“I—I’m also gay.”
The comment caught Leonard unprepared, and he almost laughed but could see by Adrian’s troubled face his difficulty at expressing the fact. Leonard answered softly.
“And?”
Adrian looked up at him.
“And I thought you ought to know. I don’t normally tell people outright, although I don’t hide the fact, either. But then I don’t usually share hotel rooms with friends. Straight friends, I mean…"
Adrian appeared to be struggling over something Leonard already knew. But to tell him he knew might give the impression he listened to idle gossip. Instead, he leant forwards, placing his elbows on the table. To lighten the mood he reached over, snatched a chip from Adrian’s plate and popped the whole thing in his mouth.
“Seriously? That’s what’s worrying you?”
“Some guys can get funny when I tell them. And I didn’t want to make things awkward between us.”
“Do you take me for one of those narrow-minded idiots, Ade? It’s cool. Look, unless you’re about to confess to having a psychological condition that involves you sleepwalking and murdering roommates in their sleep, then we’re good.”
Adrian smiled with relief before narrowing his eyes at Leonard’s hand.
“Fair warning, though. You pinch any more chips off my plate and you might want to consider sleeping with one eye open tonight. Just saying.”
Leonard laughed aloud. Seeing the tension drain from Adrian’s shoulders, he almost let on about his own orientation. Surely that would be for the best all round so they could loosen up around each other? Then again, maybe coming clean might make sharing the room even more uncomfortable. Adrian had, after all, called him a ‘straight friend’, so he had no idea about Leonard being gay. What also didn’t help was the intense attraction he had developed for Adrian. Even if he hadn’t shown anything knowingly, Adrian would surely guess by the little tells he couldn’t help making, staring at Adrian’s chest, or freckles, or his thick muscular arms and thighs. If he came clean all that might change and make this situation even more awkward, especially if he wasn’t Adrian’s type. More importantly, he had invited Adrian along in his professional capacity, to survey the farmhouse and give him an expert opinion, not to be his bedmate.
Besides, if anything between them were to happen, it would be doomed from the start. Adrian lived and worked in Drayton, Leonard in London. Maybe the physical distance didn’t matter, but Leonard knew himself well enough to know he could never survive on a diet of daily telephone calls and text messages and the occasional weekend hook-up. Moreover, Leonard had never been a casual, one-night stand guy. Kris had been his first and only lover. If he decided to jump, he did so with both feet the whole way and expected a partner to do the same—no half measures.
“Are you okay, Lenny? I thought I’d lost you there for a moment. Having second thoughts?”
Leonard, who hadn’t realised he’d zoned out, lost in thought, stared up into Adrian’s eyes.
“No, but… Have I just been a complete knobhead? Did you want your own room because you’re looking to get lucky over the next few days? I was, and still am, totally fine with sharing, but I didn’t even consult you when I said yes, which is wrong of me. I hate to think I’ve just pissed on your—”
This time Adrian burst into laughter.
“What?” asked Leonard.
“You haven’t pissed on anything. Genuinely, Lenny, my concern was for you. But if you’re fine then let’s leave it there. You can use your earplugs, and I promise I won’t murder you as long as you don’t touch any more of my chips. Are we okay?”
“We are. But remind me to consult you in future. I tend to travel on my own, so I usually jump in and make snap decisions. Okay, so back to business. Can I suggest an early start tomorrow? Are you okay to get up at seven-thirty?”
“Not a problem. And I’m happy to navigate again if you want. Do you have that picture of the place we’re trying to find?”
From his jacket pocket, Leonard pulled the envelope given to him by Mr Dawson and pulled out the copy of the photograph handing it to Adrian.
“I have no idea how long ago that was taken.”
“Have you checked whether the place exists on GPS? Or are we going to be playing this by ear?”
Right then, the landlady came to their table to collect their plates and Leonard used the opportunity to talk to her.
“Mrs Llewellyn. We’re going to take the room. But can we have a quick word? Just need some information about the local area.”
“Of course, dear. Be my pleasure. Not exactly rushed off our feet tonight. And you can call me Megan, if you prefer. Whenever I hear someone calling for Mrs Llewellyn, I expect to see the in-laws coming around the corner to scold me.”
Leonard pulled out a chair for her to sit. First off all, she took the dirty plates away and dropped them off at the bar before returning.
“So a quick question,” said Leonard as she took a seat. “How well do you know the area?”
“How well do I—?” she began, with a chuckle. “Better than most alive, I’d say. I’ve lived here in this pub with my folks all my life, at least up until I married. Twenty-five I was. Went to live with Roger’s folks in Vancouver running his family’s hotel until they sold up. Then we decided to come back and take over this place because my mum and dad wanted to retire. Been running the place ever since. So yes, I know the area very well, and most of the people who live here. What do you need to know?”
