Page 134 of A Long Way Back
“I’m going to tell Jonty I’m sorry for pushing him away and sorry for blaming him for what happened. I want to thank him for being such a good friend and I’ll tell him I’m gay.”
“Will he forgive you?”
“For being gay?”
Ink sighed.
“He doesn’t hold grudges and Christ, he has plenty of reasons to, but he stayed bright and cheerful through the worst of times. His mother was a bitch. His father a complete bastard. It’s amazing Jonty can smile at all.” Tay glanced at him. “He reminds me of you.”
Because they both had crap parents? Or something more? Ink didn’t want to be second-best, a Jonty-replacement.Oh fuck, listen to me. I can’t be anything.
“What’s my story?” Ink asked.
“The truth. You turned up for a job, I had to pick someone, you were the least crappy of the applicants, and you grew on me.” Tay smiled.
And when other questions were asked? But Ink stayed quiet.
CARS WERE LEAVING THE HOTEL car park as they arrived, and Tay was able to park close to the entrance.
“Wow, it looks amazing,” Tay whispered. “The Dunes. I love the swirling sign over the doors. It used to be called McAllister’s. That was the guy who owned it.”
“What a view.” Ink got out of the car and came round to Tay’s side as he climbed out. “Are you okay?”
“Yep.”
The sun had shone all day in a cloudless sky and it was still hot. They walked slowly up to glass doors that silently glided open at their approach. Tay had his invite in his hand and as they went in, a guy stepped forward to take it and a waitress moved in with a tray of champagne. Tay shook his head, so Ink did too.
There were a few people in smart clothes milling about, but Tay didn’t seem to see anyone he knew. The lobby was beautiful. It even had a waterfall at the far end. Ink had never been in anywhere as glamorous.
“Oh my God, is that Lex Kenyon?” Tay whispered.
“I have no idea who that is,” Ink whispered back.
“American film star. He’s in a series of assassin movies. Cold-hearted killer, but there’s a spark of goodness in him. Itishim. Bloody hell. Jontyloveshim. Oh, I’ve just seen someone I know. Go left.”
Ink walked with Tay into a room with tables of food that were being tidied.
“Hi, Mike,” Tay said.
A muscly guy in a blue shirt turned, gaped, and threw his arms around Tay. “Oh my God! Look at you, mate!”
A slimmer guy next to Mike shook Tay’s hand. “Good to see you on your feet.”
“Thanks, Willis. Ink, this is Mike and Willis. Mike runs the beach sports shop I mentioned. Willis is his partner.”
Ink shook their hands.
“You look really well,” Mike said.
“I feel it. Have you seen Jonty?”
“Yeah, he’s around somewhere with Devan. Does he know you’re coming?”
“I had the invite. I didn’t reply because I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to make it.”
“He’s coming now.” Willis tugged at Mike’s arm.
Ink turned and moved a step away from Tay. Jonty was about his own height and build. He was wearing a tight blue suit, had bright white hair, and a piercing in his eyebrow. He was chatting to a guy a few inches taller, and several years older who wore an equally smart suit, though not as tight, and he was very good-looking. This had to be Devan. The moment Jonty spotted Tay, he gasped. His mouth opened and closed again and his hands fluttered.
