Chapter 11

The Olivewas a Mediterranean restaurant behind the station in the centre of Brighton. It appeared to be one of those places that had passed Scott by. This annoyed him a little as he prided himself on trying all the hot spots.

Eddie had joked that he would be in bed with food poisoning by the end of the night. Tyler had added that Scott would more likely be tucked up with Prin.

Scott did not believe either of these theories. Firstly, the restaurant had been established since the nineties, so they must be doing something right. Secondly, he doubted very much that Prin was the type to jump into bed with anyone.

Not that Scott did that either these days. Another thing his flatmates found annoyingly hilarious.

I'll show them.

He walked into the small restaurant with purpose. For a Wednesday night, it was busy. He spotted Prin immediately and made a beeline for him.

"Good evening," Scott said, beaming.

"Hello," Prin replied.

He appeared as nervous as Scott. He had no idea why the butterflies were being quite so rampant in his stomach. Scott had been on more dates than this restaurant had dishes on the menu. This seemed different. For one thing, he knew Prin and it wasn't an option to simply ghost him if things didn't work out.

Don't overthink. Just relax.

Scott sat down. The waiter was already hovering.

"Can I have a large house white please?" Scott said.

"Do you want a bottle?" the waiter replied.

Scott noticed that Prin already had a glass of white wine in front of him. That was a decent sign, they liked the same wine.

"Why not?" Scott said.

"For the nerves," Prin said once the waiter had gone.

"So you're terrified too then?"

Prin frowned. "I'm surprised anything scares you."

"Oh, Prin, you have a lot to learn, my friend."

"Sounds good."

Two words and they made Scott tingle. It had been a very long time since a man had had this effect on him whilst still fully clothed. It boded well.

The waiter returned with a bottle of wine and a glass for Scott. He made a big deal of pouring it. Scott caught Prin's eye and grinned. His nerves were falling away.

Once their glasses were full, the waiter retreated.

"What shall we drink to?" Scott asked.

"How about Elliott, who we have to thank for this?"

Scott had expected he would have to do most of the heavy lifting when it came to conversation. It appeared that Prin had no difficulties in that department.

Once again, I've got you wrong.

"Cheers."

They clinked glasses and each took a sip. The wine was pretty dry. He didn't care. Scott would have taken a large slug of anything at that point.

"Have you looked at the menu?" Scott asked.

Prin nodded. "There's a banquet for two. I wondered if you fancied that? I've never had the chance to order it before. That sounds a bit sad, doesn't it?"

"Not at all," Scott replied. "I've never even heard of this place so you're one up from me."

Prin waved the waiter over. "Set meal for two, please."

The waiter nodded and took their order to the kitchen.

"Alone at last," Scott said. "I'm glad you didn't choose somewhere in the Lanes again."

"Not very discreet."

"I bloody hate it there," Scott confided. "But people seem to like it."

"I'm sorry that I suggested we meet there the other day."

Scott realised his big mouth had struck again. "I didn't mean it like that. I prefer this place anyway."

"Me too."

The tension was palpable.

"Right then," Scott said, unable to stand it any longer. "Let's get to know each other. I'll go first. You mentioned that there's more to your story than wanting to work in the UK. Ready to spill yet? No worries if not."

Prin seemed a little nonplussed. "Okay," he said, carefully. "It's not as scandalous as you're probably thinking. Basically, when I found myself in Bangkok again after university, I freaked out. So, stupidly, I began an affair with one of my uncle's business associates."

Scott took another swig of his wine. "Probably not a wise move."

"The worst," Prin said. "He was married for a start. She found out and all hell broke loose. My uncle lost it. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that I had to leave the city. I didn't know what else to do so I came back here."

"That sounds pretty rough. Why did you choose Brighton?"

"Brighton chose me," Prin explained. "I was staying with an old university friend in Leeds and applying for jobs everywhere. I decided to let fate play a hand."

"Any regrets?"

Prin sighed. "Maybe. In some respects, I wish I'd stayed in Leeds. I have a few mates up there. I guess I needed to lick my wounds. It was pretty rough being sent away like that. When I need to think, I usually run away. Besides, I like my own company."

Scott frowned. Prin seemed to have experienced a very different Brighton to him. Eddie and Tyler would say that Scott found the place very friendly indeed.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Scott said. "No crazy love affairs then?"

"Not yet."

There was a loaded stare. Prin was most definitely growing in confidence. Scott found he quite liked it.

"And you?" Prin asked. "I'm sure you have a very chequered history."

Scott clutched his chest. "Does my reputation stretch that far?"

"I think you underestimate yourself," Prin replied. "You seem to be very confident."

"In some ways, I am. In others, I'm not. Just like everyone else."

Prin seemed to regard him differently. "So? Who was your last love?"

Scott didn't really have much choice about sharing. He had to spill now that Prin had.

"A charmer called Toby," Scott said. "I met him when I came to Pleasure Seekers. He used to hang around outside most nights when I was leaving. He was obsessed with where we work. Now I think about it, I realise how weird that is."

"Hindsight is the best view," Prin replied.

"Isn't that the truth. Anyway, we were together for a couple of years or so. I was head over heels in love. He was ten years older than me and, in my mind, he had the answer to everything."

Scott shuddered when he recalled how much control of his life he gave to Toby. Control that Toby lapped up and still demanded more.

"He told me where to go, what to do and what to wear," Scott continued. "I didn't even notice."

Prin frowned. "I cannot imagine that."

"That's how they get you," Scott replied. "Toby soon found out my pressure points and worked them well. Then it got to lockdown. I assumed we would spend it together. Do you remember how everyone was scrambling to buy toilet roll? It might not have been the same in Thailand. Believe me, it got crazy over here. Anyway, Toby blindsided me by telling me he would be having lockdown on his own."

"What did you do?"

"I had a choice. Either stay in my lodgings or go to my parents. I asked Toby what I should do and he said the latter."

"He sounds like a pig."

"I hadn't been at my parents a week when he called," Scott said. His voice cracked but he didn't care. Expressing emotion was not a bad thing in his book. "He said he'd been working up to dumping me. It appeared the pandemic had forced his hand. Game over, Scott."

Prin reached across and took Scott's hand. "That is an appalling way to treat someone. I am sorry."

Scott entwined his fingers around Prin's, the contact making him calm.

"I spent a year at home, then I needed to be closer to the office. Eddie had started at Pleasure Seekers by then so we got the flat," Scott continued. "I'm afraid I had a bit of a phase of love them and leave them."

"There's nothing wrong in that," Prin replied. "I wish I had the balls for it."

"You've shown a decent amount of balls to me."

Prin blushed. "I'm not sure that came out right."

Scott cackled. "Oh, it did. Believe me."

Prin unfurled his fingers and sat back. "You intrigue me. There seems to be two of you."

"There are more than that," Scott replied.

"I look forward to discovering the rest of them."

"You know what?" Scott said. "I'd love to kiss you right this moment."

Prin frowned. "I'm not sure it's a good idea."

"No, me neither. Instead, we'll have to chat over dinner and wait until we get outside."

Prin smiled. "Or we get the food to go?"

Things were moving very fast. It felt natural though. Scott had no doubt where the evening was heading. Maybe waiting wasn't really his style after all. It had been weeks and the urge to undress Prin was too much.

"We could go to mine," Scott suggested.

Prin shook his head. "The others will be there. I don't want it getting out at work."

Scott decided to withhold the information that Eddie and Tyler had helped him select his outfit only an hour ago. The last thing he wanted to do was to scare Prin off at this critical moment.

"Your place it is then."