know.â
âProbably,â Willem said, opening his underwear drawer. âBut I have to do this, for Curtis.â
âNo, I mean this little weekend away. Havenât you seen Hard Candy ?â
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 menâs underwear. His weekend gear was all packed, but he still needed fresh things on for his journey to Southend.
âWell, yeah, since you watched it here with me. And, okay, I can understand how meeting someone Iâve only known from the net can seem a little odd, but Iâm not a kid. I can handle myself.â
âSure, cause youâre so tough.â Jake let out a sigh and looked to the floor. âCome on, Will, weâre in London. Social capital of the UK, you must be able to find someone. Not like London is short on gay men.â
âI imagine thatâs true,â Willem said, now looking into his wardrobe for suitable clothes to make a good first impression on Charlie. That theyâd seen each via webcam meant nothing. In person was a whole new ball game. âProblem is, I donât get out enough to meet them. You know this. If Iâm not swamped in work Iâm looking after Curtis, or Iâm bailing Ren out of the latest mess, or Iâm running around after mother.â
âWe go out.â
âRight. 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
âGreat comparison there, guy.â
âYou know what Iâm saying.â With a sigh Willem threw himself on the bed, stretching out. âThis life of mine is doing my nut in, man. Ste was spot on; I need to get out of my own little box.â
âYou discussed this with Steve?â
âYeah. Why?â
Jake shook his head. âNothing.â
Willem watched him a moment. Jake seemed quite put out by that, and in truth Willem couldnât blame him. He would have been pissed if Jake had consulted Mike first about such an important thing. âWell, you said the same a few years back when I was with Jacen,â Willem pointed out.
Jake turned around and stretched out on the bed next to Willem. When they were young theyâd spent hours in a similar fashion, laid out on one or the otherâs 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 heâd 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.
âSame shit, different day, right?â Jake said. âThink 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
âYou have fun. You always have fun!â
âYeah, âcause I donât let myself get too caught up in the shit. Lifeâs for living.â
âRight,â Willem said, flicking Jakeâs arm. âAnd thatâs what Iâm trying to do, find a way to live my life for a change, and not my familyâs.â
Jake shrugged, and Willem could tell he was folding. âWell, maybe. But there has to be a better way than with a stranger.â
âCharlieâs not a stranger, not any more. And was Amy any less a stranger a week back?â
Jake sat up. âThatâs exactly what she said.â
âSee, I knew Iâd like her.â Willem sat up, too, and nudged Jake with his shoulder. âCome on, cheer up, bro. If thereâs really anything between Charlie, like we think there is, then we need to meet. See if weâve got the same chemistry
Yenthu Wentz
Aneesa Price
Suzanne Weyn
Mary Marks
Craig Johnson
Patrice Michelle
Kate McMullan
Sherryl Woods
Steven Savile
Hallie Swanson