Chapter 11

The next day, Eddie curled up on the sofa with a bowl of cereal. The day before had been so nice. He'd really enjoyed spending time with Billy. Then when he'd met Crystal, he'd loved her instantly.

"God, you look dreamy," Scott said as he wandered into the lounge.

He had on a skimpy pair of briefs and nothing else.

"Scott," Eddie exclaimed.

"What? It's no different to wearing speedos at the pool. Calm down."

He flopped down on the sofa by Eddie's feet.

"What's the matter?" Eddie asked.

"I don't know. Just restless."

"The flat looks nice."

Scott smiled. "Tyler retreated to Danny's family in the end. I got a bit possessed. It's his fault. He suggested it the other day."

"Tell you what," Eddie said, "I'll take you out to brunch. Somewhere real fancy."

"Full summer glamour?"

"You'd better believe it."

Eddie went to get up. Scott stayed him.

"Not so fast. How did yesterday go?"

Eddie settled against the sofa. "It went really well. I met his little sister. She's wonderful."

"And Billy?"

"I like him, Scott. There's something real there. It's as though he's worth more than other people. Ugh, ignore me. I don't know what I'm saying."

Scott squeezed his leg. "I know what you mean. Some things can't be explained."

"That's exactly it."

Scott sat against the arm of the sofa and stared at Eddie.

"What?"

"Call him."

"Now?"

"Yes, it's a gorgeous day out there. Meet him at the pier. That's so romantic. He'll be putty in your hands if he feels the same way."

Eddie frowned. "What about us going out?"

Scott shrugged. "There's a drag brunch in town. Maybe I'll go there and see what trouble I can get myself into."

"Now I'm definitely not leaving you alone."

"What if I want a bit of trouble? Go on with you. Bag your man."

Eddie could see how old-fashioned he was being by actually calling Billy. Yet, his nerves had no appetite for an elongated game of text ping-pong.

"Hello? Eddie? Is everything all right?"

Hearing Billy's voice made Eddie realise how sure he was about pursuing him. Scott had a point. It was unquantifiable.

"Yes, everything's fine. I wondered what you were doing?"

"Now? Nothing much. Having a flick through the Sunday papers, mainly. Why?"

Fuck, he's a proper grown-up.

"I rang to ask if you'd fancy a stroll. Don't worry if you're busy or have Crystal to take care of."

"I think I can leave her alone for a while if she promises not to play with matches. Hey," Billy said. "She threw a pillow at me."

Eddie instantly visualised it.

"I'd love a stroll. Where do you want to meet?" Billy asked.

"The pier? Two o'clock."

"The pier. I like your style, sir. See you then."

"Bye."

Eddie terminated the call, his central nervous system going haywire inside him.

"What did he say?"

"He liked my style."

"Aww," Scott said. "Shame it's my style."

Eddie got to his feet. "We're interchangeable. You know that."

"This is true, Edward," Scott replied. "I bring the style and you bring the sense."

They had been like an old married couple for years. Tyler had somehow managed to find a place for himself in the middle. Their previous flatmate had rubbed Scott up the wrong way. Still, he had redecorated the whole flat before running off to suburbia with a wallpaper designer from Glasgow.

"If you could see your way to giving out some more of your style wisdom," Eddie said. "How about helping me pick an outfit for excursion you've engineered."

Scott clapped his hands together. "Fun!"

"But, Scott?"

"Yes?"

"Cover yourself up."

"Fine. Hand me your dressing gown. You really are a prude. If you do bag this man, you realise it's summertime."

Eddie frowned. "What has that got to do with anything?"

"It might be difficult to have sex in the dark. That's all I'm saying."

Eddie got up and held his hand out for Scott. "Nobody is having sex," he replied. "It's a walk on the pier, for fuck's sake."

Despite the usual squabbling with Scott, Eddie had to admit that he had done a good job in choosing his outfit.

The sun was high in the sky. Eddie wandered down the promenade in denim shorts and a bold striped shirt. The colours of mustard, olive green, red and blue made quite the statement. Still, he always liked to make an impression so didn't really spare much thought.

As he approached the pier entrance, he scanned the crowd.

There he is.

Billy looked incredible in cream shorts and a peacock blue shirt that billowed in the light breeze. The thin fabric clung to Billy's seemingly toned physique. It had been a long time since Eddie had fancied anyone this strongly. What he wouldn't give to rip that shirt from Billy and discover what lay underneath. The same went for the shorts.

"Good afternoon," Billy said.

"Afternoon, handsome."

Scott had told him to leave nothing to chance this time. Eddie loathed flirting. It never seemed to work for him. Still, it was worth a shot.

They stood awkwardly.

Take control.

"Shall we?" Eddie asked.

They walked onto the wooden pier. It was busy with families, other couples and all manner of groups of people.

"Do you want an ice cream?" Billy asked.

"Maybe on the way back," Eddie replied.

They continued in companionable silence. About halfway down, the thin walkway of the pier transformed into a much bigger wooden structure filled with fairground rides.

"There's no way you're getting me on one of those," Billy said. "Before you even suggest it."

"Spoilsport," Eddie replied. "Not even the carousel?"

They wandered over to the vintage ride.

"Maybe the carousel," Billy said. "I've not been on it for years. Crystal wouldn't be seen dead. Not cool enough."

They paid their money. The merry-go-round had a choice of the traditional horses and, bizarrely, chickens.

"Are you riding the stallion or the cock?" Eddie asked.

Scott would be proud of that one.

Billy raised an eyebrow. "I think I'll ride the stallion. How about you?"

"Oh, I much prefer the cock," Eddie replied.

"How lovely, we're carousel compatible."

They hopped onto their chosen steeds and waited for their fellow riders to do the same. What a pair they must appear. Two fully grown men giggling with anticipation before the tamest ride on the pier set off.

Billy handed Eddie his phone. "Can you take a picture of me? I want to embarrass Crystal."

Eddie got the phone ready. Billy struck his best jockey pose. Eddie took a few before handing the mobile over.

"Teenage mortification achieved," Eddie said.

"I take my role of big brother very seriously."

"I can see that. You were very brave to do it."

Billy held on to the pole and leant back, his gaze resting on Eddie. "When Mum died, she didn't have anyone else."

"What about your father?"

Eddie knew he was probably stepping out of casual conversation and into interrogation but he found himself too curious not to take the chance.

"We don't have the same one. You must have noticed."

Crystal was most certainly mixed race. Harry and Billy were not.

"Of course, I didn't like to assume. Both my parents are Black. My siblings are far darker than me. It got to the point where people in our street gossiped that my mum had been playing away."

"Really?"

"Genetics, eh?"

"Anyway, we both got a shit deal. My mother's taste in men being incredibly bad," Billy said. "Mine and Harry's did a runner. Never heard from him again. And Crystal's dad is banged up."

The carousel creaked into life. The air filled with the din of the traditional music. Eddie shifted his grip. He absolutely would not be the man who fell off a cock on his first proper date in ages.

Not that this is a date or anything.

"I wasn't expecting that," Eddie replied.

He glanced over at Billy. He sat astride his horse in an incredibly sexy manner. Eddie tried to take a mental snapshot. No matter what happened in the future.

"After my dad buggered off, Mum was left with two kids. Enter Brian. Smarmy bloody owner of a few souvenir shops. She thought she'd made a sensible decision."

Eddie had grown up in a standard family in a standard house on a standard street. Coming out into the world where people had serious problems had been a wake-up call.

"Why is he in prison? If you don't mind me asking. Not that you have to answer, of course. Tell me to butt out."

"I don't mind," Billy said. "He's not my father. He got found guilty of causing death while driving under the influence. We have no contact."

The ride was at full pelt now. Brighton flashed by in the distance. Then the view was out to sea.

"Thank you for telling me," Eddie said.

"Thank you for listening."

"You've had a really tough time. I'm sorry."

Once again Eddie felt a stab of guilt over the contract that was currently residing in his work bag. He had to push those thoughts out of his mind. Today, they were both off duty.

The merry-go-round was coming to a stop now.

"Oh, sir. Please avert your gaze while I dismount my cock," Eddie said, fanning himself like a Southern belle.

Billy sprang off his steed like Rhett Butler reincarnated.

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," he replied.

Eddie swung off his chicken and they ran down the steps.

"I enjoyed that," Billy said. "It's years since I've been on one of those."

The crowds had become unbearable. Kids screamed for candy floss or rides or the toilet. Frazzled adults pushed their way past Billy and Eddie to achieve whatever goal their little darlings had set them.

"Shall we head to shore?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah."

They fell into step.

"In what I think is exciting news, I'm applying to some architectural practices for freelance hours."

"Was that your job before the shop?"

"Yeah. I'm not really cut out for retail."

Eddie frowned. "How are you going to manage that?"

"Harry and Kim are going to help out. I can do it in the mornings."

"That won't leave you much time for yourself."

Eddie glanced up at him. For a second, he seemed as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Crystal's almost sixteen," he explained. "If I can manage for two years, she'll go off to university. We'll both have new lives. It can't hurt to begin making contacts in my old world too. I've been in a family bubble for too long."

"Sounds sensible," Eddie said.

Billy sighed. "I guess. I've quite enjoyed working for myself. Even if I'm shit at it."

"Not shit," Eddie replied. "In business, decisions need to be made. With all the emotional baggage you have linked to the shop, how could you make them objectively?"

Billy nudged him. "Thank you. Not many people recognise that. I thought a hard-nosed businessman like you would think I was being a wuss."

Eddie cackled. "How little you know me. I'm totally not cut out of the career game. I love my job and everything. It's all the other shit. Office politics and being strategic. It's not me."

"Does it have to be?"

Eddie stared out at the pebble beach. "It kind of does. My boss is retiring and who replaces him is down to me and Brad, the office knobhead."

"I wish you victory in your duel."

"Thank you. I've a comfortable lead at the moment."

"I never had any doubts."

They had reached the end of the pier now. As they walked out onto the pavement, Eddie turned to Billy. He looked absolutely perfect in the sunlight.

"What?" Billy asked.

"I live ten minutes away. I know this is really forward but…"

"Yes."