Ed & Marchant by Sue Brown

Author:Sue Brown [Brown, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Chapter 8

BEFORE THEY left Ed had something to say to Frankie. He could have taken Frankie aside, but he chose to do it in front of Al and Marchant.

He swallowed hard to gather his courage. “Frankie. You’ve been really nice to me, and you had no reason to. I know I’ve been a complete shit to you.”

Frankie chewed on his lip, and Ed could see his urge to say what he really thought. “Yeah, you were, from the day I started.”

Ed nodded. “I hated you. I owe it to you to tell you why….” He took a deep breath. “But I can’t. Not yet. It’s still too raw.” He looked at Marchant. “One day I hope you’ll be able to forgive me.”

Frankie rolled his eyes. “I’ve forgiven you already. I wouldn’t have spent hours doing those damn reports if I didn’t realize you were a decent person under that shitty exterior. Even if you don’t like curry.”

But Ed hadn’t finished. “I’m sorry for trying to get you into trouble when you hurt your hip.”

“Yeah, that was an arsehole thing to do. Don’t do it again.”

Ed nodded. “I won’t. I won’t get the chance. I’m handing in my resignation tomorrow.”

He took pleasure in seeing three jaws drop.

“What?” Frankie exclaimed.

Marchant looked at him, a furrow between his brows. “What are you doing?”

“I hate that job. I’ve always hated it, and I know I’m crap. Frankie does a better job than me without even trying.”

“So what are you going to do?” Frankie asked.

Ed shrugged. “I’ve no idea. I have savings, so I can survive for a while. I think I’d like to take dance lessons again.” He thought about Frankie and Charlotte dancing together. “I used to dance a paso doble that would make you cry.”

He clapped his hands over his ears as Frankie squealed. “I love dancing. We could take lessons together.”

Al and Marchant let out remarkably similar growls.

“Ed will dance with me,” Marchant said.

“You stay out of it,” Al said, grabbing Frankie by the waist. He waited until Frankie had settled before he spoke to Ed. “I think that you need to learn to live for you, Ed.”

Frankie stepped forward and hugged him. “You do that, and when you want to talk, I’ll be here.”

“So will I,” Al added.

“Thank you.” Ed smiled at them and looked at Marchant. “I’d like to go home now.”

Marchant held out his hand. “Let’s go.”

His hand was warm and strong around Ed’s, giving him courage when all he was thinking was What the hell have I just said?

Ed was lost in thought as they walked down the stairs, and he didn’t hear Marchant’s question.

“Ed?”

“Huh?”

“Do you want to go home or come back to my place for a nightcap?”

Ed blinked. “Your place?”

“Yeah.”

“I….” Shit!

“For a drink. Nothing else.”

Ed nodded and held Marchant’s hand a little tighter as he jumped off the cliff again.

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