“Those guys are over there.” She nodded her head subtly in the direction of a seating area at the corner of the room. Before I had a chance to look, the barmaid returned.
“Here you go.” She passed our drinks to us, and I handed her another note.
“I’ll get the next one,” Becca shouted and took her drink from my hand. She took a sip and grimaced.
“You don’t like it?” I asked with a laugh, sipping my own.
Becca shook her head. “I’m definitely choosing the next one,” she cried, forcing herself to take another sip. “Are there any seats free?”
I looked around, scanning the darkness for a space on any of the leather, cube-shaped seats that surrounded the smattering of tables. “No, none are free.” I grinned, catching sight of a familiar face across the club. “But we can go sit with them.” I grabbed Becca’s wrist and pulled her through the crowds, walking past the table where the guys we’d seen upstairs were.
“Louise!” I shouted. The blonde remained oblivious. I sighed and released Becca to whistle loudly with my fingers. The club was so noisy the whistle was probably less than half as loud as it was usually, but it caught Louise’s attention. Her face broke into a huge smile, and she wriggled out of her seat.
“Max! Fancy seeing you here.” She grinned, pulling me into a tight hug. Shortly after she caught sight of Becca and pulled her into a hug too. “Have you just got here?”
“Not long ago, yeah,” I replied. “Who’re you here with?” I glanced over Louise’s shoulder, noticing Jackie wasn’t with her.
“Some friends from the theatre club I go to on the weekends,” she replied, turning to Becca, “So don’t worry – you’re not the only nervous straight person here.” Louise laughed.
We scooted into the booth and Louises’s friends all shuffled up to make room for us. I took a sip from my drink and Louise leant in to shout into my ear.
“How’s it going anyway? How are things at work?” She winked.
“Pretty awesome,” I replied ambiguously, letting a secretive smile play on my lips.
Louise nudged me with her elbow. “That’s great.”
I felt a harsh buzz against my leg, and I put my glass down on the table before leaning back to dig my phone from my pocket.
ROWAN: Having fun yet?
I smiled softly to myself and tapped out a reply, taking my time to ensure my reply was coherent. My vision was already beginning to waver.
MAX: Not as much fun as I would be having if you were here.
ROWAN: I wish I was. I bet you’re looking really good. Where did you go?
I hesitated, unsure whether to lie or to admit we were in a gay club. I took a sip of my drink and decided honesty was always the best policy.
MAX: Juice. Do you know it?
ROWAN: Yeah, I know it. Now I definitely wish I was there!
I grinned a little.
MAX: If you’re worried, you could always come and keep an eye on me.
ROWAN: I’d keep more than an eye on you.
I nearly choked on my drink, and I glanced up at Louise and Becca. Thankfully neither of them had noticed I was texting, too absorbed in conversation. Another message came through.
ROWAN: I bet you’re pretty popular in places like Juice, hm?
I felt a small wave of guilt. I knew Rowan wouldn’t like me being here – the same way I would hate him to be out somewhere like this without me.
MAX: It wasn’t my idea. I’m with Louise and Becca, so I didn’t get much of a choice.
I watched the three dots that indicated Rowan was responding to me. They flashed on and off as he clearly wrote and rewrote what he wanted to say.
