Page 19 of Perfect Night
“Do you know whatisoffensive? Listening in on other people’s conversations.” He turned back to the group, effectively dismissing her. “Now where was I? Did I tell you about his tongue?”
“Jason,” Paolo warned. “Why don’t we change the topic to something we can all contribute to?”
“That’s boring. I should have stayed in bed with Hercules.”
“His name was not Hercules,” said Charlie.
“That was his profile name. We didn’t really speak much.”
“Right, moving on,” interjected Paolo. “Langdon, what’s new with you?”
“Well . . .”
“Ooh wait,” shouted Jason. “I’ve got something for you.” He gestured towards Charlie.
“Do I want to hear this?”
“I ran into your hot daddy last night.”
“Sebastian?”
“Yeah. He was looking for you in Mickey’s.”
Charlie’s heart sped up. Why was Sebastian looking for him? Did Charlie leave something in the hotel, or was it bad news?
“Did you know he had a friend who actually is a hot daddy? I’m not joking, anactualdaddy. He called me a brat.”
They all burst out laughing. The guy wasn’t wrong.
“Not like you to get knocked back,” said Langdon, with a smirk.
“I didn’t get knocked back. His husband just died, though, so he said he wasn’t up for fucking me just yet. Shame, as it would have been so hot.”
He looked away, all wistful. What the hell was happening?
“Jason. Focus. What did Sebastian want?”
At that precise moment, KC appeared with their food. The last thing Jason needed now was a distraction. It was hardenough to get him to focus at the best of times. There was no talking for a few minutes as everyone added their condiments and started eating. The food at KC’s never disappointed. It wasn’t a greasy spoon or pretentious nosh; it was something in between. Charlie always had the Eggs Florentine, and as always, the eggs were poached to perfection. Somehow KC had served Jason at the same time. She must have had his prepared on the off-chance he got there before they were served.
“Jason,” he asked, ensuring his flighty friend focused on him. “What did Sebastian want?”
“He wants you to call him. He gave me his number for you.”
Charlie always visited his mum on Sunday afternoon. He also stopped by a couple of evenings a week, but he was always tired from work and it had become more difficult to get there at a respectable hour, given how busy things were at the moment.
Pamela Davidson had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when Charlie was fourteen and had deteriorated quickly. She was now in a wheelchair and lived in an assisted living complex. She had her own bungalow on the grounds, so kept her independence. The place wasn’t cheap, and it was crippling him, but she was happy here and he wasn’t taking it away from her.
Charlie was still reeling about the message from Sebastian. He’d mentioned he was flying back to the US today. Had he already left? Charlie didn’t know when his flight was. He didn’t even know his surname, so why would he know the guy’s itinerary? The number was stored in his phone, which was burning a hole in his pocket. He wanted to call him, or send a text at least, but something was stopping him from doing it.
His friends were literally no help, but of course they all had an opinion. Langdon thought there was little point in Charlie risking his heart when the guy lived in New York, so it wouldnever work. Paolo said to go for it as love will always find a way. Gregory said he needed to do some calculations before giving his position, and Jason suggested he just meet the guy again for another good dicking. Tempting, but he knew he’d get his hopes up for more if they hooked up again.
He plastered on his best smile when he saw his mum. She was only forty-four, having had Charlie at seventeen. His dad had no interest in him, so he owed everything to this wonderful woman who had always been so full of life when he was a child, until her diagnosis. It had caused Charlie to grow up quickly, as he had to take charge more. It was why he’d stayed in London to go to university, so he could be near home. And he was glad he did, or he’d never have met his brothers. None of them were from London originally. When they’d suggested moving in together in their second year, his mum had encouraged him to go for it.
Now, his mum looked frail as she wheeled herself towards him. They often met in the communal gardens when the weather was nice, like today. As she reached him, he leant down and kissed her cheek. She pulled him into a hug, and he could feel how bony she was. It always made him catch his breath, wondering how long he had left with her. He wasn’t sure how he’d cope when she was gone. Hopefully, that was a long way away.
“What’s his name?” she asked.
“Who?”
