Chapter 9

"You kissed him?" Tyler said.

Scott covered his face. "I did."

"I don't know about senior people adviser," Eddie said. "More like senior people molester."

"Shut up," Scott cried.

A giggling Eddie gently pulled Scott's hands away.

"Do you like him?" he asked.

It was Sunday and they were wandering along the promenade. Scott had spent a full twenty-four hours pondering that question.

"You know what? I think I do."

"He's not your usual type," Eddie remarked.

"That's not a bad thing," Tyler added. "A never-ending line of cheap suits and broken promises."

There was something different about Prin that drew Scott to him. It was undeniable. Plus, that kiss. Prin had definitely returned it.

What would have happened if I hadn't come over all professional? Fuck's sake.

"Let's sit," Eddie said.

They found a bench and stared out at the sea. The shoreline was far away. Kids were playing on the soggy sand while parents took a moment for some peace.

"He's handsome, I'll give you that," Tyler said. "A little quiet perhaps."

"They do say opposites attract," Eddie added.

Scott shoved him. "I guess that's true, because Billy is a nice person."

"I asked for that," Eddie replied with a laugh. "How did you leave it?"

"Ugh," Scott said, burying his face in his hands once more. "I apologised. He looked a little taken aback so I pretended nothing had happened. I started banging on about uploading the file. He did it and we went our separate ways."

"Really?"

Scott stood up and walked over to the railing. "What is the matter with me?"

"Hey now," Tyler said. "There's nothing wrong with you. None of us act perfectly."

The cry of gulls filled the air. They were doing their usual fly-bys of the beach. On the hunt for unattended food.

"I've had so many shitty dates and now I'm going to be seen as the sex pest of the office," Scott said, clutching his chest. "He could put in a complaint, you know."

Eddie stood and took hold of Scott, drawing him in for a bear hug. "You're spinning," Eddie said.

Scott loved his two friends so much. When he'd got home the night before, they'd both been staying out at their respective boyfriends'. In the end, he'd had to declare an emergency situation. Hence the walk along the prom.

"What do I do?" he wailed.

Tyler joined them in a group hug. "You apologise for letting your emotions take control but make it clear you don't regret it," he suggested. "Then see what he does."

He might have been a late addition to the flat but Tyler was always on hand with sensible advice. Eddie was a film buff and often got carried away in his coaching of Scott.

They separated and carried on walking.

"He seems very nice," Eddie said. "Not someone to mess about."

"Do you mind?" Scott replied.

"Mr Innocence," Eddie said with a snigger. "All I'm saying is, you should go steady. He's more fragile than your usual prey."

Scott remembered the story that Prin told him of his life.

"I'm not sure about that," Scott said. "There's history there."

"Another case for Inspector Fitzgerald?" Tyler asked.

"Oh I think so."

The next morning and Scott was in the office super early. Unlike Saturday, a few people were dotted around.

It was quiet enough for Scott to build a case against Elliott without anyone accidentally seeing what he was doing.

Before he would raise anything with Carla, he wanted to check if the footage from Saturday had been tampered with. It would be the perfect final piece of the jigsaw.

He also had another reason for waiting.

At eleven o'clock the night before, he'd had the brainwave of requesting an interview with Prin. It would give him a chance to talk to him in private about what had happened. Scott hadn't been joking when he'd said that Prin could have him sacked. Not that he would. Something in his bones told him that wouldn't be the last kiss with Prin Lum. The thought made his legs tingle as well as other places.

Scott had chosen a desk that gave him a full view of the office. He watched the main door like a hawk.

"You seem a little jittery today," Carla said. "Good weekend or shouldn't I ask?"

She sat down at a desk across from him.

"I'm on the home straight with the dildo theft," Scott whispered. "You might find another incident is reported today."

"What? Who is it?"

Scott rubbed his eyes. He didn't do well on no sleep and ever since Saturday, he'd been running on about an hour's worth. His mother always said he was cranky when he got overtired.

"I've got one more thing to do before I tell you," he said. "Brace yourself. It's big."

"Oh fuck."

She stared closely at him.

"You look tired out," she said. "I presume you met someone at the weekend. Your fast has been broken, has it not?"

"My fast is intact, thank you very much," Scott replied. "We don't all have a gorgeous husband in our beds."

Carla grinned. "Poor baby. And when I think what I was doing this time yesterday. Darren loves Sunday mornings."

"That's more than enough. Gross."

After taking a sip from her artisan coffee that a stand outside charged an extortionate amount for, she stared hard at him.

"Something is going on with you," she said. "Want to talk?"

Scott sighed. "Not really. As usual, I'm a dick and let my need for love get in the way of rational thought."

She stopped fiddling with her laptop. "Scott. One day you're going to meet someone who will love you like we all do."

"You sound like my mother now. And Eddie. And Tyler. And bloody Barry," Scott said. "And I love you all for it. The problem is no one else seems to think like you."

"We can't all be wrong," Carla said. "You've had your fair share of heartbreak. I believe it will happen. Calm it down a little and let things come to you. There's nothing a man finds sexier than someone being unavailable."

Little did she know Scott had made his intentions perfectly clear now. Subtle had never been his strongest suit.

"How the hell would you know that?" Scott replied. "I think I'll probably end up with a beach house and three dogs. That doesn't sound so bad either."

Carla grinned. "If it makes you feel any better, I really spent the weekend at a sci-fi convention in Milton Keynes with Darren."

Scott burst into fits of laughter. "You faker."

"Who told you?"

They both carried on giggling. Carla at a sci-fi convention took some imagination.

"The things we do for love, eh?" Scott said, wiping his eyes.

"We met an Ewok and a Klingon," Carla explained. "Darren turned into a blubbering mess. Good job I love him."

"I hope the sex still happened."

Carla winked at him. "A hotel room away from the kids and a nerdy husband all fired up? Believe me, it happened all right."

As his sexual frustration took a tighter grip, Scott had also spent a lot of time that weekend wondering what sex with Prin would be like. Yes, he was quiet but already Scott had discovered hidden depths. He had to admit that he was yearning to see what it would be like when all the inhibitions were dropped.

He snapped to attention when the main door opened.

"Fucking hell," he said.

Barry and Amanda stood there for a second before walking into the office holding hands. They were bold as brass.

Carla followed his gaze. To be fair, everyone in the office seemed stunned. Barry and Amanda acted as if nothing was happening. Instead, they walked across the floor.

Once at a desk, Amanda sat down and Barry leant forward to kiss her.

"Have a wonderful day," Barry said.

"Thank you," Amanda replied. "You too."

Barry headed off toward the canteen like he did every morning.

Scott caught Amanda's eye and winked. She exhaled slowly and winked back.

"No fucking way," Carla said.

Scott shrugged. "I've known for ages. Good luck to them."

As he resumed his work, Prin walked past him. They shared a glance. Scott forced a smile on his face.

Yes, he certainly did fancy Prin Lum. Now he needed to find out if that feeling went both ways.