Autumn in the Highlands by Horton Spring

Author:Horton, Spring [Horton, Spring]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-13T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Andrew realized immediately that it was the wrong thing to do, but old habits and all that jazz.

David stopped, half way down the trail and turned. The look on the other’s face confirmed what he’d feared. He’d noticed the curious looks. One tourist had even sidestepped to avoid walking near them. The difference was that he hadn’t cared. They had every right to be there and to hold each other’s hand in peace. More than that, he didn’t plan on having to argue the point, especially not with the man whose hand he was holding. So instead, he simply gave Andrew a disappointed look and continued toward the castle.

The tour wasn’t nearly as much fun as it should have been. Both men were silent and anyone who glanced their way wouldn’t have known they’d come together. Andrew was unaccustomed to the quiet. He’d never seen David like this and it was killing him. He’d rather have had him yell and scream and make a scene. He knew the man he was coming to love didn’t care what people thought, so he wondered why he hadn’t said anything. Perhaps it was a punishment and he knew he deserved it if it was.

After quickly walking around the ruins and only vaguely taking in what they were seeing, they returned to the Aston Martin, still in silence. Instead of a picnic, the two of them sat in the car, eating their sandwiches and avoiding looking at one another.

Finally, when he couldn’t take it any longer, Andrew turned his head and said, “Look, I’m sorry. OK? I didn’t mean anything by it. I didn’t even mean to do it. It was just…I wanted to avoid any kind of scene.”

“Why you care what those people think?” David demanded, a little louder than he’d intended.

“Because what people like that think is what got Julian killed!” The two of them stared at one another a moment and then Andrew let out a breath, shaking his head. “And that was London. People are more conservative here.”

“And a little less insane, I bet.” When his lover looked at him again, he added, “Look it’s just families on vacation, little old grannies out with the grandkids for the day. They don’t care about us.”

Andrew nodded, a hint of a smile curling the corners of his lips. “Maybe you’re right…We could still have that picnic.”

David’s eyes softened. “OK.” Then with a sigh that sounded almost nostalgic, he said, “Our first fight. Look at us, all adorable and domestic.”

Andrew packed the rest of the food into the hamper he’d brought for the picnic with the sarcastic smirk they’d both come to associate as “David’s Look” on his face. Then the two of them walked, hand in hand, back down the hill toward the castle. The rocky, grassy shoreline was mostly dry and they found a spot far enough away from the foot traffic that they wouldn’t be bothered. They brought an old blanket too and David tossed it out for them to sit on.

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