Absolution by E.M. Lindsey

Author:E.M. Lindsey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance, mm romance, LGBT romance, small town romance
Publisher: E.M. Lindsey
Published: 2021-11-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

It had been a month since their first row, and Alexei had all-but forgotten why it happened in the first place until a text came through on his mobile. It was from Ilia saying he was in London, asking him to come round for drinks.

An ugly winter storm was approaching, and they’d closed up shop early since there was little point in wasting electricity on just the two of them and all the books. August was curled up on the sofa with a book, and Alexei had just come out of a warm bath. He took a seat near his lover’s feet and nudged his calf until he looked up.

“My friend Ilia’s asking me out for a pint. Do you want to come along?”

August pulled a face, glancing out at the weather, then shook his head. “I think I’m fighting off a cold, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to stay in.”

Alexei reached over, pressing the inside of his wrist against August’s forehead. “Not warm, but probably a good idea. Do you mind if I go? Or do you want company?”

August set the book down and pulled Alexei alongside him, kissing his cheek. “Are you asking for an excuse to get you out of going?”

Rolling his eyes, Alexei nuzzled his neck. “I’m not that childish, you know. But I don’t want to leave you on your own if you’re poorly.”

“You can make it up to me by getting me a soup or something tomorrow.”

Alexei laughed and kissed August once more. “Deal. If you need anything though, just text. We’ll be at the local.”

Nosing through Alexei’s hair, eventually August let him up to finish getting ready, curling back up with his book. When Alexei was satisfied that August really didn’t mind, he grabbed his coat, keys, and mobile, and leant on the door handle.

“Text me if you need anything,” he repeated.

August rolled his eyes, though he was grinning, and waved him off. “Go, have a good time. I’ll be here when you get back.”

The quiet promise in those words warmed something in Alexei as he slipped into the corridor and locked the door behind him. ‘I’ll be here when you get back.’ It was such a simple statement, but one that held so much promise, and for the short walk to the pub, he felt like things were going right.

The pub itself was crowded. There was a match on, which had everyone riled up, and he could hear the shouts from the street. Alexei had to elbow his way through to get to the bar, and after ordering a pint, he scanned the crowd until he managed to spot Ilia who had been lucky enough to snag one of the taller tables away from the wall with the TVs hanging.

His friend gave him an apologetic smile as Alexei slid onto the chair. “Sorry,” he said loudly over the crowd, “I didn’t know it was going to be like this.”

Alexei waved him off. “No worries, really. It’s just nice to get out.

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