by JL Merrow
“No . . . I get that too.”
“Although I’m pretty glad she’s not holding a grudge against you.” Archie gave Robin’s hand a final squeeze, then let go so he could put his arm around him. “Or it’d be awkward taking you round for dinner tonight.”
Robin melted into the hug, an arm slipping around Archie’s waist. “I feel so bad about the whole Jones and Gunn thing.”
“Gunn Jones,” Archie reminded him with a laugh.
“Oh God. I’m not making excuses, but it was Heath who came up with the whole backstory, you know? He was scarily into it. I guess it’s not surprising. Did you know he was the plague doctor? Or do I mean the plague doctor was Heath, from your point of view?”
“Huh.” Archie almost missed a step. It was lucky he had Robin’s arm around his waist to hold him steady. “He is? I definitely feel like I should have known.”
Robin sighed. “That’s pretty much my default state of mind these days.”
Archie ran a finger around his collar. “Uh . . . there’s probably a couple of things I ought to tell you, now I know who you’re really working for. And that’s not a dig, by the way.”
“Is it to do with shagging? Because I don’t think I can cope with any more shagging-related revelations tonight.”
Archie tightened his grip on Robin’s shoulder. “All the shagging happened a long, long time ago, don’t worry. It’s about Lyddie. Her mum and dad, who she cut ties with after they treated her badly? They’re actually your ultimate bosses. The Willoughbys.”
“Oh. Ohhh. So that’s why she was so quick to get angry with them over the ad?” Robin frowned. “But your name’s Levine.”
“Yeah, Lyddie changed her name legally once she was eighteen. Levine came from an old great-aunt who’d been nice to her. And yeah, I’m pretty sure it was a factor in COC.”
“No wonder you were so mad with me when you found out. Um. I’m probably going to have to start looking for another job, aren’t I?” Robin eyed the pavement with a fatalistic air, as though a trip was inevitable.
“Don’t be daft. Just when you’ve got a shot at manager? Not gonna lie, it’s a weird situation, you working for my . . . Lyddie’s mum and dad, but I’m not about to let you shoot your career in the foot over it. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be able to get the old git to behave even more like an actual human being in the future.”
“Yeah . . . I’m sure there’s something about not going into relationships with unrealistic expectations.” Robin huffed a laugh. “So maybe it’s just as well you’ve already seen the worst of me.”
Archie wasn’t about to let that one go. He stopped walking and pulled Robin around to face him. “Maybe, but I’ve seen the best of you too. I’m really proud of you for getting Willoughbys to do something for the wider community at last.” He pulled Robin into his arms and held him tight.
Robin smiled, his blond hair glowing in the lamplight. His eyes turned coy. “If I get a cuddle for that, what do I get for telling you I’ve signed up to do some volunteering?”
“This,” Archie said, his heart swelling, and kissed him. Robin kissed back eagerly, and they pressed together in the dim light. God, it was good to finally have Robin to himself again. Archie could almost wish it was Robin’s flat they were heading to, instead of an evening with Jerrick and Lyddie—but only almost. They’d have plenty of time for the other stuff later.
He was fully prepared for catcalls and comments—he wasn’t naïve, and he knew what this neighbourhood could be like—but wonder of wonders, if anyone passed by while they were kissing, they kept their opinions to themselves.
When they broke apart again, Robin’s eyes were shining. “I can’t believe I’ve got you back. Um, I have got you back, haven’t I?”
Archie laughed. “Well, if you want any more proof, I think we’d better get off the street before we’re had up for public indecency. Come on. Lyddie and Jerrick will be looking forward to seeing you.”
“You know, it’s funny,” Robin said as they walked on, hand in hand once more. “Heath and Gail. He always acts like he wants a woman to take charge, but I get the feeling he just wants someone to care for.”
“Yeah. It’s a common problem, needing to take care of someone.” Archie squeezed Robin’s hand as they walked the last few yards home.
Bridge’s little car was parked up outside the house—as was a car Archie hadn’t seen before. “Hey, looks like they’re here early. Wonder whose the Volvo is?”
“If it’s your granddad, I may be searching for a new job after all,” Robin said darkly.
“You think he’d fire you for going out with me?” He might, at that, but Archie hoped not.
“No, I think he’d fire me for what I’d say to him if I found him upsetting Lyddie.”
Archie pulled Robin in close. He couldn’t seem to stop doing that tonight. “You’re a keeper, Robin Christopher, you know that?”
“Always thought of myself as more of a Seeker, but who knows?” Robin smiled at him, then turned more serious. “I’ve been thinking about Lyddie, and her mum and dad, and how she cut them right out of her life for what they did to her. It’s . . . Okay, my parents are, well . . .”
Archie could think of a few choice words to say about them from the effect they’d clearly had on their son, but it was up to Robin, not him. “Go on.”
“Look, I’m not saying I’m thinking of doing that with my mum and dad. Not seeing them anymore, I mean. I’m not saying I even want to do that. It’s just . . . knowing the option’s there makes it easier, you know? So, um, thanks.”
“What, for being Lyddie’s son?” Archie stroked his hair. It was softer than it looked. “Not sure I deserve the credit, but I’ll take it anyway. I’m glad it helps.”
“Yeah. It does. Um, we seem to be at the door, so . . .”
“Time for a quick snog before we face the family?”
“Oh God, yes.” Robin’s lips found his, and they kissed deeply. Now Archie felt like he was home. Hands roamed places they probably shouldn’t, and heat was rising between them.
They broke the kiss and rested their foreheads together for a moment, breathing hard.
“I’m looking forward to getting you on your own again,” Archie said, in the understatement of the millennium.
“So much. Oops—sorry.” Robin reached up to smooth Archie’s moustache. “Don’t want Lyddie thinking I’m too rough with you.”
Archie grinned. “You’re fine with Lyddie. She loves you.”
“Really?”
“Yep. It’s Bridge you’ve got to worry about.”
He laughed at Robin’s panic-stricken expression, and unlocked the door.
They walked in to find Bridge in the kitchen, putting the kettle on. She groaned when she saw them. “I suppose you’re going to want tea too? I do have a shift to work in ten minutes, you know.”
“You’re a star,” Archie said, and meant it. “Any chance of a biccy?” he added, because he was a git.
Bridge turned to Robin with a long-suffering sigh. “You might want to get your boyfriend out of here before I get creative with a teaspoon and a kettle full of boiling water.”
“Actually, it’s kind of tempting to stay here and watch . . .” Robin grinned as Archie dragged him off towards the living room.
Inside, Lyddie was sitting on the floor playing peek-a-boo with Jerrick, who was giggling fit to burst. And on the sofa with Archie’s laptop on his lap was Mr. Cotton Y-fronts, frowning at the screen.
“Archie, love! And Robin, bless you. Come on in. More the merrier. Say hi to Colin— Oh, you know him already, don’t you, Archie? He’s come round to fix that problem with your laptop. Wasn’t that good of him?”
Colin glanced up, his face pink and cheerful. His collar was still turned up on one side, and now he was sitting down, Archie could see he had odd socks on. “Soon get it sorted, not to worry.”
“That’s . . . very good of you. Sorting out that problem.” Which, as it existed only
in Lyddie’s imagination, would probably take him quite a while to locate. Archie sent her a mock glare.
She giggled, and Jerrick joined in.
“She’s . . . really not shy about inviting people round, is she?” Robin whispered. His tone was admiring, not censorious.
Archie put an arm around his waist and pulled him close, his heart full. Even if he hadn’t felt the way he did about Robin, he’d have had to love him for how he was with Lyddie.
“Yeah, she gets all sorts coming round, but you know what? Sometimes it turns out for the best.”
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading JL Merrow’s Counter Culture!
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With thanks to Lillian Francis, Elin Gregory, Kristin Matherly, and all the many splendid steampunks I’ve been privileged to encounter over the last couple of years.
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The Plumber’s Mate Mysteries
Pressure Head
Relief Valve
Heat Trap
Blow Down
Lock Nut
Porthkennack
Wake Up Call
One Under
Love at First Hate
The Shamwell Tales
Caught!
Played!
Out!
Spun!
The Midwinter Manor Series
Poacher’s Fall
Keeper’s Pledge
Southampton Stories
Pricks and Pragmatism
Hard Tail
Lovers Leap
It’s All Geek to Me
Damned If You Do
Alpaca My Bags
Camwolf
Muscling Through
Wight Mischief
Midnight in Berlin
Slam!
Fall Hard
Raising the Rent
To Love a Traitor
Trick of Time
Snared
A Flirty Dozen
JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and mysteries, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy, and her novella Muscling Through and novel Relief Valve were both EPIC Awards finalists.
JL Merrow is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Crime Writers Association, International Thriller Writers, Verulam Writers and the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at facebook.com/jl.merrow
For a full list of books available, see: jlmerrow.com or JL Merrow’s Amazon author page: viewauthor.at/JLMerrow
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