Seeker by Andy Frankham-Allen Page B

know.”
    â€œProbably,” Willem said, opening his underwear drawer. “But I have to do this, for Curtis.”
    â€œNo, I mean this little weekend away. Haven’t you seen Hard Candy ?”
    Willem pulled out a fresh pair of socks and a pair of his favourite SPY Henry Lau sports briefs, designed with that extra bit of lift in mind. The wonder bra of men’s underwear. His weekend gear was all packed, but he still needed fresh things on for his journey to Southend.
    â€œWell, yeah, since you watched it here with me. And, okay, I can understand how meeting someone I’ve only known from the net can seem a little odd, but I’m not a kid. I can handle myself.”
    â€œSure, cause you’re so tough.” Jake let out a sigh and looked to the floor. “Come on, Will, we’re in London. Social capital of the UK, you must be able to find someone. Not like London is short on gay men.”
    â€œI imagine that’s true,” Willem said, now looking into his wardrobe for suitable clothes to make a good first impression on Charlie. That they’d seen each via webcam meant nothing. In person was a whole new ball game. “Problem is, I don’t get out enough to meet them. You know this. If I’m not swamped in work I’m looking after Curtis, or I’m bailing Ren out of the latest mess, or I’m running around after mother.”
    â€œWe go out.”
    â€œRight. And you know there are so many gay men in the Chancery. Jake, be glad for me, please. Sure, this could be a complete disaster, I know that, but on the other hand things could work out really well. Charlie could be my version of Amy.”
    â€œGreat comparison there, guy.”
    â€œYou know what I’m saying.” With a sigh Willem threw himself on the bed, stretching out. “This life of mine is doing my nut in, man. Ste was spot on; I need to get out of my own little box.”
    â€œYou discussed this with Steve?”
    â€œYeah. Why?”
    Jake shook his head. “Nothing.”
    Willem watched him a moment. Jake seemed quite put out by that, and in truth Willem couldn’t blame him. He would have been pissed if Jake had consulted Mike first about such an important thing. “Well, you said the same a few years back when I was with Jacen,” Willem pointed out.
    Jake turned around and stretched out on the bed next to Willem. When they were young they’d spent hours in a similar fashion, laid out on one or the other’s bed. Jake chatting about the latest hot girl, while Willem mooned over the new boy in school who caught his eye. Mooning over was the right phrase, since the only other boy he’d ever had on his bed was Jake and, other than a brief fiddle, nothing would ever have happened between them. Willem had resigned himself to that fact a long long time ago.
    â€œSame shit, different day, right?” Jake said. “Think your life is any different from everyone else in London? We all do it, guy. Work, go for a drink, eat, sleep, work, go for a drink. Same cycle.”
    â€œYou have fun. You always have fun!”
    â€œYeah, ’cause I don’t let myself get too caught up in the shit. Life’s for living.”
    â€œRight,” Willem said, flicking Jake’s arm. “And that’s what I’m trying to do, find a way to live my life for a change, and not my family’s.”
    Jake shrugged, and Willem could tell he was folding. “Well, maybe. But there has to be a better way than with a stranger.”
    â€œCharlie’s not a stranger, not any more. And was Amy any less a stranger a week back?”
    Jake sat up. “That’s exactly what she said.”
    â€œSee, I knew I’d like her.” Willem sat up, too, and nudged Jake with his shoulder. “Come on, cheer up, bro. If there’s really anything between Charlie, like we think there is, then we need to meet. See if we’ve got the same chemistry