Page 42 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

More was such a tricky fucking concept. “Secure roof, decent car, instruments, some cool travel. Yeah. But I’m not the guy who wants bigger, better, faster, more. And if I built this place somewhere like Moss Side or Longsight, local kids who need it could use it. I want kids who normally don’t have access. Maybe it’s cash, maybe it’s disability. Whatever the reason they can’t do what they want to do, I want to build a place where they can do it.”

“When we made plans to come out tonight, I didn’t see us sitting at a table like a bunch of old men planning a kids’ activity centre, but I actually like the idea. What would it take do you think?”

He shrugged. “No clue. But if I rented a space at four grand a month, then hired like an art teacher and music teacher, perhaps some volunteers. Maybe only ran it after school and on the weekends. How expensive could that be? Like a couple of grand or so a week. Then supplies. A shit ton of percussion supplies. Triangles are like four quid. I looked online and you can buy these percussion orchestra sets online. Like a hundred quid for thirty instruments. Bells, tambourines, maracas, castanets, small rainbow glockenspiels.”

“Wait a second,” Ben said and headed to the bar. When he returned, he had a napkin and a pen.

Alex grabbed the napkin and began to scribble. “Let’s say it costs ten grand to buy all the shit. Then a year’s rent is like, fifty max. And perhaps double for staff. Like, why couldn’t the band fund this? The tour is netting us so much more than that.”

Ben turned the napkin to face him. “I feel like those are worst-case numbers too. I bet we could get a community place for a lot cheaper. And perhaps get local companies to donate supplies to the cause. Or just speak to the rest of the guys to see if the band can just front it all.”

“Yeah.” Alex flopped back in his seat.

“Yeah,” Ben repeated. “I like it, Alex.”

“It needs to be a safe space for kids like me too.”

Ben squeezed his shoulder. “Definitely. What a legacy it would be too. To start something like that. Like, think big. What if you franchised it? Helped even more kids?”

Legacy. Wasn’t that what Zoe had talked about in the graveyard in Aberdeen? The idea that you made an impact that would last. Maybe one of those kids would find their passion and go on to contribute art in all its forms to the world.

When his arse vibrated, it took him a minute to remember it was his phone.

Zoe.

Disappointment flooded him when he saw Ollie’s name.

I’m sitting here, thinking of you.

There was a dick-pic attached, and Alex sighed. Not that he was against a good dick pic. Or dick in general. Just Ollie didn’t do it for him anymore. And it felt a little invasive and non-consensual when he’d been quite clear about his intentions.

So, he left Ollie on read. Something he knew bothered Ollie and would send a clear message.

And suddenly, he couldn’t be arsed.

Couldn’t be arsed with flirting and small talk and loud music.

Couldn’t be arsed with smiling and pretending he gave a shit and talking to strangers.

Ben looked up at him. “You okay?”

Alex leaned close. “I’m not feeling being here.” He was worried about Zoe, so why the fuck was he here in a nightclub, trying to prove he didn’t care when he clearly did. “I need to go back and check Zoe’s okay.”

Ben smiled. “Let’s go.”

Alex stepped out of the club, the air crisp with the hint of autumn. Leaves whipped around his feet. On the way, he pulled out his phone and texted Zoe.

How are you doing?

His phone vibrated in his hand, and he checked his message.

I’m asleep.

Alex grinned. He didn’t know what they were. Friend. Or other.

But he knew staying in the nightclub wasn’t the answer.

They walked along the hotel corridor, and Ben slapped him on the back before letting himself into his room. “Don’t let what happened in the past set your course for the future. I love you, yeah.”

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