The Bones of Summer Read Online Free PDF Page B

the mobile jammed to his ear, hoping the girls wouldn't wake up. Paul took two rings to answer. He sounded sleepy.
    “Morning, Craig.” He stifled a yawn. “It's early, you know.”
    “Yeah, I know. Eight-thirty a.m.” He couldn't help it. In spite of the fact he might be about to piss Paul off again and break Gay Rule Number Four: Don't upset a new boyfriend for at least the first three weeks, if you make it that far, he couldn't stop the smile spreading over his face. Again. “But you said I could ring.”
    “Suppose that means it's my fault, eh? I should have specified a time frame. Funny, I'm usually good at that. You must have got me at a weak moment.”
    “You in bed?” He hadn't meant to say that. But the thought made him feel warm all over. Hard too. Not only that, but it took his mind off what he needed to ask.
    “Yes,” Paul replied after a moment's hesitation. Then, “You?”
    “Yes. I mean no. Well, I'm in my bedroom, but I had a shower earlier. Got dressed.”
    “You have the advantage over me then,” Paul whispered, his voice a low, enticing hum.
    “You mean you're not...?”
    “Dressed? No. Not at all.”
    “Hell, Paul, but I don't think I can—”
    “Do this?” Unexpectedly, he laughed. “No, me neither. I'd rather see you, though it might be fun this way too, I have to admit.”
    “Yeah. It might be.”
    They were silent together for a few seconds before Craig remembered what it was he'd rung for.
    “Paul, can I ask you a favor?”
    “Sure. Go ahead.”
    He took a deep breath. “I need to go back to Devon—where I really come from—to sort something out. And yes, I know that's not where I told you I came from, but ... but I didn't know how. I'm sorry about that. Anyway, it's because of the letter I got yesterday. I wondered if you might like a trip out to the country. Get away from the city. I don't think the ... business will take long and afterward we can ... you know ... just chill. Or something.”
    When he finally trailed off his so-called hard sell, even he didn't believe it. He closed his eyes. Paul said nothing.
    “Okay,” Craig continued after the silence had bled into his conscience. “That's the partial truth only. Again. Yes, it would be nice to have your company. But the real truth is that I'm feeling shaken about it, and I don't want to go alone. And I don't want to take Maddy or Julie, though they've both offered to come. They assume stuff about my background and I don't know if I'm prepared to be that open with them at the moment. But you, well, I like you. You don't assume anything. I don't think you'll judge me. Please, Paul, will you come with me?”
    This time, when he finished, Craig found he was shaking, and he ran one hand through his hair, waiting for the obvious refusal. He'd just made a complete fool of himself, hadn't he? Paul was bound to say no.
    He didn't even hesitate.
    “Of course I'll come with you, Craig,” he said. “I knew you weren't a London boy. It's obvious from your accent. I'll be happy to see Devon. When are you planning to go?”
    “What? Oh, thanks. That's great. Thank you.” Craig stumbled over his words as he slumped back against the wall. “Thank you. Yes, when? Um, actually, I was hoping you might be okay with today.”
    “Today?” Paul started to laugh. “Bloody hell, but you don't hang around, do you? I'd better get dressed then. Have you got transport, or do you want picking up too?”
    “No, that's fine. Really. I'll drive. It's the least I can do.”
    He arranged to pick Paul up in an hour. That would leave plenty of time to get there by early afternoon and sort things out. Who knows, his father might even have turned up by then. Craig didn't care, just as long as he didn't have to meet him. That would be beyond impossible.
    He was five minutes late. Not bad for him, he thought, but when Paul opened the door of his flat, he was frowning.
    “Thought you wanted an early start,” he said.
    “I did,” he replied.