“You never wrote. Not even an email.”
“No, I didn’t. And for that I apologise. You deserved to know what had happened, but by the time things had settled down, life had moved on. I didn’t think you’d have cared anymore.”
“I did. I missed you dearly.”
Clifton raised his eyes to take in Nathan, a sympathetic and melancholic gaze settling there.
“I knew you and Jaymes weren’t an item. He’s not your type.”
Something about Clifton’s confident smile and assumption irritated Nathan.
“How would you know what my type is?”
“Maybe I don’t, but I still get the same Nate vibe. And you were never a fan of boneheads. He seems like your archetypal caveman. Nothing like you, a man who’s conservative but sensitive to the core. I bet you’re still living in your family’s flat above the shop, aren’t you?” Clifton placed a hand on Nathan’s shoulder, an old familiar gesture. “Then again, maybe you have changed. Are you really posing naked for a calendar?”
Nate laughed while nodding.
“Reluctantly.”
“You’ve got a good body, Nate. Even better than I remember. And I have a long and vivid memory.”
When their eyes met, Nathan felt an old longing surface. Clifton smiled almost shyly and looked away, before squeezing Nathan’s shoulder once then removing his hand.
“Sorry. Tonight wasn’t such a good idea,” said Clifton.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
“Listen, I’ve got rehearsals for the series all next week, but I can free up Saturday evening. I don’t always like going out because of the attention I draw, but how about I come to your place? A night of Xbox and movies, takeout Thai and a couple of beers—and your suggestion for dessert. On your couch together like old times. I’m sure my fitness coach won’t mind me having a night of carbs and alcohol. As long as I get a good workout in on Sunday.”
Clifton’s expression smouldered with remembered want. Had Jaymes been right about him?
“What about Raul?”
“He won’t mind, I’m sure. And what the eye doesn’t see—”
Just then, the phone in Nathan’s trouser pocket buzzed loudly. When he pulled out the device and saw Polly’s name on the display, he assumed Jaymes had contacted her.
“I really need to take this.”
With an apologetic tilt of his head at Clifton, he rose and headed out of the room. Perfect timing, too, because he’d had no idea how he felt about Clifton’s offer. Intrigued at what Polly had to say, he took the call to the hallway, only to catch Jaymes on his way back to the table. They could decide together on their exit strategy.
“Hello, Polly. Let me guess. Jaymes texted you?”
He expected to hear humour in Polly’s voice, but she sounded tense and worried.
“No, Nathan. Some solicitor called the shop phone from Australia. Something important. I wasn’t going to answer at first. I assumed the call would go to a messaging system. But when they kept ringing, I took the call.”
“Who was it?”
“Somebody called Gerrard Flynn, a family solicitor in Melbourne, Australia. Needs to speak to you urgently. He left a number but wouldn’t tell me any more. Says he’s on his way to work now—it’s early morning over there—but asked if you could call him back in an hour. Shall I text you the details?”
Nathan noticed Jaymes heading towards him, looking even more pissed off than when he’d left the room.
“No, it’s okay, Polly. I think it’s time for us to leave,” said Nathan with a quick nod to Jaymes. “We’ve both had enough excitement for one night.”
At Nathan’s words, Jaymes’ features relaxed, his relief palpable.
Chapter Seven
