Page 57 of Freshman

It wasn’t the first time Alfie had done her hair, and it saved him from the awkward drinking game going on in the other room.

“Sure,” he said, untangling the cable. He plugged it in and put it on the side to warm up.

“I was thinking loose curls,” she said, adjusting her dress. She’d picked a short black dress that showed off her long legs. Her matching heels were also black and added at least three inches of height.

Tia watched Alfie in the mirror.

“You look good,” she said with a wink.

“Thanks for sounding surprised.”

He’d tugged on his skinniest pair of black jeans and wore a green silk-like shirt the same colour as his eyes. He’d styled his hair, moisturised, and after some gentle encouragement from Tia, had allowed her to dab a small amount of concealer under his eyes with her finger.

Tia chuckled. “Poor Max tripped over his tongue when you came in.”

“Don’t start that again.”

Alfie hovered his hand over the curlers to feel the heat. He snatched them up, and after Tia had partitioned sections of her hair, he got started. Her blue eyes were on him in the mirror the whole time.

“I decided which club we’re going to…”

“Which one?”

“Glam.”

Alfie frowned. “I don’t know it.”

“It opened last month.” She licked her lips. “It’s a gay club.”

“But you’re not—”

“You and Max are, and maybe…maybe I’m a little curious. Max has been there a few times. He said the music is the perfect balance of cheesy and sexy.”

“Because everyone loves sexy cheese.”

“Or cheesy sex.” Tia laughed. “Is that…is that okay with you?”

“Tia, it’s your birthday. I’m more than okay with whatever you want to do.” He brushed out one of the curls until it was loose. “Who knows, there might be someone more my type.”

Tia made a noise like a squeal and clapped her hands to her thighs. “It’s going to be a good night!”

There was nothing wrong with Max. He was handsome with his bleach-blond hair and hazel eyes. He had dimples when he smiled, and he’d bulked up since the last time Alfie had seen him. His V-neck vest top hung low, exposing the curves of his pecs, and he wore a silver chain that glinted every time he moved.

But for Alfie, he was too smooth, too pristine, too put-together. He smelled of perfumed flowers, and he wore bright-orange trousers and Velcro trainers, and although he was the same age as Alfie, he looked younger.

He wasn’t Nate who emitted masculine vibes, whose stubble scratched and whose voice murmured across Alfie’s skin.

Don’t think of Nate, Alfie said to himself, and not for the first time that night. They were in the cheap drink stop-off, Benny’s, after splashing out on one cocktail each from Black Jacks.

Max had just finished his second beer when he sidled up to Alfie at the bar. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.” Alfie smiled. “Having fun?”

Max nodded. He rested his elbow on the bar, going for a casual look as he took in Alfie. “We’ll be heading over to Glam soon.”

“Tia said you’re a fan of the place.”

Max’s cheeks reddened. “I wouldn’t say a fan, but there’s good music, and the drinks are an okay price. It’s been packed every time I’ve been there, but the price on the door is quite high.”

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