Page 53 of Ruin
So I decide that the best course of action is to say nothing, simply nodding in response to his words.
The waitress returns with our drinks, and I take a sip of the martini. It’s been so long since I’ve had one that I’d forgotten how good they taste.
Joseph didn’t let me drink. Said it wouldn’t be proper for a politician’s wife to drink in public. Which is a load of bullshit, because most of his friends wives were complete lushes. It was just another way to control me.
“How is it?” Sebastian asks, taking a sip of his own drink.
“Just as good as I remember.”
He smiles. “Good.”
We seem to have run out of things to say. Or maybe the memories have made it too difficult to return to small talk.
Just as I’m beginning to wonder if we’re about to return to the previous version of Sebastian that could barely be around me, Declan Fitzgerald slides into the booth beside me.
“Hey, sorry I took so long. I wanted to have a quick shower before we met up,” he says, nodding at Sebastian.
“Not a problem, we’ve not been waiting long. I’d thought you’d need more time,” Sebastian replies, completely at ease.
I, on the other hand, am frozen, staring at the man beside me. I’m pretty sure I’m having a stroke.
“You’re-you’re Declan Fitzgerald.”
He grins, nodding towards Michelle, who comes running. “I am.” He looks up at the star struck waitress. “Whiskey, please. Same as our friend, here,” he says, waving his hand towards Sebastian’s glass.
I keep on staring at him as she heads back to the bar. “From Chasing Destiny.”
He chuckles. “Right again.”
“And you two know each other?” I look between the two men, trying to make sense of what is happening right now.
“We do.” Declan is clearly amused.
I turn my attention back to Sebastian. “How?”
They both hesitate for a moment, before Sebastian casts a questioning look towards Declan. The singer nods, and Sebastian finally answers. “From the club.”
I almost ask ‘what club?’ - because that’s how broken my brain is right now - but then the pieces start to fall into place.
“Oh.” I don’t know what I’m supposed to say now.
Is he a regular patron? Which club do they mean? Here or one of the Sydney ones? Does he have a preferred sex worker? Why does a rock star need to see a sex worker? Don’t they have groupies for free sex?
“I think her brain is glitching,” Declan says, continuing to grin while he exchanges an amused look with Sebastian.
“Well, Lily’s probably a little star struck,” Sebastian replies. “She’s been an avid fan of the band since she was sixteen.”
I want to kick him under the table, but Declan simply nods. “Ah, so an original fan. I’m honoured.”
Finally, I find my voice. “I was at one of your first concerts. In Kings Cross.” Daniel and I had snuck in using fake ID’s.
Sebastian had pretended he didn’t know, of course. But he always knew every single thing we got up to.
“Wow. Those were the good old days. Kind of miss the anonymity of those first few years,” Declan says, looking a little wistful.
Michelle returns with his drink, and he smiles in thanks before returning his attention to me.
“Wait… so did you guys know each other back then?” I ask, turning an accusing look towards Sebastian.
