Page 29 of Survival Game

Kyle toyed with his glass.

“You are not with anyone here tonight?” Louis glanced idly around the busy venue.

Kyle shook his head. “No, the man I’m seeing—or was seeing—disappeared without saying goodbye. I’m on my own.”

Shit, way to bear your soul to a stranger, arsehole.

And it wasn’t quite true. A week ago Kyle had received a text from Eric saying, “Sorry, forgot to mention I was going away. Will catch up with you when I get back.” Then there’d been another text with a photo of a shirtless Eric—looking goddamned tanned and sexy—smiling next to some big-breasted blonde woman in a bikini with the caption “Wish you were here.”

Kyle hadn’t liked that text one little bit. Not the woman bit anyway.

Louis’s eyes brightened. “Were seeing? So, you aren’t together anymore? I stand a chance?” He had an amused and kind face, and Kyle thought he could really like this man and his gentle demeanour.

He shrugged. “I’m not sure. I thought maybe I scared him away somehow.” His tone was wistful.

Louis leaned in. “You like this man very much. He is special to you, yes?”

Kyle started to say no then shut his mouth. He sighed. “I think he could be.”

Louis stared at him. “Then I shall not hit on another man’s significant other until I am sure there are no emotional attachments. Your man does not know how lucky he is to have you.”

Kyle looked down at his empty glass. He wasn’t used to compliments. Quite the contrary.

Faggot. Dirty sinner. Cocktease. Mario’s hissed words echoed in Kyle’s head.

The waitress arrived with their drinks and Louis took them, and offered one to Kyle. “We shall drink as friends and I will sit here hoping that the next time I see you, you are truly alone.” He raised his drink. “But somehow I think I am not going to be that fortunate. Cheers.” He raised his drink and Kyle clinked his own against the glass.

“Thanks,” Kyle said softly. “You seem like a decent bloke. Maybe under different circumstances…”

Louis chuckled. “I won’t hold my breath. But it is nice to know.”

They drank in comfortable silence.

“I used to work in a casino in Las Vegas,” Kyle finally broke the silence. “Much bigger than this one. I did that”—he gestured over to the croupier dealing cards—“along with working the bar sometimes, handling the cash and the back office. It was a lot of fun but your time is never your own. I think I used to get three to four hours a day to myself, max, because of the shifts I worked.”

Louis leaned forward curiously. “Las Vegas? That must have been incredible. Why are you here now then instead of there? If I were still a gambler, I would never leave such a place.” He made a moue then gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “I would probably die there, either from forgetting to eat, or drinking too much while I play the tables. Or some mobster would decide I owe him money and to teach me a lesson.” His face darkened and Kyle saw the shadow in his eyes. “Vegas is not the right place for me.”

“I saw those men,” Kyle admitted. “The ones with a fever in their eyes and hunger in the bellies to spin yet another wheel or pull another slot machine, or turn over another hand of cards. It’s an addiction that’s tough to resist.”

Louis nodded. “I understand it well. I was one of them. But when I realised how badly I let it control my life, I joined Gamblers Anonymous and it has been four years since I played a table, or held a deck of cards.”

Kyle’s eyes widened. “Then why come to a place like this? Isn’t the temptation too great?”

Louis laughed. “That’s like asking a man who has given up drinking whether he can walk into a pub without succumbing. No, I choose to remind myself of how I ruined my life the first time around by coming in here. It tells me what I have achieved so far has been worth it.” He flashed a grin at Kyle. “And it allows me to make new friends.”

They clicked glasses again.

“You never did answer my original question about why you left there,” Louis said musingly. “If you do not wish to say, then please, tell me to mind my own business.”

Kyle had no intention of telling anyone why he’d left. Instead he shrugged and put on a blank face. “I got tired of the glitz and glamour and never having any time to myself. I moved back to the U.K. to have an easier life, and I love it here. I’m settled now.”

“I see.” Louis nodded thoughtfully. “Then we shall leave that as the explanation.”

Louis knew there was more to Kyle’s leaving than that. Damn, the man was perceptive.

Kyle’s mobile vibrated in his pocket and he smiled apologetically. “Let me just get this. It’s probably my friend Lucinda. She was going to meet me here after her night out.”

He checked the voice message on his phone. Sure enough, it was from Luce. “Hey, London, I’m not gonna make it.” Her voice was slurred yet happy. “I met up with this sexy lady who wants to fly me to Paris—don’t worry, I know her, she’s no stranger—so we’re on our way to the airfield now.” She giggled. “Oops, sorry, Lanie. Didn’t mean to spill my drink on you.” There was a soft murmur and Luce burst into a peal of laughter. “Wow, that’s just, I don’t know what to say. Maybe wait until we’re on the plane instead of the taxi?”