Page 15 of Perfect Night

“This is too important to leave to chance. Tip the odds in your favour. He might be there again tonight.”

“What if he tells me to fuck off?”

“At least you’ll know. Come on, I’m offering to go to Soho with you. Take the opportunity to experience this momentous event.”

The chance of Charlie going out for a second night in a row was slim, but any chance was better than spending the night in his hotel suite pining.

“Fine, let’s do it.” He had a feeling this was the best idea Patrick had ever had.

This was the worst idea Patrick had ever had. The crowd was different on a Saturday night. It was more crowded, and he feltlike a piece of meat with the number of guys who kept coming on to him. Patrick was still wearing his wedding ring, but that didn’t seem to deflect the thirsty gays who wanted to get laid.

Sebastian was getting fed up of being jostled all the time, and wanted to go into the VIP lounge where they could sit down. Patrick made the point that he wouldn’t see Charlie in there. Damn his friend for having logic and reason. It was almost ten o’clock, and he knew in his heart Charlie wasn’t coming. Sebastian did one last scan of the dance floor before he’d go into the lounge to drown his sorrows. Sebastian had left the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on his door all day, so they wouldn’t change the sheets and he’d still be able to smell Charlie. How pathetic was that? Something he would definitely be keeping to himself.

The dance floor was heaving with sweaty bodies and the stink of sex. He could see people grinding up against each other. Tongues in mouths. Hands down trousers. A strange crowd. He was regretting this decision. What if he saw Charlie with another guy? That would be worse than not seeing him again.

Returning to Patrick, he suggested they call it a night, but his friend wanted to experience the VIP lounge, so he couldn’t say no. Someone else was sitting in the booth he’d shared with Charlie the night before. Probably a good thing. They found a sofa and settled down with their drinks.

“If it’s meant to be, you’ll see him again.”

“I need to just put it down to a great night and leave it at that.”

“I don’t think that’s gonna happen.”

“Why?”

“I’ve literally never seen you this hung up on a guy, and you’re also very resourceful. If you wanted to find him again, you could do it.”

It was true. He was resourceful. His success hadn’t come from nothing, but he didn’t even know Charlie’s last nameor where he worked. He’d been guarded about that, although Sebastian hadn’t asked, as he didn’t want to reveal his own company’s name. He knew Charlie worked for a marketing consultancy and his boss was an arsehole, although that didn’t narrow the field. Charlie shared a flat with four guys he’d been at university with, but again, it wasn’t enough to know where to look, and if he tracked Charlie down he would look like a stalker. He was being ridiculously pathetic, and just needed to get on a plane tomorrow and put Charlie out of his mind.

They enjoyed their drinks and caught up on their work lives. Patrick was the editor for a leading British tabloid, having worked his way up from being the tea boy straight out of college. He’d gotten his journalism degree by working his arse off every evening and weekend whilst still working full time. He’d taken a bit of time off after his husband died, but other than that, the guy worked more than Sebastian. No wonder they were still such great friends, they were kindred spirits.

Sebastian was worried about his friend. It had only been six months since George died, but Patrick needed someone to look after and care for. Sebastian liked the same thing, but not to the same intensity. Patrick was lost without having that person who depended on him.

Sebastian hoped his friend wouldn’t spend the rest of his life alone. He had a lot of love to give, and with the right guy, he could be happy again. It was too soon to be thinking like that, but he needed to keep an eye on things and not be focused on his own drama. Sebastian didn’t think he was being the best friend at the moment. He scanned the bar with the vague hope that he might see Charlie in a VIP bar he knew nothing about the day before. He had to do a double-take when he recognised someone.

“Oh my God!”

“What?”

“It’s him.” Sebastian pointed to the familiar face by the bar.

“He’s very cute, although he looks different from how you described him. He’s shorter for one. More my thing than yours.”

“No, that’s his friend who was with him last night. I think he was called Jason.”

“Jason!”

Jason spun round, looking at them. Patrick signalled for him to join them.

“What are you doing?” Sebastian hissed.

“Making your dreams come true.”

Sebastian couldn’t help but laugh. Jason sashayed over to them, sipping an extravagant-looking cocktail through a straw.

“Don’t I know you from somewhere?” Jason asked. “Have we fucked? Cos I don’t do repeats, although your hot daddy friend is someone I would make an exception for.”

Jason then sat on Patrick’s lap and put his arm around his neck. Patrick looked shocked for a second, but it didn’t take long for his confidence to come out, although it was hard not to laugh. Patrick looked at Sebastian with a pleading expression. Sebastian knew that although he could handle a brat like Jason, Patrick probably felt like he was cheating on George.

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