Chapter 40

Andy knew it was better to give in now,rather than prolong the agony.Luke would win out in the end,as he always did.“Jesus.Don’t I have a say in anything any more?”

Luke took his hand.“If it bothers you that much,then he can stay here.I’d never undermine you,especially where Craig is concerned.That’s why I didn’t say anything when he was in theroom.”

“You said if he dressed right.But what could he wear?He didn’t pack a lot.”

“His low cut jeans will be all right.I’ll lend him one of my bigger T-shirts.”

“But you’re not the same size.”

“Exactly.He’ll need a tight T-shirt and—”Luke flapped his hands,looking every bit the stereotypical gay clothes designer.“You’ll see what else I have in mind.”

Can’t wait,Andy thought.

Craig miraculously transformed from sullen teenager into a bundle of energy within the blink of an eye on hearing the change of plans.

****

The packing that afternoon was a much happier affair;Andy had to admit Craig worked like a Trojan;they’d have been hard pressed to get as much done without his help,especially as Lukecouldn’t do that much with his ribs still not one hundred per cent.

That evening,once Luke had dressed Craig,much to the latter’s delight,Craig presented himself in front of Andy,who didn’t understand the combing forward of his nephew’s hair overhis face,and positively balked at the bracelets Luke got out for him to wear.

“What the bloody hell are you supposed to look like?”he concluded.“And if you breathe out,that T-shirt is going to split its seams.”

“Oh,Uncle Andy,you’re so—”

“Straight,”Luke finished.

Andy shook his head.

“It’s emo,”Luke told him.Andy was no wiser,but chose not to show his ignorance.“We should have coloured your hair,but I don’t have any hair dye.”

Thank God for that,Andy thought.

****

Old Brompton Road wasn’t anywhere near as bad as Andy had feared.Luke bore up surprisingly well when they reached the place where he said he’d been attacked.It was fairly well lit.Andy was saddened no one had seen anything and come to Luke’s rescue.They didn’t linger,Luke leading them to a place he said was the closest thing he had to his local pub.

They entered a loud,but thankfully not overly-crowded,building.The bouncer had been more interested in leering at Luke than checking on how old Craig was.With an effort,Andy managed to keep a neutral expression on his face.

Andy went to the bar.Craig said he’d have a Coke;Andy was half-expecting him to ask for something alcoholic.However,Craig probably had known he had already pushed his luck to the limit.

To his amazement,Andy received more than one appreciative look from the pub’s patrons.One young looking kid—who couldn’t have been any older than Craig,and was dressed like him,too—asked Andy if he needed a boy.“I’m very good.”

Andy said he already had a boy,“Um,man.”Andy turned round to give Luke a smile.

The kid’s eyes lit up.“Luke Wales?You know Luke?Oh,God,”he squealed like a girl and headed for their table.Andy was all set to abandon his place at the bar,but he knew Luke didn’t appreciate him always acting as his bodyguard.He decided to keep a close eye on thingsinstead.

After carrying their drinks to the table,Andy was introduced to a group of people whom Luke obviously knew.“This is my boyfriend,Andy.”The kid at the bar was still hovering on the periphery.

A couple of the group shook Andy’s hand,one even saying that they’d seen the picture of the two of them on Luke’s website.They soon moved off and the kid swooped in and breathlessly asked for Luke’s autograph.

“I’m retired now,you know,”Luke said,signing a beer mat.

“I’ve got all your films,”the kid panted.He took the proffered beer mat making sure he touched Luke’s hand in the process.

“Which one is your favourite?”Luke asked.

Andy tuned the rest of the conversation out.He knew he’d have to get used to such encounters,and the kid was harmless.

He turned his attention to Craig,whose eyes seemed as though they would rotate out of their sockets,being in constant motion as he took in all around him.All gay life seemed to be present:transvestites,bodybuilders,punks,Goths and more emos.

Not long after the kid had finally wound down and decamped to a nearby table,a couple walked past them.One was tall,almost as tall as Andy.However,he was a great deal wider.The hulk was wearing tall shiny boots and leather trousers;his impossibly broad trunk encased in a biker’s jacket with silver chains hanging from the lapels.Leather gauntlets encrusted with metal studs were wrapped around his thick forearms.In one gloved paw he held a leash,which connected him to a smaller,thinner man who,though still decked out in leather,was much less decorated.

“God,”Craig said.“That’s…so hot!”

“You like leather?”Luke asked.

“I do now.”

Andy groaned,but neither Luke nor Craig seemed to notice.

Luke stood up and called out,“Hey,Bruce,have you got a minute?”The behemoth turned his massive bald head.When he saw Luke,a smile broke across his bearded face.He ambled over,his partner dutifully following along behind.

“Luke,my boy.Not seen you for ages.”The voice was deep;Andy thought he could feel it resonate in his chest.

“I know.It’s been too long,”Luke said.“This is my partner,Andy.”

Andy was shocked by two things that happened almost simultaneously.Luke and Bruce kissed on the lips,and Bruce’s friend knelt at the big man’s side,lowering his eyes in submission.

Bruce held out a massive hand,which Andy took.He was expecting a macho hand-crushing contest,but Bruce’s grip,while certainly masculine,was surprisingly gentle.

“And this is Andy’s nephew,Craig.We’re introducing him to gay life.”

They shook hands.Bruce’s face,which few would describe as handsome,broke into a wide grin.“Very pleased to meet you,young Craig.Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Er,yes,thanks,”Craig squeaked.It didn’t take a genius to work out that the teenager wasin awe.At least his eyes had stopped spinning around the room.They were firmly fixed on Bruce.

“How is Daniel?”Luke asked Bruce.

“He’s well,really well.”Bruce patted the kneeling man on the top of the head.“Aren’t you,love?”

“Yes,Sir,”the man said softly.

Luke,Andy and Bruce talked for a few minutes;Bruce seemed highly educated,forcing Andy to rapidly re-evaluate his opinion of the leather community,or at least those two members of it.It seemed Bruce was a solicitor and Daniel a doctor.

“Well,we’d love to stop and chat a little longer,but we must get home for Der Rosenkavalier.There’s a live relay from the Met.Daniel is rather taken with the man playing Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau,aren’t you,precious?”

“Yes,Sir.”This had been the only phrase Daniel had uttered throughout their conversation.His eyes had never raised themselves above Bruce’s waist.

“All right,then,”Luke said.“We won’t keep you.”

More kisses were exchanged between Bruce and Luke,Bruce even briefly kissing a blushing Craig.Thankfully,Bruce seemed to sense he ought not to offer a kiss to Andy.

“Well,that was different,”Andy said,once the two had left.

“They’re more friends with Sam and Donnie than me,but they are a nice couple.Bruce,in spite of what you see,is a really sweet man.”

“I could tell.”Andy was surprised to realise he meant it,too.

Despite himself,Andy discovered that he was enjoying the evening.He got talking to a straightlooking couple,who turned out to be soldiers from Chelsea barracks.They’d served in Iraq andAfghanistan.The pair raised Luke’s eyebrows with stories of how gay lovers had to deal with the battlefield.

Craig had moved to a nearby table and was talking music with a few emo boys,one of whom was the kid who had squealed at learning that Luke was in the pub.

When it was his round again,Andy decided to unbend and buy Craig half a lager.As he approachedCraig’s table,he overheard his nephew telling the squealer that Luke was a real person,not just a porn star.After setting the drink down,Andy squeezed the back of Craig’s neck in approval.

“Thanks,Uncle Andy,”Craig beamed up at him.

“You’re welcome.”