Page 161 of Oleander

After ordering our drinks, we made our way toward the back of the pub and the beer garden, towards where the sunlight was pouring in through the open doors. I spotted Bast immediately, tall as a poppy, head and shoulders above everyone else. He stood up when he saw me, a huge grin on his face as though it had been years since he saw me, not weeks.

“You made it!” he beamed, pulling me into a hug. “This is Emmy, Emmy, this is Jude.” His girlfriend waved and smiled but didn’t stand. I turned to Cas.

“This is Bastian, Bast. We were in a dorm together our first year.”

Bast put out a hand to Caspien, which he shook politely.

“Hello. Caspien, nice to meet you.”

Bast’s reaction was immediate. I saw his eyes widen as he looked at me, then Caspien and then back again, abject delight moving over his face.

“Caspien? Wait, are you two—”

“Cas’s partner is in Boston,” I said, cutting him off with a look. “We’ve just been catching up. I’m staying at his uncle’s place for a couple weeks. I didn’t know Cas was going to be around.”

I was over-explaining, I knew. Bast’s wide-eyed look turned to one of mischief. He’d been drinking, his eyes with that glazed, sparkled look they’d get after a single beer. He was infamous for being unable to handle his drink despite being bigger than all ofus. I wondered suddenly if this was a good idea. Bast knew a lot about Cas and me. Too much.

We sat down, and Bast introduced us again to Emmeline, a pretty blonde with distinctly Germanic features. Emmy told us about what they’d done since arriving on Friday: a few gigs, a theatre show, and a couple of comedy clubs. Caspien drank his gin and tonic quietly and quickly before ordering another from a passing server. I was certain it wasn’t table service, but a few minutes later, a G&T appeared next to him.

“So this isn’t your first time in London?” I asked.

“No, we’ve been a few times, we love it here,” said Emmy. “We were talking actually about how we would like to live here after our studies. But it is so expensive for property that I don’t know if it’s possible.”

I glanced at Bast because I knew he wanted to move to northern France after Oxford, where all the best cycling routes were.

“Yeah, I reckon I could live here,” I said instead. “But the prices are definitely crazy. You should see Gideon’s place. Christ, it’s insane. There’s five bedrooms, a concierge, and a pool. I’m actually dreading going back to my dorm at Longhall.”

“Hey, maybe you’ll get New Buildings this time.”

“Ah, one can dream.” I lifted my glass.

“To no bin lorries,” Bast said, touching his pint to mine. “So it’s just the two of you at this huge house with a pool?” Bast had a pointed gleam in his eye.

“Yeah, just us. You could have stayed if I’d known I was going to be here, actually. I’m sure Gideon wouldn’t have minded.” I glanced at Cas for confirmation. He said nothing, and I couldn’t read his expression. He wore his sunglasses as he drank his G&T with his good hand.

“Are you at Oxford too, Caspien?” Emmeline asked.

“No, I go to school in the States.”

“Really, how cool. Where?”

“Lervairè Conservatory of Music.”

“He’s a pianist,” I said.

They both looked at his hand. Emmeline’s mouth rounded.

“Not at this precise moment, obviously,” Cas said dryly.

“What happened?” she said, sounding and looking devastated for him.

“A fall.”

“And your partner? American? From Boston?”

I felt Cas go very stiff next to me. “He’s from London, but has a law firm in Boston. We moved there a couple of years ago.”

“Ah, how lovely.” Emmeline smiled as though it really was the loveliest thing she’d ever heard. Bast flicked me a look, knowing it wasn’t.