this is NOT a love story

[7]

dec's p.o.v.

i'm sat in the car with ant on our way to the shopping center. it's 4 p.m. so we have a couple hours until we had to leave.

in reality, were weren't going to the cinema. we were going up to ant's summer home to get away for the night.

"i'm excited!" i say to ant, "i just can't wait for tonight. just us two at your summer home, no kids." i sigh contently.

"i know dec, you've mentioned it since we left the house." he laughs, "but i can't wait either. it'll be like old times." he lefts up my hand and kisses the top.

everytime we go somewhere in the car, we hold hands in the middle. we never hold hands in public because we wouldn't want all this attention on us.

yeah, the public believes we're together, but we don't want all these pictures of us holding hands in public or kissing to be out there. i need something that only my closest friends and family and i know about.

"finally!" i say, "we're here. come on, i need to go but new pants, trousers and shirts." i continue, rather impatiently.

"dec, hold on" ant says, but i'm already on my way into the shop. i fell my phone buzz in my pocket and take it out. i got a message from ant.

ant 👑: declan, where have you gone off to? i'm looking around for you, i'm a little lost. i can't find you. call me or text me.

i call him, as i feel that would be a faster way of him finding me. i dial his number and put my phone in between my ear and my shoulder, so i can continue looking in the shop.

"dec? where are you mate?" i hear him say on the other line, i can see him above the clothing racks. "i'm right over here ant. can't you see me?"

"no i don't. stick your hand up or something man." i do as he says and stick both my arms up and wave them side to side. i hear a chuckle over the phone. "okay, okay. i can see you now, be right there." we both hang up and he comes up behind me seconds later.

"hey you. glad i found you." he says as he hugs me from behind. he gives me and kisses the back of my neck and looks at clothes with me.

"be careful what you do in public anthony." i say sternly, "now what do you think of this one?" i say, picking out a grey jumper. since i know he loves wearing them with a t-shirt or collared shirt underneath, i got him a white t-shirt as well.

"i like it, you should get it." ant wasn't really one to go shopping so i usually buy his clothes for him.

"not for me, for you, you twat!" i say jokingly and hand him the shirt. "oh," he chuckled, "sorry, i'm just a little worried about stephen."

why would he bring up the one of many things we're trying to take a break from? i love stephen with all my heart, but he can be quite a handful sometimes.

"why?" i ask not knowing what else to say as i continue looking for something for me. "i just feel like there's something he isn't telling us. you know?"

"yeah, i noticed that too." i reply, "but, it's stephen. he'll tell us sooner or later. now don't worry about it. come on, let's go try these things on and go to a couple more shops." i finish.

he agrees and we head to the dressers, he tries on the shirt i picked out along with a pair of orange swim trunks and black jeans. "i don't know dec, come here."

i go up to the dresser he's in and knock. "what aren't you sure about?" i ask, "it looks nice on you."

"it's the jumper. the sleeves are the right amount of long, but the bottom is just a little long." he says as he continues looking in the mirror.