Page 30 of The Fete of Summer (Tales of Crumbington #1)

“Apart from warning them to keep their hands to themselves, I’d tell them they have bloody good taste.”

“Jaymes,” said Nathan, not seeing the humour in the remark.

But Jaymes strode forward and pulled Nathan into a hug.

At first Nathan resisted, but after a few moments, he relaxed into Jaymes’ body warmth.

Perhaps Jaymes had a point, he thought. Soon the whole world would be able to buy the calendar online, and he would have to learn to live with the consequences.

“You should be more concerned about the voice rant I just got from Polly. Apparently she was tidying up this morning and found a pair of my underpants and a used condom wrapper under your bed. I think we might owe her an explanation.”

* * * *

On their last morning, they sat naked on top of the bed, facing each other and sipping mugs of tea that Nathan had brought back to bed.

After a few minutes of enjoying the drink and grinning at each other—they seemed to be doing that a lot lately—Jaymes reached over, plucked Nathan’s mug from him then took Nathan’s hands in his own.

“It’s time we talked. As you know, my stint in Malaysia will last around six months.

I can’t do anything about that now. But I wrap things up there at the end of November.

Then I’ll be home, Nate, and back to you.

New Zealand isn’t until the end of January.

Another six-month contract. If I am going to be totally honest, I wish I could get out of that, but I don’t want to muddy the waters.

They’ve been being really good to me, and the pay is excellent. ”

“Don’t change a thing. I don’t know how many times I need to say it, baby, but I’m really pleased you’re doing what makes you happy.”

“The thing is, Nate—and I’m sorry it’s taken so long for me to say this to you—I feel as though I can be myself around you. I’ve never had that before. Not with anybody. People always want me to be somebody I’m not, to be more serious or tone down my personality—”

“I love your personality.”

“My point exactly. And as I’m going for honesty, you should know that I used to get bored with the few partners I had.

Pretty quickly. That might have something to do with them mistaking me for somebody I’m not.

But with you, Nate, every time I see you, my heart feels lighter, like someone’s switched the sun on. ”

Nathan smiled down at his hands.

“Same for me, Jaymes,” said Nathan, making up his mind. “But I need to ask if you’ll do something for me. And you can say no, I won’t be offended.”

“Does this involve fruit-flavoured lubricant?” asked Jaymes, smirking playfully.

Nathan laughed and shook his head. After leaning over and pecking Jaymes on the lips, he reached down to get his trousers from the floor, rifling through each pocket until he found what he wanted.

“Doris gave me these.” Nathan held two rings in his palm. “They’re called Claddagh rings.”

“I know what they are,” said Jaymes, staring reverently at Nathan’s outstretched palm. “And they look pretty darned expensive.”

“Would you wear one of these for me? If I wear the other?”

Jaymes didn’t answer straight away. Instead, he asked a question.

“Isn’t there some folk tale about which hand you need to wear them on? And which way up they should be worn?”

“There is, although I've seen a number of interpretations,” said Nathan, placing one ring on the bed before him and demonstrating with the other. “From what I understand, if you’re single and available, you wear the ring on your right hand with the tip of the heart facing outwards.”

Nathan placed a ring on his right hand to demonstrate the direction.

“Upside down?”

“Exactly. And if you’re in a committed relationship, you wear it on the same hand but with the heart pointed inwards.”

Again, Nathan demonstrated, plucking off and returning the ring the other way up. He continued doing the same for the last two positions.

“Once you’re engaged, you wear the ring on your left hand with the heart pointing outwards, and finally, once you’re married, you wear it on your left hand with the heart facing inward.”

“So what are you asking me?”

“I thought maybe we could wear the rings on our right hands, facing inward, to show the world that we’re in a committed relationship.”

Jaymes pondered the idea momentarily, his face serious, until he looked up into Nathan’s eyes.

“No. I don’t think I can do that, Nate.”

Nathan’s heart dropped, but he didn’t want to spoil the moment or the weekend, so he smiled bravely.

“Too soon?”

“Not at all. But if we’re both going to be wearing these, I think they should be on the left hand.”

“Engaged?” said Nathan, trying to mask his surprise.

“Give me your left hand, Nate.”

Nathan did as told, and Jaymes slid the golden ring into place.

“Now you. Place the ring on my finger.”

Nathan followed suit until they held their ring hands out to each other. After admiring the rings, Jaymes leant forward and pulled Nathan into a fierce hug.

“In case I haven’t already told you enough, Nate,” said Jaymes, his breath warm in Nathan’s ear, “You’re it for me. I love you. I love you so much.”

Nathan almost collapsed into the embrace, his heart overflowing.

“I love you, too,” said Nathan, something inside bursting, his arms tightening around Jaymes.

The rest of the weekend went by in a blur of happiness, making love, laughing together and helping prepare meals.

Nathan couldn’t help catching the glint of the ring on Jaymes’ finger when he did innocent things like reaching for a milk carton or scratching his head.

And each time he was filled with pride. Friday afternoon they took a refreshing country walk after finally getting out of the cottage, with Jaymes taking his hand as they strolled down a country lane.

Inadvertently, their walk culminated in them stumbling upon the local village pub, where they decided to sample the local beers and home-cooked food, chatting about football and the news.

But mainly, they enjoyed the simple pleasure of each other’s company.

For now, anyway.