be, but he was willing to let the guy come to his own conclusions.

“Did you hurt anyone?” Jared asked.

“No.” He could have, but luckily, he hadn’t.

They turned left into a shopping centre with a massive glass ceiling. Callum wasn’t sure how to take Jared’s silence, but there wasn’t much he could do except let the man process what he’d said.

“Thank you for telling me,” Jared said as they stepped onto an escalator to get to the next floor.

“It doesn’t bother you?” Callum asked.

Jared shrugged. “I’d rather get to know who you are now than judge you for the things you’ve done in your past.”

The second floor of the shopping centre seemed to be almost entirely filled with restaurants and a posh cinema. They walked from one end to the other, Callum’s stomach growling more fiercely as the scent of delicious food wafted out of every unit. Eventually they reached another escalator, next to which, a tall black man was standing. He grinned as soon as he saw Jared and wandered over to meet them.

“Hey, babe.” He wrapped an arm around Jared’s back and tugged him close for a kiss.

It only lasted seconds, but the obvious tenderness that passed between the two men was beautiful. Callum almost felt guilty for watching such an intimate moment. Jealously snaked through him as he wondered what it would be like to be that close to someone; to be in love.

“Who’s your friend?” the man asked.

“This is Callum. Callum, this is Kyrone, my fiancé.”

“I’d think that was obvious.” Kyrone chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Callum. I’m starving, shall we get some food?”

They went up the escalator, into an area that was full of small food stands, some of which looked permanent, others obviously more temporary.

“It’s great here,” Jared said. “We can get what we want and then sit together.”

“Do you want to find somewhere to sit, babe?” Kyrone asked. “I’ll get yours.”

Jared smiled. He looked tired, which was odd as they hadn’t walked far.

“I’ll see you both in a few minutes,” Kyrone said before wandering off.

Once they’d found somewhere to sit, Jared took his coat off and put it on one of the chairs at the table, claiming another as his own. Callum draped his coat over a third chair.

“Thanks.”

“For what?” Jared asked.

“Giving me a chance.”

“Of course.”

Callum went to explore the food stalls. There was a huge variety of choices, from Korean to tacos to burgers and ribs. He ended up with noodles from a pop-up stall and went back to the table they’d snagged. He half expected Jared to be gone and was oddly relieved when he saw both men sitting with their food, talking and laughing. For a moment, he debated walking away and not joining them. They looked so happy together and didn’t need him acting as a gooseberry. Then Jared caught his eye and waved him over.