Page 77 of Famous Last

“Ourway home?”

Bev beamed, pleased with herself.

“You don’t miss a trick, do you? I’m staying at Prince’s place tonight. You’re not the only one loved-up at the moment. So are you in or not?”

Spencer stared at his desk. He had completed most of his work, and any outstanding pieces awaited colleagues’ attention before he could finalise them. With Marshall away for the week, what else did he have to do? Head home and feed the cat? Bigwhoop. Moreover, if Prince had already offered to drop him off, he had no real excuse.

“When do we leave?”

* * * *

Nile met them deep in the Smugglers’ club interior, a long room at the back of the main pub. Unlike the few gay clubs Spencer had frequented, the oak-beamed pub in St Albans came across as steadfastly traditional, and Spencer rightly guessed that on most days, when the government allowed, the establishment served anyone who happened to enter through the doors. Only the back hall, with a bouncer on the door collecting a nominal fee and stamping the back of each entrant’s hand with a red ink skull and crossbones, separated the main public bar from the well-ordered gay friendly gathering.

Nile had bagged a round table for six near the bar. Togged out in his combination of stylish silk shirt in black and gold, tight-fitting skinny jeans with the legs stopping short to show off his bare ankles, and expensive-looking brown leather loafers, he looked entirely at ease, despite being ogled at by a couple of older men propping up the bar.

“Mate of mine put me onto this place,” he said, his grin wide as he greeted each of them, as each removed his or her mask and took a seat. “Good to get out of the house.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” said Prince. “They’re already talking about bringing in tighter measures nearer Christmas.”

Spencer moved to the seat beside Nile and tried to get the attention of a waiter. Having been included in the little adventure, he felt it only right that he should buy them all a round or two. Prince needed the restroom, so Bev gave Spencer their orders then volunteered to accompany Prince, most likely to make sure some random guy didn’t try to accost him.

“Have you spoken to Tommy?” asked Spencer as yet another waiter blanked him.

“Saturday. We talked for two hours. He’s missing me badly, and truth is, I’m missing him just as much. Even sent me dick pics. I tell you, once all this shit is over and he comes back home, we’re going to give things another try.”

“Finally, Nile comes to his senses.”

“Shut up and get me a drink.”

“You think I’m not trying? Feels like I’m wearing an invisibility cloak.” Spencer noticed Nile flash a smile at one of the servers and nod towards Spencer, which appeared to do the trick. “What are you doing in a gay bar, then, Nile? Shouldn’t you be playing the role of the dutiful boyfriend, sitting at home sexting your man?”

“First of all, my phone is in my back pocket, so I can do that from anywhere. Secondly, I’m going batshit crazy stuck indoors. As for the gay bar, there’s no harm in window shopping, is there? Hey, don’t panic, Spence, but I think your scumbag ex is here.”

“Blake?” said Spencer. “Where?”

“I think I saw him getting messy drunk down the end of the bar.”

“Oh,” said Spencer with a shrug of indifference. “Whatever.”

“Okay,” said Nile, leaning back and scrutinising Spencer. “Not the reaction I was expecting. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

Right on cue, the waiter finally appeared in front of Spencer, who fired off an order of drinks and hot snacks.

“Has Prince told you anything?” asked Spencer once the man had left.

“About you? No. Like what?”

Spencer considered the improbability of Bev saying nothing to Prince about Marshall, so maybe he had been sworn to secrecy.And when a person made Bev a promise, they broke it on pain of death. But Spencer realised he didn’t mind people knowing.

“Remember asking if I’d ever kissed someone who made my insides turn to jelly? Like Tommy did for you?”

“You said it was complicated.”

“Yes, well. Not so much, anymore. We’re seeing each other now.”

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