Renaissance (Village Love #2) by Lillian Francis

Author:Lillian Francis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: british, england, contemporary, artist, gay romance, librarian, english village, village love
Publisher: Lillian Francis

Chapter Nine

It felt strange approaching the library bus empty handed, but Smudge had no books to return and wouldn’t have brought them even if he had. Raleigh needed to know Smudge had come here for one reason only. Not a half-arsed attempt at an apology.

Raleigh caught sight of him while Smudge was still too far away to catch up if he chose to run, and dived into the library bus. Smudge braced himself for the sound of the engine. The confirmation they were back to square one.

But the bus stayed silent. The whole village seemed ridiculously quiet for a Saturday morning in the summer holidays.

Smudge climbed the steps into the bus. He glanced down the length of the bus. Empty. That could make things easier or more awkward. The silence stretched and Smudge realised neither had acknowledged the other. He focused back on Raleigh.

“Morning…”

Smudge’s heart managed one heavy beat as Raleigh paused for a fraction of a second.

“Smudge.”

Smudge tried to hide the sense of disappointment. In the brief pause, he’d thought Raleigh was weighing up whether to call him by his real name. Raleigh had obviously considered the idea and discarded it quickly; come to the conclusion Smudge didn’t measure up. Smudge wanted to pout and demand why. “Because you forced yourself on him, you freak.” Wasn’t that why he’d come to the library today? To apologise?

Raleigh looked him up and down. Expressionless. Smudge squared his shoulders, not to look aggressive, but solid. Dependable.

Who knew why? He sucked in his stomach, suddenly aware of a lack of definition in his abs where his six-pack had once been. They said twenty-five was the magical age when you had to start working harder to lose weight. All that Red Bull and cider beginning to catch up with him. Maybe he should dig out his old skateboard. Or happen he could join Rick and Mal on one of their countryside bike rides.

“Sorry, I can’t let you take any more books. You’re already at your quota.”

Books. Smudge frowned. Oh. Raleigh had been checking for returns, not checking him out. Stupid!

“I know. I didn’t come for books.”

“You do know this is a library?” Raleigh gave him a quick smile. “Books are the only commodity on offer.”

Was that a dig?

“I came to see you. Happen I owe you an apology.”

Raleigh shook his head. The movement gave his hair a life of its own. He dropped his gaze. “No, I—” He fussed with the paperbacks in front of him. “It doesn’t… It wasn’t…”

“Dude.” Smudge reached for Raleigh, determined to wrap a hand around those slender wrists to still the movement. He remembered Raleigh’s flinch and instead laid his hand flat over Raleigh’s palm.

“I wanted to apologise for freaking you out. What sort of idiot talks about fucking someone just because they shared some chow mein and a kiss? And then to get all arsey about you saving yourself. That really was a dick move. I should probably apologise for kissing you—”

“No. I led you on.”

“But I refuse to apologise for something I enjoyed so much.

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