Chapter 2

Ian flushed the toilet and washed his hands, his eyes cast down to avoid the mirror. “You never know.”

Ian lived five blocks from the nightclub district. His was a convenient place for pre-club drinks. The neighbourhood could be rough, but generally it was safe enough to walk to and from the club along the main road at any time of the night.

“I hope Alice is there,” said Zack as they left Ian’s house.

“Ecstasy Alice?”

“Yeah. I’m in the mood for one.” He looked at Ian. “What about you? Game enough to try one yet?”

“Can’t afford it,” said Ian as they headed off. “And don’t want to.”

Zack snorted. “I don’t know what your problem is. You’d love it.”

“I don’t need it. I’m happy with alcohol.”

“You know that’s a drug, too. Does more damage than ecstasy.”

“Don’t care. I can control myself on alcohol.”

“I can control myself on ecstasy.”

Ian pulled a face. “Really? Have you seen yourself on E? You grind your teeth so much, I’m amazed you don’t dislocate your jaw. Anyway,” he said, changing the topic, “what are you gonna do if Robert shows up?”

Zack’s response lasted the time it took them to reach Zenith, by which time all talk of drug-taking had been forgotten.

“Ah, look,” said Zack. “The queue isn’t too long.”

“Thank God,” said Ian as a pair of drunk girls walked past, one of them knocking into him

“Oh, no need to apologise!” he called after them.

The girls erupted into giggles and turned the corner.

Ian and Zack joined the back of the queue and Zack shouted a couple of hellos to people further along that he knew. The two men in front, burly men in leather and beards, turned and looked at Zack, who raised an eyebrow as if to ask “What?”

Sometimes Ian couldn’t help but admire the courage good looks gave a person. What it must be like.

Thankfully, it was a fast-moving line, which soon had them inside where the darkness was showered with shards of coloured light and the music boomed, obliterating the sound of shouted conversations.

“Drinks?”

Ian nodded.

They went to the bar where shirtless hunks, hired for their looks and bodies rather than any skills, milled about, preparing for the crush that was probably half an hour away.

Dominic was Italian and had the largest, furriest pecs Ian had ever seen. It was impossible for him to look at those well-sculpted orbs of man flesh without fantasising about how they would feel up against his own naked body.

“Two wines?” he asked.

Zack nodded and turned to Ian. “I’ll get these. You get the next ones.”

Ian nodded back and scanned the room, leaving Zack to flirt with Dominic. Ever since they had shared a kiss in the men’s room, three months ago, Zack had thought he was in with a chance. Ian, however, doubted it. Zack and Dominic had both been on ecstasy, and while Zack did have his charms, he was aiming too high.

Dominic handed Zack their drinks without a smile or any other indication that there was any sort of bond between them.

“He’s such an arsehole.” Zack took a sip of his drink and led Ian to a spot on the far side of the club. “Shit, now I need to go to the lav. Hold my drink,” said Zack, thrusting his glass of wine into Ian’s hand.

“Like I have a choice,” he mumbled.

There was nothing quite like the energy inside a nightclub. Everyone was there for a good time. The men dancing with their shirts off, their gym-honed bodies on full display. The girls sipping their vodka breezers in twos and threes amongst the crowd of men. And the drag queens dotted around the club, surrounded by their contingent of pale-faced twinks.

Over by the cloak room stood a man Ian had never noticed before. A man who was already looking at him when their eyes met. At first, Ian glanced away. Coincidence, he told himself. But curiosity compelled him to confirm his theory and so he turned to face the man once more. Sure enough, the man was still looking at him. And smiling. Flattered, Ian smiled back.

“Who are you looking at?” asked Zack, returning from the toilet. “Got my drink?”

Ian handed him his wine.

“Who’s that?” asked Zack, smiling at the man.

Ian’s heart sank. If it came down to a competition between Zack and him, Zack would win, as he did all the time. Ian’s only hope was bluff. “Who?”

“The man you were making eyes at. Him, over there.”

Ian shrugged. “I don’t know. I wasn’t looking at him.”

“Who were you looking at then? That old nana next to him?”

Ian sipped his drink, doing his best to throw Zack off the scent. “I don’t know what you’re on about.”

A wicked smile appeared on Zack’s face. “Then you won’t mind if I go and talk to him.”

As Zack went to move off, Ian grabbed his arm. “Zack, please don’t. I saw him first.”

Zack laughed and jerked his arm free. “Let the games begin then.”

The man by the cloak room glanced at him once more before directing his attention at Zack, who was now standing with his back to Ian.