Part 10
Rove took a deep breath. He couldn't tell her the truth because he just knew that it would crush her. And he still loved her and he would never intentionally hurt her, he hadn't lied about that.
"Belinda, I'm just not ready for marriage."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. It's not that I don't love you, I do. I just am not ready to get married at the moment. Can you understand that?"
Belinda sighed.
"I guess I can. But I can't wait for you forever, Rove."
Belinda stood up and walked into the bedroom, leaving Rove sitting on the couch all alone. He looked over at the telephone, resisting the urge to pick it up and call Wil. Instead he slowly got to his feet and headed into the bathroom to take a shower.
Wil sat at a caf� in Chapel Street, South Yarra, enjoying a rare day of perfect Melbourne sunshine. After his shower he had to get out of his apartment. Every time he looked around he was reminded of last night, reminded of Rove. So he'd headed down to South Yarra to have a late lunch.
"Hey stranger."
Wil looked up from his coffee to see Paul standing there smiling at him.
"Hey Paul."
"Mind if I sit down?"
"Go ahead."
Paul pulled up another chair at the table and sat opposite Wil. The waitress wandered over and Paul ordered tea. When she had disappeared again Paul turned back to Wil.
"So what are you doing here all by yourself?"
Wil smiled.
"I could ask you the same question."
Paul raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on Paul, I'm not stupid, and I'm not deaf either. I know there's something going on with you and Corinne. I heard you guys last night as I left. Hey, I think it's great, I'm happy for you guys really."
"Thanks mate. So what about you and Rove?"
Paul saw the expression on Wil's face change as soon as he mentioned Rove's name. Paul knew there was something going on between the two of them, both from personal experiences and the fact that he'd known them both for a long time.
"What do you mean? We're just working together."
Wil tried his best to dodge the question. But he knew that Paul didn't believe him. He and Paul had been friends for a long time, and Paul could read him like a book. Paul took off his sunglasses and looked over at Wil.
"Come on Wil, I'm your friend. You can talk to me."
Wil sighed. Paul was his friend, and right now that was what he needed, someone to talk to. He took a sip of coffee and then sat back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the ground.
"Rove and I slept together last night."
Wil forced himself to look up to gauge Paul's reaction, and he was surprised to see that Paul's expression hadn't changed. Paul just smiled.
"I kind of guessed something like that would happen."
"Why?"
"I've seen the way you two look at each other. That's the way that Tim and I used to look at each other."
"Yeah and look at the way you two ended up."
Wil regretted those words as soon as they left his mouth. Paul's expression changed slightly, but he just shook his head.
"Tim and I weren't right for each other. We were in lust, not in love."
"What if that's what's happening with me and Rove then? We might just be in lust, not love. I don't want to break up Rove's relationship with Belinda just for the sake of some two-month fling."
"You love him don't you?"
Wil nodded his head. It was true; he did love Rove, more than he thought he could ever love anyone. But maybe that just wasn't enough.
"What are you two handsome men doing here?"
Paul and Wil both looked up to see Corinne walking towards them. She took a seat at the table, smiling at Wil and then leaning over and kissing Paul lightly on the lips.
"I missed you."
Paul smiled.
"I missed you too."
They kissed again, and Wil looked at them with a twinge of jealousy. He could never have a relationship like that with Rove. Even if they started a relationship they could never be public about it, it just wouldn't work. Maybe Rove would be better off with Belinda.
"Wil?"
Wil shook himself free from his thoughts and looked up to see Paul and Corinne staring at him.
"Sorry I was just thinking."
Corinne reached out her hand and placed it on top of Wil's.
"Are you okay?" Wil sighed again.
"I wish I knew. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"How did you know that you and Paul were right for each other?"
Corinne looked over at Paul and he smiled at her. She returned his smile and then turned back to Wil.
"I just knew. When you're in love you know it. Everything just feels right."
Corinne turned back to Paul, and the two of them became lost in each other once again. Wil sat there staring at his coffee again, thoughts running through his head. Everything sure felt right whenever he was with Rove, so why was he still having doubts?
"I've got to go."
Paul and Corinne looked over as Wil got to his feet.
"Where?"
"I need to talk to him."
"Good luck."
"Thanks Paul. Are you coming to the show again tonight?"
"Definitely. I'll see you there."
"Okay cool. I'll see you then too Corinne."
"Okay. Good luck Wil. I know it will work out, don't worry."
"Thanks."
Wil said goodbye to Paul and Corinne again and then headed off down Chapel Street. He had to go and talk to Rove; he had to know how he was feeling.
part 11