Chapter 53

“You still bowl, don’t

you?”

“Uh, well, yes, but I was

planning to give today’s match a miss. I—”

“You should go. It’ll get

you out.” He could tell Trevor was close to tears. He got up,

approached Trevor, took the whisk from his hand and hugged

him.

“It’s not fair,” Trevor

sniffed.

“I know, Trev, I

know.”

“It was only ever going to

be a temporary thing. I knew that. But—”

“But it doesn’t stop it

from hurting.” Paul rubbed Trevor’s back.

“No…doesn’t.” Trevor

sniffed again. “Why’d I always pick men who leave me?”

Paul wanted to tell him

that he’d never leave him, he’d be there for him, love him, keep

him safe, but he resisted. It was much too soon for any of

that.

“Tell you what. Let’s go

for a drive somewhere. It’ll have to be quick though because of the

cricket.”

“No, you don’t need

to—”

“I want to. Come on, put

your shoes on and we’ll go to the reservoir and walk round it. And