“It’s not that, Nathan,” said Dennis, nudging Benny. “Tell him, Benny. Before Polly gets back.”
“Look, no offence, Nathan. But Ken bats for your team. And I don’t want people thinking—”
“Wait.What?”
“Ken’s gay,” said Mikey, smirking at Nathan. “Don’t say you didn’t know?”
Rightly or wrongly, Nathan had always assumed he was the only gay man on the football team. Good-looking Ken always had a couple of pretty girls with him whenever he joined them for drinks after a match.
“Are you sure?” asked Nathan.
“Told you he didn’t have a Scooby,” said Benny.
“Apparently, my gaydar’s beyond repair,” said Nathan, making them laugh. “Hang on, though. How do you know?”
“We came down on Christmas Eve. You weren’t around. He introduced a few of us to his boyfriend. Well, hardly a boy,” said Benny, shaking his head. “Nice guy. Older, but smart and funny. Looks a bit like an older version of you, actually. I’ve got no issue with Ken, Nathan. But I just wondered why they’d want to put us together on the shoot.”
“Does Ken know about this?”
“No idea. I suppose so.”
“Leave it with me,” said Nathan. “Let me talk to him and the photographer. I met her tonight. She’s really great and, honestly, if you’re not one hundred per cent comfortable during the shoot, it’ll show. She knows that better than anybody.”
“Thanks, mate,” said Benny before looking up, his earnest face transforming into a broad smile. “Good evening, Miss Wynter.”
“Please don’t,” came Polly’s voice as she approached. “I don’t like being called Miss Wynter outside the school confines. Actually, Benjamin, can you and I have a word? In private?”
A startled Benny grabbed his drink and followed her. Once they had settled in a corner, Mikey started on his favourite topic, the new hypermarket on the outskirts of town, trying to put them all out of business. Letting Mikey’s gripes wash over him, Nathan’s gaze took in Jaymes laughing along with the woman, her eyes shining with affection as she brushed something from his shoulder. The closeness between them was unmistakable. At least, that’s what it looked like. Nathan couldn’t help wishing he had someone who felt that way about him. Bloody good luck to Jaymes. At one point, he looked over to find Jaymes’ friend Kelly standing alone, checking messages on her phone—Jaymes either at the bar or in the restroom. Nathan chose that moment to make his escape. Quickly downing the last of his drink and without disturbing Polly, he said a brief farewell to the boys and slipped out.
Barely ten minutes down the cobbled lane in the freezing night air, his phone beeped with a message. Fully expecting to get a cursory text from Jaymes or Polly, he pulled out his phone and read the words on the screen.
Cliff: How’s my hottie bff?
Cliff: Am I forgiven for bailing over the weekend?
Cliff: Fancy meeting for dinner one night this month?
Cliff: My treat at my manager’s restaurant.
Cliff: Private room, just a few close friends.
Cliff: By way of an apology.
Cliff: Bring Jaymes if you wish.
Each message popped through so quickly that Nathan could almost visualise Clifton’s thumbs flashing across the onscreen keyboard. He stopped beneath a lamppost and breathed out a steamy sigh. He had never been entirely comfortable with Clifton’s suggestion to meet up, and with Raul back, perhaps that was just as well. In the space of one evening, he’d reconfirmed his single status. Right now, his fake boyfriend had a girlfriend to seduce, and his ex-boyfriend was probably curling up next to his partner. How should he respond to Clifton? If in doubt, delay had been one of his father’s tactics.
Nathan: Let me check and get back. Jaymes is really busy at the mo.
Right then, a flurry of messages pinged onto his phone like a short-circuiting pinball machine.
Jaymes: Where the hell did you go?
Polly: Where are you?
Cliff: Benedetti’s in the West End. If he can’t make it, then just you
Jaymes: Mike said you’d left. You barely said hello.
