Page 44 of Edge

“You. Were.Incredible,” Damian spluttered, a wide smile creasing his face. Heturned to look at the other band members sprawled around. “You allwere. Phenomenal concert, guys. Such a buzz.”

“We do try,”Hannah murmured with a grin.

Alice echoedthe sentiment. “We wereformidable.” She ran her fingers through hershort-cropped, curly black hair, grimacing when they came awaycovered in sweat. Her dusky face was alight with satisfaction. “Theaudience lurved us.”

Bernard mock beat a drum.“Ba-ba-boom. We had them by the short and curlies, man. It was awhole lot of fun doing it outside.”

Sooty entered the roomlike a hurricane, her brilliant floor-length yellow dress billowingaround her. The tap of her high-heeled black boots echoed on thelaminate floor. “Incredible show, guys. Out of this world. You didme and Katie proud. She sends her congratulations. This concertraised a shitload of money.”

Jory tugged Damiancloser, breathing in the scent of his skin. “Did you have anydoubt?” He smirked. “After all, this is Stone Edge we’re talkingabout.”

Damian chuckled andkissed his chin. “Listen to you,” he teased. “Getting allbig-headed and such.”

Sooty cackled. “I’m sureit’s not the only big head he wants to show you. You all slay mewith your goo-goo eyes at each other all the time.”

Bernard pulled a face.“Yuck. Sooty, don’t make me think of these guys sexing it up again.It’s enough we have to listen to them back at the B and B. Oh,Jory, you feel so good. Ooh, Damian, do it again…” He burst intolaughter as Damian blushed pink.

“We doso not make such noise,”he said indignantly. “Do we?” He glanced at Jory, still flushedwith embarrassment.

Jory shrugged. “Meh. Whocares? They’re jealous.” He winked at Damian “Although you are abit loud, babe. It’s one of the things I love ’bout you.” He got tohis feet, hauling Damian with him, who was looking a littlegobsmacked.

Was it the use of theword love? Jory wasn’t quite sure. “Come on, lover. Let’s go backto the room and make some more of the noises we’re so famed for.See you tomorrow morning sometime, guys.”

He remembered he had ameeting with Roger at nine and his heart sunk. He’d be so glad toget this behind him. Jory hoped it all worked out becauseotherwise, he’d have to seriously consider Damian’s suggestionsabout lawyers and the police.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Jory

Nothing suckslike Electrolux. I think that’s the slogan. Well, whoever said ithasn’t met Danny P. Christ, the man could suck the marrow from mybones. Ugh, what a creepy thought. I’ve also never met a man whocan pretzel as he can. Pounding his arse is a rare treat with allthe peculiar ways his legs twist around. No wonder he’s an Olympicgymnast. 18 September 2020

“You know Idon’t like this, yeah?” Damian muttered as he watched Jory shruginto his casual leather jacket and check to make sure he had hismobile. “Roger is a creep and leopards don’t change their spots.He’s been strange lately, and it gives me even more cause forconcern.”

Jory located his mobileand smiled in satisfaction. “Damey, don’t be such a worrywart.” Inthe bright light of day, he was feeling more buoyant and hopefulthan he’d been yesterday. He wasn’t a fool. He knew Roger may stilldeceive him and let him down. But it was more than he’d had before.And being with Damian had made Jory more positive about thingsbecause he could see a future now. “I’m only going to talk to himand see what he has to say. If he doesn’t tell me anything I like—”He shrugged. “Then we’ll go with Plan B and talk to the solicitorand the police. I don’t think we’ll have any other option. You wereright.”

Damian took hold of hisface and scrunched it as he gave Jory a smacking kiss. “Music to myears.” He grinned widely, his face alight with relief. “I promiseyou no matter what, we’re in this together.”

Jory returned the kissthen pulled away. “Let me get off before I drag you back to bed andhave my way with you. I’ll see you later, one way or the other.Hopefully, I’ll come back bearing good news.”

With a winkand a wave, Jory left for his tête-à-tête with Roger.

***

The warmth of the autumnsun caressed Jory’s face as he ambled down the country lanestowards Hadleigh’s Bluff. The cliff point was a popular touristspot with its incredible views of blue seas and golden sandybeaches. The verdant scenery lent itself to tasty picnics onchequered blankets during the day and romantic stargazing at night.At nine am, there wouldn’t be too many people up on the clifftop,apart from an occasional dog walker or early morningbird-watcher.

Halfway up the hill, Jorysaw a lone figure standing at the top, overlooking the coastline.He recognised Roger from his familiar duffel coat, one he’dpurchased in LA on a business trip, and which was his pride andjoy. If Jory remembered correctly, it had cost in the region offifteen hundred dollars.

He’d never understood therationale for charging so much for something you only wore when youwere cold, which didn’t look particularly specialanyway.

When Jory reached thetop, Roger must have sensed his presence, as he turned and staredat him with a faint smile. He still seemed…different, but lookedbetter rested than Jory had seen him in a while.

“Edge, youcame,” he greeted, moving away from the precipice, and strolleddown to meet him. “I wasn’t sure you would.” He looked as if he wasgoing to shake hands, but lowered his hand at the lastminute.

“We haveimportant things to talk about, why wouldn’t I?” Jory sat down onthe grass, his jean-encased legs stretched out in front of him.“Come on, Roger, have a seat. You’re looking better than you werelast week.”

“Am I?” Rogersettled awkwardly beside him, and Jory heard a couple of bonescreaking as he did. “Good of you to notice. You don’t usually carewhat I look like.”

Jory leaned back on hiselbows, closing his eyes, and soaking up the sunshine. “We haven’texactly had the best relationship in the last year. I’m hoping whatyou want to discuss today will go some way to fixingit.”