"How long have you felt like this?" asked Joe.
They were sitting in Joe's hotel room, the sounds of Monte Carlo just outside the window.
"It's been a while." Graham shifted uncomfortably. "But knowing I was never going to see you again... I couldn't deny it anymore."
"Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Because I knew you could never feel the same way." Graham avoided Joe's bright blue eyes. "I know you see me as..."
"As what?"
"A father figure."
"I had a father. Chris," Joe pointed out. "I don't need another."
"Still, your Aunt Zoe made me your guardian."
"That was years ago. I'm not a kid anymore." Joe hesitated. "And you know I'm not exactly straight..."
"You love Debbie." Graham finally looked at him.
"You keep saying that." Joe crinkled his nose in thought. "Maybe I just wanted to be loved, by someone..."
"Well, you are." Graham cleared his throat.
"Thank you," said Joe. Graham looked at him in surprise. "I mean, it's not ideal, you showing up and announcing that you're in love with me, when I'm meant to be hiding from your girlfriend..."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm the one that should be sorry." Joe reached out to squeeze Graham's hand. "You fell off the wagon because of me."
"I'm back on it now."
"What about Kim?"
"Yes, I still love her, too."
"What a mess." Joe rubbed his head, pushing his now-long hair back from his face.
"But I choose you. Not that I expect you to choose me back."
"Don't rule it out." Joe's lips curved into a smile. Graham looked for any signs of a wind-up, but he could always tell when Joe was being sincere.
"So what now?"
Joe shrugged. "Room service?"
"I'm serious."
"So am I." Joe reached for the phone on the bed. "Let's get fed, and then we can analyse this to death if you want..."
Graham smiled as Joe dialled the number for room service. Joe seemed more mature, somehow, than when he had left the village. Graham twisted his wedding ring around his finger and allowed himself to hope, for the first time, that he could be happy again.