Chapter 9 - Penultimate Chapter

Chloe cleared her throat. “ Perhaps we should um… give them some privacy.”

“She’s right.” Vicky said, her face slightly blushed. “I am sure they wouldn’t appreciate being um watched.”

Elena grinned. “Oh give it over, they are only kissing, how bloody long have we waited for this?”

It was at that moment that Gary drew away from Mark and turned around. Eleven pairs of eyes stared back at him. Vicky gave a weak wave.

Gary could feel his face turning red even before it happened. Mark laughed. Gary couldn’t believe it, how long had they all been standing there? Oh Jesus he needed to sit down, he was not a man who enjoyed public displays of affection, he was more a love when we’re alone kind of guy. Mark grinned at him.

“You okay?” He said, still laughing at how red Gary had gone.

“I will be in a minute.” Gary choked out. “Is it really hot in here?”

The door opened and the gang flooded into the room. All eleven of their friends grinned like cats that had gotten the cream.

“So how long do we have to leave it before we can start making jokes?” Kennedy said, slapping Gary on the shoulder.

***

Mark stuck his fork hungrily into the plate Gary had set before him. The room was dimly lit by candles that Gary had set up all around the room. Mark smiled, Gary was truly such a hapless romantic, he had even made them both wear shirts and ties. Gary wanted their first proper date to be perfect and although Mark would have been satisfied spending the evening on the sofa together Gary was adamant that the start of a perfect relationship must start with the perfect date. Mark had been let out from hospital only days before and was still wheelchair bound, he hadn’t felt ready to get in a car again so him and Gary had taken the train back to Gary’s house, hats pulled over their faces, coupled with dark sunglasses.

Gary sat down opposite him, a bottle of black current juice stood on the table. Mark felt embarrassed that Gary couldn’t get a bottle of wine for them but Gary had said that it didn’t matter to him.

“This is good.” Mark said taking another mouthful of something he was fairly sure was pasta but you could never tell with Gary’s cooking. You’d be half way through what you thought was a brownie and out of the blue Gary would announce it was beetroot cake.

“Your welcome.” Gary said smiling. “We’ve both waited long enough.”

Mark had a feeling Gary wasn’t talking about the food. Gary’s tie was hung loosely around his throat just like it had been the day of the accident and a whisper of chest hair was visible over the top of his shirt. Mark took a hasty gulp of cold water. As much as he was enjoying the food Mark couldn’t help but wish Gary wasn’t quite so old fashioned. He looked down at his legs, still in their casts and muttered swear words in his head, were the doctors doing this deliberately? He could barely get close enough to Gary to kiss him, in fact yesterday Gary had stolen a kiss when he was sure no one was looking and Mark’s cast had ended up smacking him between the legs and Gary had spend the evening with a ice pack bandaged to his lap.

“Why are you such a good person Gaz?” Mark asked grinning. “Why is it that you never just take advantage of people?” If Mark were brutally honest he wouldn’t mind being taken advantage of by Gary.

Gary laughed. “Because I don’t want anything to go wrong, I feel like its all too good and your going to disappear… also I am not going to lie and say I am not a little scared of your casts, I am still recovering.”

Mark looked more serious. “Why do you refuse to believe that anything good can happen to you Gaz? I’m here I promise and I wont ever disappear.” He smiled again.

Gary shrugged. “What did I do to deserve something good? I haven’t changed the world, nor was I ever there for you when you needed me, I didn’t bother to ask if you were okay even when you were your most depressed.”

Gary looked down at his food, god damnit what was it about Mark’s presence that caused him to choke up so? Gary was not the sentimental type but he felt so exposed around Mark, like his emotions just shot to the surface and he was all over the place.

“Gaz, I didn’t want people to ask if I was okay… I didn’t want to think about what I was doing to myself… but you were there, you were always around and that was enough.” Mark said.

Gary let out a low laugh. “Look at us, when did we get to be such sentimental fools? Shouldn’t we be ripping our clothes off and… and… I don’t know whatever they do these days.”

Mark grinned. “Welcome to an adult relationship… Plus the night is still young, plenty of time for clothes ripping later.”

Gary grinned back and took their plates into the kitchen to fetch dessert.

***

Chloe and Em were sprawled across Jason and Howard sofa; beside them Robbie was sat, Kate lying across his lap. Jason and Howard’s house was rarely empty; they were just that kind of couple Robbie supposed. Jason and Howard had always loved company, Robbie liked that about them, their house was always homely and welcome.

“So.” Em said. “What with Mark and Gary enjoying a romantic night in, FINALLY, Jay and Howard celebrating their anniversary tomorrow, Robbie, Kate, is it getting serious guys?”

Kate blushed.

“Your not supposed to ask when they’re both here.” Chloe said grinning.

Robbie planted a kiss on Kate’s cheek. “You know what I think it kind of is.”

Em clapped her hands together. “God I am surrounded by too many couples in love, I need someone, does anyone know if Gary got Dermot’s number when he was on the x factor?”

“Dermot, really?” Vicky said wrinkling her nose.

“Not if I get there first Em.” Jay said taking a handful of the chips that were sat on the table.

Howard turned to raise his eyebrows in Jay’s direction.

“Not if I get there first to tell Dermot that Em is really the one for him, because I obviously already have a partner who I love very much.” Jason hastened to correct himself, grinning back at Howard.

Howard nodded. “A partner who is far more rugged and handsome than Dermot O’Leary.”

Em laughed. “Hmm, yes well whatever you say.”

“I would not begrudge either of them a place in my bed.” Robbie announced between planting kisses on the side of Kate’s neck.

Jason stood up. “Are you making a move on my man?” Grinning he hit the play button on his stereo.

‘Pray’ filled the room and Vicky leapt up clapping her hands together. “Oooooh a dance off!”

The others laughed as Robbie and Jason squared up, Howard waved his hand at Em, beckoning her to follow him outside.

Howard walked through the glass doors that lead out onto Jason and his back garden; it was cold enough for his breath to come out in puffs of white smoke. Em followed behind him looking curious.

Then Howard proceeded to tell Em something that he had been thinking about for a while now. Something that felt right, something that he wanted Em’s advice on. He figured since she was a girl she’d know all about this kind of stuff. Em’s response to what Howard told her caused her to squeal and throw her arms round his neck. He hugged her back. It was a time for celebration, Howard supposed. He couldn’t wait. This was something he had been planning for so long, he couldn’t wait to tell someone and he trusted that Em wouldn’t say anything. He didn’t know what it was, but it finally felt like the right time, the right place, the right man.