Page 54 of Famous Last

“Other way around.”

“Oh. So that makesyouthe bastard.”

Nile shrugged. He leant forward in his chair, his head hanging down, his arms on his knees and hands clasped together.

“He wanted marriage and babies, you know? The whole nine miles.”

“Yards. And you didn’t?”

Nile sat up and used both hands to indicate his upper body.

“I didn’t go through all this to end up with stretch marks.”

Spencer burst into laughter. Nile didn’t.

“It’s not a joke. I’m trans.”

“Shit,” said Spencer, feeling mortified at his insensitivity. “I’m sorry, I had no idea. Prince didn’t say anything.”

An uncomfortable silence fell, during which Spencer floundered around for something to say. He liked Nile, found him easy company and didn’t want to offend him.

“Couldn’t you have fostered or adopted instead?” he said, then wished he hadn’t said anything.

Nile scrunched his eyebrows together, considering his words.

“I never thought about alternatives. But yeah, I suppose we could have discussed other options. The problem is I have a bit of a temper, and once the subject was brought up, I shut it straight down. Prince says I have no filter and prefer to tell it like it is. And I don’t tend to be good at listening, either. Once the topic was out there, I knew it would never be far from Tommy’s mind, his wanting to be a father. Tommy’s my ex. In the end, I walked away.”

Spencer understood all too well. He had seen healthy relationships break down because one partner refused to compromise or negotiate their personal agenda and in doing so had ended up losing their soulmate. He hoped Nile and Tommy had not been too quick to judge each other.

“How about you? Any boyfriend or ex?” asked Nile.

“An ex. But just like your boyfriend, I got dumped. Almost two years ago. So I know how that feels. My ex is sitting on the top table right now, the one getting married.”

“Blake?” exclaimed Nile, clearly shocked. “Fuck off!”

“Okay. Shit. I didn’t know you knew him. Forget I said anything, and for goodness’ sake, don’t tell anyone. I am not in the habit of outing people, even bastards like him.”

“Seriously, though?” said Nile, his voice a fierce whisper now. “Blake isbi?”

“Actually, when I first met him, I thought he was gay. But, yeah, I suppose he’s bi. Or pan. Or whatever. But I think he passes as straight these days.”

Nile pulled a disgusted face.

“Does his fiancée know?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. And please, don’t go outing him at his own engagement party. Apart from his sexuality being none of our business, I work for his mother and she’d probably kick me out of the company.”

“Don’t worry. My lips are sealed. What happened, then? You’re a kinda cute-looking guy. Why’d he dump you?”

“Cute? I’m cute? Do you know how offensive that is?”

“Told you, I tell it like it is. Come and have a dance.”

“What?”

“Dance with me. Or are you too stuck up to dance with—”

Spencer shot up from his seat, almost knocking his bottle of beer over.

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