Page 26 of The Good Neighbour

“I would love to know how you’ve spent the last few days, Michael,” he said. “I hope the gig went well.”

He and Hugh caught each other’s eye. He wanted Hugh to realise that he might be fragile in certain areas of his life but not all. Something he had only found out that very day.

“It did. It appears we have some fans in Brighton, thankfully.”

“Although it absolutely pissed down,” Hugh added. “There’s nothing more depressing than a seaside town in the winter.”

“True,” Josh said. “So come on, unburden yourself, Michael.”

Michael grinned. “We’ve been watching Madeline Morrison movies while we were stuck in the hotel room.”

Josh groaned. He still did not think this was a good idea.

“You’re going on with this?” he said, more to Hugh than Michael.

“She’s amazing,” Hugh replied. He popped the champagne cork as punctuation.

“Can’t you get us an introduction?” Michael asked.

Josh burst out laughing. “You want me to take you to her house so you can study her for a drag act? Absolutely not.”

Hugh swatted Michael over the head.

“I told you not to listen to him.”

“I’m beginning to see why.”

Michael reddened. He obviously didn’t like being ganged up on.

“We’re in deep shit,” he said. “Sorry for wanting to move things on a bit. Remember that tour that won’t write itself?”

Hugh leant against the kitchen counter and sighed. The jovial atmosphere had disappeared from the room.

“Don’t you have any other options?” Josh asked.

They both shook their heads.

“Our inspiration cupboard is having a Mother Hubbard moment,” Michael replied. “That little shit calling us out of date has fucked things up royally. Bastard.”

Silence hung in the air.

“Okay,” Josh said, putting his hands down on the table decisively.

“Yes?” Hugh and Michael said in unison.

“I’ve been invited to my friends Simon and Rodrigo’s Halloween party at Club C. There’s a plus one and I will extend it to you if you promise not to embarrass me.”

Hugh dashed forward and kissed him on the cheek. “I promise. You are a superstar. Will she be there?”

“She will.”

Hugh clapped his hands together.

“Only a plus one?” Michael asked.

“Sorry,” Josh replied.

He wasn’t. He wanted Hugh all to himself. If they proceeded down this path of using Madeline as inspiration, he would find a way of spinning it so that she would be flattered.