Page 5 of Asking For a Friend

I don’t have to stay long. Dylan doesn’t need me. He just pesters me to get out more, reminding me not everyone is like my ex, who thought I was a walking cash machine. Who thought working was a joke. The moment I suggested that he look for a job, he was out the door so fast, as if I was asking for one of his kidneys.

“What’s up? Come on, you need this, Hesk. It’s been too long since you wet your whistle, dipped your wick. Y’know what I mean.”

“Only too clearly, and you’re gross. You know that, right?”

The birthday boy is already well on his way to wasted by the look of his glassy eyes and the wonky smile, but he waves at us.

Everyone shifts around, making room for us to sit down, and because the guy on the end gets up to get a drink, I end up next to Lando. Of course.

“Maybe we can properly introduce ourselves. It’s Lando, right? I’m Hesketh.”

“Yeah, I know who you are.” He picks up his glass and shouts over the table to Scottie that he’s leaving.

“No! No way, Lando. If you bail on me, I’ll never forgive you.”

“It’s not a problem. I’m gonna go. These are your friends, not mine.” I push myself back out of the bench seat and let Dylan know I’m going.

I pass the cute twink who’s already hanging off another guy’s arm. Too late again. I don’t bother looking around. I just want to get home. Lando can carry on with his life without any more interactions with me.

As I step outside, I flip the collar of my leather jacket up around my neck. I look up and down the street for a cab. I’d rather do that than get the tube, but of course not a single orange light shows on the road. Fuck it and fuck tonight.

“Hesketh!”

I stop and turn. But instead of Dylan ready to give me a talking to, it’s Lando. He hovers in the doorway, but I don’t make a move. I’m not going to him. I’ve done nothing but try to get him to talk to me all week. He looks cute, though. God, why do I always have to do the chasing?

I storm up to him. “What?” He flinches back, but I’ve got no fucks left to give. “What do you want? You’ve had plenty of opportunities this week to call me and tell me to stop, that you’re not interested, but nothing. Not even a fuck-off at the counter. I’ve been in that shop twice a day, every bloody day this week. I’m a nice guy. I don’t fuck about or play games. I just thought I’d do something nice, something you might like, but you’ve done sweet sod all about it.”

He blinks a couple of times, opens his mouth, and snaps it shut again. “You didn’t leave me your number,” he says quietly.

“I did. Have you actually opened the tea caddy or unwrapped the cellophane off the other things?” I cross my arms over my chest. He’s looking a little embarrassed and doesn’t make eye contact. He slicks his tongue over his lower lip. “You haven’t opened them. Okay, I’m going to make this simple for you. I like you, and I’d like to have your number so I can ask you out on a date. If you’re interested, that is.”

He stays quiet, and just when I’m about to walk away, he nods. “Yes, I’d like that.”

I relax my arms, and the tension in my body dissipates. Finally, he looks at me, a gorgeous blush on his face. He is stunning. “Are you going to come back in?” He thumbs over his shoulder.

I shake my head. “I think you’ve had enough excitement for the night. Can I have your number?” I fish my phone out of my back pocket and hand it to him. When he gives it back, I text him, and a message chimes from his pocket. I smile. “Have a good evening, Lando.”

I wait until he’s back inside, then let out a long, low breath and go search for a cab.

My weekend is a quiet one. I work for a few hours on Sunday, mainly as an attempt not to call Lando. I’m not expecting him to. We left it with me offering to call him. And working is better than sitting on my hands or hiding my phone in another room.

To my surprise, Dylan turns up at three in the afternoon with a grin on his face and love bites up his neck.

“Well, look at you. You’re fuck-drunk.” I laugh and let him in.

“One of us had to get their end away, and after you skedaddled like a scolded cat, I didn’t want to let down the side.” He flops down on my sofa and throws his feet onto the wide footstool in front of him. “Want to tell me about all the shit between you and the grumpy ginger?”

I drop down next to him and copy his action with my feet. “He’s not ginger. He’s red, and there’s not much to tell. I fancy the pants off him, and he doesn’t like me very much. Even though I brought him a ‘please like me’ gift in the coffee shop every day last week, he hasn’t called me.”

“He works in a coffee shop? That’s not the same guy, then. That guy’s a writer.”

“His name is Lando, and I didn’t say he worked there. I said that’s where he goes every day. And I don’t think he’s grumpy. More that he’s afraid to trust my intentions. I’m going to have to pull out all the Hesketh charm to win him over.” I grin. “Or at least take him out a couple of times to see if we have a chance of anything.”

“Finally.” Dylan claps his hands. “It’s about time too. God, your balls must have shrivelled up and died after all this time. Do you remember what to do?”

“Enough about me. Fill me in on all the gory details of how you got all those marks on your neck. You look like you’ve been mauled by a vampire.”

“He sure could suck.”