“I don’t deserve you, Nate.”
“Probably not. But I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now.”
While he was speaking, a young blonde girl in a purple cafe uniform appeared with their drinks. As she put them down on the table, she glanced nervously at Nathan and Jaymes and smiled genuinely before uttering one word.
“Adorable.”
As soon as she had left, Jaymes nudged Nathan.
“Youareadorable, you know? She’s dead right.”
“She’s talking about both of us.”
Happily, the exchange seemed to defuse the tension, and they each reached to sample their drinks.
“I should have delayed by a day. I could have been there for your semi-finals tomorrow.”
“And another week, so you could be there for the calendar launch? Or another month so you could attend the fête? At that rate, you’d never have left.”
“Maybe that’s not such a bad—”
“We talked about this. You’re doing what you love. Which makes me love you even more.”
Beneath the table on the bench seat, Nathan felt Jaymes’ hand reach to grasp his own.
“By the way, Nate, thank Clifton for letting us use his car and driver. That was really thoughtful.”
Nathan had almost declined. Clifton had told Nathan he would be accompanying his partner, Raul, to a meeting that day, and they had other transport arranged. Nathan had still hesitated. Since Clifton’s return to Crumbington, he had been less than reliable. But he had come through this time. Sitting in the spacious back seat with Jaymes, pressed up against each other, had been the perfect send-off.
“I’ll message him. And make sure you call me the moment you land.”
“Yeah, best if I text. I arrive at Kota Kinabalu airport midmorning, which translates to the early hours over here. We can video-chat later tomorrow once I’m settled. And I can show you my luxury digs.”
Jaymes had already told Nathan about the basic accommodation accompanying his trips, with often four or more to a room. Not that he spent much time in them.
“Photos, too, please. I’m going to buy a couple of small clocks for the kitchen, one for London time, the other for Malaysian. That way, I’ll know when to call you.”
Jaymes sighed and kissed the top of Nathan’s head. “Still wish I could put you in one of my cases.”
“Me too. But they’re already checked.”
Arms around each other’s waists, they strolled to the departure section of the airport. For a change, according to Jaymes, they encountered no lengthy queue of travellers waiting to disappear into immigration control. They enjoyed a tight hug goodbye before Jaymes released Nathan and vanished into the bowels of the airport.
On the way there, Nathan had planned to stay longer at the airport to find a viewing gallery and watch as Jaymes’ plane took off. Overwhelmed and confused by the number of signs and the volume of people milling around, he had almost given up on the idea. But Jaymes promised to send him a text message as soon as he boarded, so Nathan wandered around until he found an information desk. Two airport staff—one male, one female—stood chatting. Nathan stood to one side, scanning the leaflet stand, amused at their conversation.
“He’s an absolute dream, if you want my honest opinion. Did you see him on a Harley inTangerine Smile? Thighs to die for. Or between. Whatever works.”
“You’re gushing ‘cause he’s one of yours. And didn’t I see something about him being the subject of a sex tape?”
The man scoffed. “More fake news. But if there’s a link, forward it to me.”
“Seriously, though, don’t you find him plastic, too fake? Too good-looking?”
“Are you kidding me?” said the man before nodding his head to a point somewhere behind Nathan. “Look at him over there. Pure sex on legs.”
Nathan turned, startled, fully expecting to see Clifton striding towards them. Instead, he realised they were referring to a giant poster suspended above the shops advertising the pilot episode ofCandlelight, the new television thriller starring Clifton and Helen Monash. In the advertisement, Clifton strolled purposefully down an archetypal English country lane with his co-star just behind his right shoulder and looking equally stern.
“Sorry, sir,” came a female voice. “Excuse my colleague’s appalling taste. Can I help you with something?”
