Page 56 of Don't Point at the Moon

“Don’t get me wrong,” said Alec, sitting first and leaving just enough space for Tommy to sit close to him. Alec oozed health and confidence and coconut suntan oil. “Those kids are great, but they ask a shit ton of questions. Usually all at the same time. Thanks for saving me. By the way, I’ve been asked to remind you about the family dinner tonight.”

“Sammi sent me the details,” said Tommy, fighting to get his nervousness under control, the soft Australian accent and mere proximity of Alec making his knee bounce.

“Who’s going to be at this intimate dinner?” asked Alec.

“Around forty-five friends and relatives. They wanted to host a kind of rehearsal dinner.”

“Not so intimate, then?”

Tommy sighed. All week he had wanted to phone his sister and tell her what Alec had told him. But eventually he’d agreed that Daley ought to be the one to explain himself. That decision was his alone.

“How long have you known Mitchell?” asked Alec.

“Not long,” said Tommy, grateful for the change of topic.

“You picked a right good bloke there.”

“No. I mean, yes,” said Tommy, chuckling nervously. “He is a good guy. But, you know, we’re just friends. Nothing more.”

“Friends? You two aren’t intimate? Daley seems to think he’s your boyfriend.”

“I might have slightly misled people. He’s a gay friend who’s a boy. Mitchell’s not really my type. I mean, you saw him at thecafé. Look at that hair and the way he dresses. One of our friends jokes that he stands out like bad shoes.”

Tommy had been babbling, trying to make light of the observation, but Alec didn’t smile. Tommy began to regret having said anything and backtracked.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said, lowering his voice at a sudden clatter from the galley. “Mitchell’s a really great guy, and a good friend. He’s just not—you know—”

“Your type. I get it. Funny, I got the impression…”

Alec’s handsome profile peered out to sea as his words trailed off. Eventually, he brought his gaze back to Tommy, his expression serious, his eyes alight. For one heart-stopping moment, Tommy wondered if he was about to snag his man.

“Look—and you can say no if you want—but a colleague of mine who’s moving to Hong Kong in August is going to be at the wedding. Gerry’s a decent bloke, nice-looking enough, but hasn’t had much luck finding a fella. Well, not one that isn’t an asshole. And I reckon Mitchell would be right up his street. Could you maybe give me a hand hooking them up?”

Tommy gawked at the decking between his flip-flops, trying to catch up. What had just happened? Alec wanted to pair Mitchell off with someone? But that was good, wasn’t it? They needed to be apart if Tommy was going to have any chance with Alec. Except he had begun to wonder if Alec was even interested. And, for some strange reason, he wasn’t sure how he felt about Mitchell being fixed up with a stranger.

“I’m not sure Mitchell’s ready,” he said before melting into Alec’s beautiful blue gaze. How could anyone ever refuse him? “Let me think about it.”

“Good man,” said Alec before patting Tommy on the shoulder and handing him his empty plate. “Mind dumping this for me? I need to dive in and take a leak in that beautiful ocean.”

Tommy tried not to overthink the dismissal. After disposing of their paper plates, he strolled to the rear of the main deck, where he was surprised to find Zane and a small cluster of his new friends with Harold and William.

Mitchell handed out drinks and glanced up for a moment, but then quickly looked away, barely acknowledging Tommy's friendly smile. His usually warm demeanour appeared rigid and cold, as if something had angered him. Harold sat at the centre of the group, his voice commanding everyone’s attention. Perhaps one of his preachings had struck a nerve with Mitchell, causing this change of attitude.

“… and in 1997, the British returned the territory to China,” said Harold. “I’m sure you must have seen television coverage of Chris Patten and Prince Charles in the pouring rain, waving from the deck of the HMY Britannia. From then on, Hong Kong became a special administrative region, a governance referred to as one country, two systems.”

“What does that mean?” asked Zane.

“Harold.Please. Enough with the history lesson, I beg you,” said Mitchell.

Harold chuckled.

“I’ll make it brief. China, as in one country which includes Hong Kong. Two systems, as in China with its huge one-party socialist system ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, allowing Hong Kong to continue operating with reasonable autonomy under its established capitalist system. Until 2047, at least. Simple.”

“Simple? If only that were true,” said William, with more than a hint of sarcasm.

“And everybody knew this was going to happen?” asked Zane.

“Of course.”

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