Page 47 of Oz
David was the penis wrangler
Silas
I turn with a sense of utter resignation to find David standing in the doorway. Of course he would be here just when everything is going okay. He’s dressed in beige chinos and a white polo shirt, his blond hair looking perfect as usual. I look at those blue eyes of his that I’ve stared into so many times as I’ve moved inside him.
I thought if I met him again I’d be angry. He left in a fit of petulant rage because I wouldn’t go up to London for a party. Never mind that I’d worked a straight fourteen hours. When he’d gone I started to look around and I could hardly comprehend the mess he’d left me in. Builders doing whatever they wanted, staff on the brink of leaving, and nothing arranged. I’d been so furious I could have spat feathers. Whatever thatactually means. Why would anyone spit feathers? It doesn’t make sense unless they were interrupted while eating a chicken. I become aware that I’m starting to think like Oz and shake myself.
At one time I’d wondered whether I’d found in David someone I could actually settle down with, but now when I look at him I feel nothing. Absolutely zero. Not even anger. Apart from the strongest desire to shove him out of the room and lock the door because he’s disturbed a moment I was having with Oz.
At the thought of him, I turn to find him examining David with a very intent look on his face that I’ve learnt doesn’t bode well. At that moment he looks at me and grins. When he’s in a certain mood those smiles of his have a very wicked curl to them. It always makes me want to touch the arch of his lip with a finger, feel the softness and then slick it with my tongue.
His stare intensifies and his eyes darken. Then David’s voice breaks the moment. “Why are you here?”
I turn back to him and sigh. “I’m juggling and driving a clown car. What does it look like I’m doing, David?”
Oz snorts, making me smile, but David frowns. “How did you find out where I was working? Are you stalking me?”
“You’re working here?” I shake my head. “I hope it’s not the same work you did for me. It figures you’d have something set up before you left. You’re a bit like a cat in that respect. You always land on your feet.”
He huffs. “Don’t try to tell me you didn’t know. If this is some attempt to get me back–”
My laughter breaks into his sentence. “I’m sorry,what?Have you fallen and hurt your head today? Why would I want you back?”
He folds his arms. “Oh, please. I’d bet money you’ve needed me.”
“For what?” Oz’s voice breaks into the conversation like a shot even if it was spoken softly.
David turns to him. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”
“I’d be sorry if you did.” Oz looks hard at him. “Why would Silas miss you?”
“Well, we had a long relationship.”
“We were together for six weeks,” I break in, but he huffs indignantly.
“Time doesn’t matter.” Oz raises his eyebrow but David’s on a roll. “All the work I put into your place, Silas. All the backbreaking hours and did you care? Did you, buggery. We never went anywhere. You were always fucking working. I was left in that fucking crumbling monstrosity on my own trying to do everything with no help.”
I open my mouth but Oz steps forward. “Weren’t you employed as the house manager? Didn’t you have an assistant and staff?”
“That’s not the point.” David looks at him in irritation. “Do I know you?”
“Oz Gallagher. But don’t bother remembering the name. We won’t talk again.” David opens and shuts his mouth like a fish, but Oz carries on remorselessly. “I’ve seen the work you actually did, and it just seems like you were being paid a wage to lie on your back.” He shrugs. “Or your front. Whatever floats your boat. Whichever way you did it, there’s another job description for that and it’s not house manager.”
“Penis manager?” I enquire and Oz laughs.
“That’s it. David was the penis wrangler.”
“He wasn’t very good at it,” I say coolly.
“Who are you?” David asks in a frigid voice.
“I’m your replacement,” Oz says sweetly, moving closer to me. David doesn’t miss the movement and his eyes sharpen.
“Oh, my God, Silas. Why don’t you just go on Grindr, for fuck’s sake. Life would be a lot easier if you didn’t keep getting your bed partners from the job pages.” He smiles condescendingly at Oz. “Don’t worry. You’re just the latest in a long line. Silas here can’t keep a man or a woman to save his life, not that he’d want to keep you.”
“I really don’t think you should smile,” I mutter, massaging my temples with my fingers. Oz steps forward and I turn to David. “Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.” I move back and look at Oz and wave my hand. “Go ahead.”
Oz smiles at David and it’s a smile with a lot of teeth. “It’s a shame Grindr doesn’t do a profile for your work as well as your sex life. What would yours say? Profile name would be Whinging Little Bitch. A chronic fuckwit who will spread his legs quicker than margarine. Likes lying in bed and being serviced. Dislikes any form of work at all.” He shakes his head. “It’s taken me two months to try and clear up your mess. You should be fucking ashamed of yourself.”
