Page 60 of Kicks

Eddie kicked him under the table.

“I think it’s quite nice,” Tyler said. “Thanks for coming. Danny wouldn’t even consider it.”

“I don’t blame him,” Scott muttered.

Ever since Sunday, Scott had been in a foul mood. Eddie had reached his tolerance level. After living with the drama queen for a few years, that level was pretty high. Even so, it had been achieved.

“What is the matter with you?” he snapped. “Honestly, I can’t listen to your griping for one more second. Go home if you’re going to be like this.”

To his horror, Scott’s eyes filled with tears. Tyler sprang forward and took his hand.

“Hey. What is it?”

“I’m being ridiculous. Ignore me or I’ll ruin everything.”

“I will not ignore my friend when he’s upset.”

“Nor will I,” Eddie added. He shouldn’t have attacked Scott when there had clearly been something wrong. He’d got himself so preoccupied, floating around on a cloud of sexual satisfaction he hadn’t noticed his friend in need.

Scott took a large gulp from his wine glass.

“On Sunday I went out. The usual places. I met this really nice guy.”

This all came as news to Eddie. Scott had threatened to get himself into trouble. It looked like it had come to fruition.

“We chatted for ages,” Scott continued. “He was up with some friends for a week but having a night on the prowl.”

“At least he was honest,” Tyler said.

“If only. After about an hour, he asked me to go to his hotel. It was only round the corner. I told him I wasn’t that kind of guy.”

Eddie snorted.

This time Tyler kicked him under the table. Excessively hard, in Eddie’s opinion.

“I know that you think I have no feelings, Eddie,” Scott said. “I got a decent vibe from him. I didn’t want it to be yet another one-night thing. He’d come down from London. I guess my mind started racing.”

Eddie reached out and took Scott’s other hand. Scott’s desire to be loved had caused him to make bad decisions time and again.

“He gave me his number and said we could do something the next day,” Scott continued. “We had another drink and he was being so adorable.”

“And you went to his hotel,” Tyler said.

“Yeah,” Scott replied with a sigh. “Don’t get me wrong. He didn’t take advantage of me. I was fully into it but that’s another story. When we’d finished, he leaps off the bed and is immediately getting dressed.”

“What?” Eddie said.

Scott nodded. “I know. I’d literally just come. I asked him what was going on. Get this. He had to go and find his mates because they’re playing a sex scavenger hunt game and an Essex boy is in the top tier.”

Eddie and Tyler glanced at each other. Tyler appeared as stunned as Eddie.

“I’m sorry—what did you say?” Eddie said.

Now a tear rolled down Scott’s cheek. “He even asked me to record a fucking video telling his mates where I’m from.”

Eddie thought he might burst out of his skin with rage.

“What did you do?” Tyler asked.