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"Well, here we are. What do ya think, Al?"
Miles held out his hand in a grand sweeping gesture, presenting the little white thatched cottage he had managed to buy for £250,000 cash in hand, virtually all of his savings. It was a big risk, but one he was willing to take. If it made Alex happy, he would be happy.
Alex yawned and scratched the outer edge of his ear. "It's cute, Mi," he said dully, his voice thick. He had slept for the hour and a half it had taken Miles to drive from London.
Shere, Surrey was a quaint, idyllic country village about 40 miles southwest of the capital. It had a few shops and pubs, was within a reasonable commute to London, and best of all, it had a population of approximately 1,000 souls.
They could essentially live their lives here, away from prying eyes and the mad rush and bustle of the city. They could be open here, hold hands, kiss, take walks in the woods or go swimming in the local pond. They could do all of those things, if and when Alex ever felt comfortable enough to do so. He had finally said the three words Miles had been longing to hear, and he knew that Alex meant them.
But in what way? Were they 'best mates with benefits,' lovers, significant others? What would their friends, their fans, and the rest of the world think if they knew?
Miles tried not to get bogged down in his obsessive rumination, but he had gotten pretty deeply lost in thought and only snapped out of it when Alex playfully nudged his ribs. "Miles? Hullo, earth to Miles? I said I'm ready to go inside. Gimme the grand tour, will ya?"
Miles blinked and nodded. "Of course, love. C'mon, let's go in." He fiddled with the various keys on the fob, found the right one, and stuck it in the little brass doorknob. When he turned the key and opened the door, Miles let go of the deep breath he didn't realise he had been holding.
Alex locked his fingers together and held his hands behind the back of his head as he followed Miles inside.
The first room was the foyer, and had a small oak rack for storing coats and hats. The next room was the kitchen, complete with a combination refrigerator/freezer, a bar, and a marble eat-in counter with chestnut dining chairs.
Directly beside the kitchen was the sitting room, with a red velvet la-z-boy settee and a 70-inch plasma screen television mounted on the wall.
At the far end of the house were the two most important rooms, in Alex's opinion. The bathroom, with its dainty white porcelain loo and clawfoot tub, and the bedroom, with its massive king size four poster bed.
Alex couldn't contain himself. He ran like a child and whooped as he hopped into the bed, grinning at Miles's blanched stare. "Come to bed, love. Don't make me sleep alone."