Page 39 of Thrill

“I bumped into some people from work and had a couple of drinks. You’re worse than Monica for trying to get into my business.”

An amused smile appeared on her face.

“People from work, eh? Word is that you’ve gone all gooey over someone from work. It wouldn’t be the same person, would it?”

“Bloody hell, is nothing sacred?”

She held her hands up. “Oh, calm yourself. Your dad is excited.”

Danny rubbed his forehead. Once again, the sensation of being hemmed in flooded through his system.

“You can talk to me, you know.”

He sighed. “Okay, fine. It was him.”

The last word hung there.

“Doeshehave a name?”

“Tyler.”

“Nice name.”

“Nice guy.”

The television still blared in the background. Danny’s mum grabbed the remote and switched it off, plunging the room into semi darkness.

“I didn’t know you were thinking of retraining to be a dentist,” she said.

“What are you on about?”

“This is like pulling bloody teeth, Daniel. Give your mother details, please.”

Danny caught her eye. She was a woman on a mission, evidently.

“Okay, fine. You win. He only started at work this week. He had to shadow me on Tuesday and we got on well. I bumped into him and some other guys from the office and had some drinks.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Danny, I have worked a hotel reception desk since before you were born. I see people coming in and I see people going out. I know when someone’s freshly laid.”

Danny grabbed a pillow and buried his face in it.

“Can you not?” he said from behind his shield.

“Stop being so ridiculous,” she said, grabbing the cushion. “You’re nearly thirty.”

“And you’re my mother. I’m not having this conversation.”

He stared at her. She had a victorious expression on her face.

“I don’t mean to embarrass you. I’m happy you’ve found someone.”

“A man.”

“Danny, when the world found out you were bisexual, I came to terms with the fact you might get involved with another man. Considering you’ve always had criminal taste in women, I’m quite looking forward to seeing if it transfers to the other gender.”