Page 21 of Survival Game

“Someone Ryan knows owns it. A guy called Gideon Kent. Apparently, he gave up cooking for a while because of an accident, but now he’s back, and his boyfriend is the head chef. Nothing like keeping it in the family.” Kyle watched Eric over the rim of his glass then asked, “How did your sister’s wedding go?”

The change of subject caught Eric off guard. “It was”—he hesitated—“a wedding. The usual palaver accompanied by a wedding dress, pomp and ceremony plus too much food and drink. My folks did Shelley well. Her husband Greg is a really great guy.” Eric grinned. “Luckily, she’s the only daughter, so they don’t have to splash out on anything for me or my younger brother, Shepherd. I’m not big on the whole being married thing and Shepherd…” He snorted. “That kid is never going to settle down. He’s in Thailand now writing his travel journal to add to the video for his YouTube channel. Next week he’s in Bangkok and God knows where he’ll go from there. He has a girl in every port and loves it.” Part of him envied Shep’s lifestyle. At twenty-four years old, the world was his oyster.

Kyle’s eyebrows rose. “Shepherd is a YouTuber? Wow. It amazes me how people make money out of that. So, you’re not into marriage?”

Eric shrugged. “Marriage is just a piece of paper. It’s the relationship and how you live your life together that matters. Don’t get me wrong, I cheered like a football fan when gay marriage was legalised in the U.K., but it’s not important to me personally.”

Despite his parents being together for over thirty years, Eric wasn’t a believer in the whole formal commitment thing. He and Lincoln had differing views on the matter, which led to a few loud arguments over the years. But now, every so often, Eric wondered if he had been stupid not to accede to Linc’s wishes. Hindsight and regret in the rear-view mirror.

Kyle took a sip of his wine, probably contemplating what Eric had said. The waiter came over and they ordered their food.

Eric couldn’t help but notice Kyle’s nails were clear tonight, no colourful varnish. They were well-maintained, oval-shaped and slightly longer than Eric had seen on a man before. He liked it. Those nails raking down his back…he shuddered. Down boy. Stop being so damned shallow. Not everything is about sex.

Although…a lot of the time it was.

“So,” Kyle drawled. “We have something else in common. Neither of us are big believers in the whole matrimonial thing.” His face darkened. “And having to get married in church or utter those awful wedding vows—that really doesn’t work for me.”

Eric nodded. “I remember you told Ryan and I once you aren’t religious. I’m not either so looks like we have that in common too.” He frowned. “You said we have something else in common. What was the other thing?”

Kyle’s eyes lit up and his mouth quirked up a little. “We both love dick,” he announced, not as quietly as Eric would have liked. Then Kyle sat back and laughed as Eric glanced around quickly to see if anyone had heard.

“Why not proclaim it to the whole restaurant?” Eric murmured, but smiled at his dinner partner. God, the man was adorable.

Kyle’s fingers grazed Eric’s, sending a shock down his arm. “Why shouldn’t we? We’re two grown gay men on a date. I won’t hide who I am.” He looked uncertain suddenly, and sat back, biting his lip. It was a most endearing gesture. “You’re not, like, in the closet or anything, are you? I mean, I don’t expect naked shagging in public, but I won’t hide the fact I’m with a man.” His voice grew fierce. “That’s pretty much a deal breaker for me.”

Eric was taken aback. “No. Hell, I’m out and fine with it. I mean, I try to watch what I do in public but it’s not like I wouldn’t hug or kiss, or hold hands with a guy, as long it’s safe.”

Kyle leaned forward and traced the blue vein in Eric’s hand. “Good. Because I’ve done that before for someone and I can’t do it again.”

Eric hadn’t missed the pain in Kyle’s tone, and once again he wondered who had hurt him. Now wasn’t the right time to ask about it.

“So, I’ve told you about my family. Tell me about yours.” Eric waved the waiter over to order more drinks. “I know you’re Jewish, non-religious and worked in Vegas as a croupier or something like that, but not much else.”

Eric watched the shutters come down over Kyle’s face. It reminded him of a veil being drawn over a bride.

“Not much to tell, really. I was born in Chicago. My parents emigrated to the U.K. when I was seven.” His fingers toyed nervously with the saltshaker. “I went back to Las Vegas in oh-eight, when I was twenty, waited to turn twenty-one then found work as a croupier-slash-cocktail waiter at The Bohemian Club Casino. That’s where I met Lucinda.” His face lit up and Eric hoped that one day he might see the same affection on Kyle’s face for him. “She’s my bestie, although we live on different continents. I’d love you to meet her while she’s here.”

He put the saltshaker down. “Then in oh-eleven I moved back to the UK and bummed around a bit. A year later I joined Club Delish. I’ve been there ever since.”

Eric nodded. “No family then?”

Kyle looked down at the table. His movements stilled. “I’m an only child. Mum and Dad moved back to Chicago seven years ago. I see them when I go back to the States.” His brow furrowed. “That would have been June last year.”

“You liked Las Vegas then? It must have been exciting, being out there with all that glam and high rollers.”

Kyle’s hands clenched on the table, scrunching his napkin into a tight wad. “It was an experience. Let’s simply say that.” He looked relieved as the food arrived. “This looks scrumptious. Smells amazing.”

Eric had a feeling the sharing portion of the evening had concluded. He guessed both of them had their secrets. You couldn’t get through your twenties without amassing some baggage. Eric had his Lincoln stuff, and Kyle…well he had something, that was for sure.

Eric was happy to wait until things were at a place that they both felt comfortable to say more. He had high hopes things would progress in that direction.

They ate in companionable silence, joking and putting the world to rights. Eric was all for paramedics being given bulletproof vests and being taught how to deal with potential bombs and explosive devices. Kyle was keen to ensure the future of nightclubs in London, given new legislation, increasing bureaucracy and the focus on shutting down clubs to make way for offices. Money talked in a loud voice in the new London.

Their conversation took them late into the night, and it was close to eleven when they both sat back, replete with coffee, and stared at each other.

Kyle cleared his throat. “I guess we should be getting on our way. The staff keeps giving us the evil eye. I think they want to close.” He laughed softly. “I know the feeling, so what do you say we take the chit-chat back to my place, have a nightcap and see what develops.”

Eric blinked. He’d never met anyone quite as direct as Kyle before.