Page 75 of Everything That Kills Me
“We can set off after we’ve been to this.” Jack put two tickets on the table.
Zeph knew his mouth had fallen open but he was utterly gobsmacked. It was a word he didn’t particularly like, but it fit perfectly in this instance.
“St John’s! How the hell did you get those? Oh my God, how much did you pay for them?”
“I negotiated. And it’s my treat. We have early entry and there’s dining priority too. I know the names aren’t right but I paid to change them online. All we have to do is provide photo ID on the night. You have a tuxedo?”
“Yes.”
“The ball is next Monday. We could leave on Tuesday.”
“Wednesday might be better. Balls go on all night.”
“Okay. Once I’ve bought a car, I’ll book the channel crossing for the Wednesday.”
Zeph’s heart pounded.It’s really happening.“I’ll need all my things back at Martin and Paulo’s at some point. And I’ll tell Richard I can’t do anymore punt tours after Thursday. There’ll be plenty of people ready to take my place but I want to get as many hours in as I can. Then I don’t need to ask Martin to lend me so much.”
“Do they usually come and collect you at the end of term?”
“Yes. They both work so they’ll have to come this weekend.”
“What are you going to tell them about what you’re doing?”
“That I’m going travelling in Europe with a friend. They’ll be ecstatic.”
Jack pulled Zeph’s head towards him and kissed his cheek. “The idiots here don’t know what they’re missing.”
But I’m different with you.
They cleaned up after they’d eaten. Zeph had noticed Jack liked everything to be neat and tidy. Zeph did too but Jack wiped down every surface, including the table and the taps. He did it more thoroughly than Zeph would have done.
“Are your housemates tidy?” Jack asked as they went back into Zeph’s room.
“Pretty good. Bedders come and clean individual rooms and the communal areas.”
“Bedders?” Jack raised his eyebrows.
“Hmm. The one thing they don’t do is make the beds. They used to but not now.”
Jack sat on the bed and leaned back against the wall, patting the space beside him. Zeph settled at his side, but didn’t look at him.
“Have you had…” Zeph tried again. “How many…”Shit.“What’s the longest…”Oh God.“What happens…” No, he definitely didn’t want to ask what happens after the holiday. “Where…” He groaned.
“Am I supposed to guess what you were going to ask?”
“You can try.”
“Or you could say it.”
I can’t.Nor could he look at him.
“Yes, you can.”
“Are you a mind reader?”
Jack took hold of Zeph’s hand. “Ask me.”
“Have you had many boyfriends?” Zeph mumbled.
