Jez is pacing by the window. He scowls when he sees me. “Where thefuckhave you been?” he snaps. “You’re fifteen minutes late.”
“Sorry. I got held up by a phone call.”
He narrows his eyes. “Who?”
“Grey.”
He rolls his eyes. “Well, he can certainly talk,” he mutters. “Not anything I’d want to hear, but you do you, I suppose.”
“Jez,” I warn him. I go to walk past him to the bar and still as he grabs my arm. I groan as I see his eyes fastened on my neck.
“You pulled,” he says, starting to laugh. “Oh mygod, you’re late to my family reunion because in the couple of hours since I left you, you managed to pull.” He cups my face between his hands and smacks a kiss on my lips. “You old dog.”
“Thank you,” I say with dignity and pull away to walk to the bar. “Beer please,” I say to the waiting barman. I look back at Jez. “Do you want anything?”
“A vat of concealer for that hickey.”
I tut. “Alcohol? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
“Beer.”
The barman nods and walks away. I sneak a look at Jez, whose moody expression has resurfaced.
“So, where’s your son?”
He huffs. “The rude little shit is late.”
I take our beers from the barman, hand one to Jez, and take a lengthy pull of mine. I’ve got a feeling I’m going to need an alcohol buzz tonight. “Be nice,” I chide. “You said his grandmother told you he was shy. Maybe he’s working his way up to meeting you.”
“He’d better hurry. Another five minutes and I’m off.”
I stare at him. “You would actually leave when your long-lost son is in the building and this is your chance to meet him?” I can’t keep the disapproval from my voice. Sometimes I don’t recognise my old friend anymore. He seems to have been replaced by this impatient stranger.
He shifts awkwardly. “I can’t help it. We’re not all living saints, Reuben.”
“You don’t need to be a saint. Just try being a decent human.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
We’re interrupted by someone behind us saying, “Hello, I think you must be my daddy.”
It’s a low voice andhorriblyfamiliar. I spin around, my insides clenching.
I gulp. In front of me is Sunshine Boy. He’s dressed in tight, faded jeans with a hole in the knees and a T-shirt saying ‘Twink for Sale. Will Work for Pay’. His hair is wet from a shower but already falling into waves.
My mouth falls open, either in shock or an attempt to speak.
Jez moves past me. “Xavier?” he says in a wooden voice, holding out his hand.
Xavier? Jez’s Xavier is…Sunshine Boy.Fuck.
“So, you’re my daddy?” he says to Jez, shaking his hand. He directs a glance of appalled humour at me that Jez misses. “Well, I have to say that’s a relief. This situation could have been awholelot worse.”
I stand there frozen, clutching my beer and hoping it doesn’t explode in my hand.
Jez frowns in confusion. I watch as he gives hissona brisk hug.
Xavier bugs his eyes out at me over Jez’s shoulder, and I fight an inappropriate burst of laughter that’s likely to turn into hysterics.
