8. Sparks

Edwin jumps to say yes when Caroline asks him if he's up for another night at Bonaparte. Everything is better with other people and now that he lives alone, he has to go out for company. It is also an excellent opportunity to see Caroline again. She's been over a few times and he has been to hers, but the past weeks, she's been too busy with a project at work.

The night is colder than in May and under his jacket, Edwin has dressed in a thick, woollen jumper and his usual brown trousers. "You're hiding all your assets!" Caroline exclaims when she sees him. She's wearing a coat and a knee-length dress, her legs clad in skin-coloured nylons.

"I'm not here to hook up," Edwin grumbles. How would he pick up a guy here? They were all so confident, so experienced. No one seemed out of place except him. No, he's not going home with a stranger tonight and he's not gonna risk one of his new friendships for emotional comfort. He will have to wait for the right guy to come along.

"No, but a little flirting has never harmed anyone. You gotta practise, test the waters."

"Assuming anyone catches my eye."

"Are you that picky?" Caroline laughs and it sounds louder in the dark, despite the music from several places in the neighbourhood.

"Yeah, yeah. I know you aren't."

"And it has served me well. Just be open to whatever happens."

It is hot inside the bar and Edwin considers leaving his jumper with his jacket. Like last time, they join a table to the left of the entrance. Edwin recognises several faces, among which Eliane. He nods at her in greeting, but she's intently listening to a short, black woman and only lifts her hand.

He leans in and whispers in Caroline's ear: "I have forgotten so many names."

She chuckles. "Give me a minute and I'll help you out." She moves around the table to greet everyone with a hug or a kiss on the cheek and Edwin follows her. He's not sure if she does it on purpose, but she calls quite a few people by name and Edwin does his best to permanently stick the names to their corresponding faces.

When they've done their rounds, Caroline fills in what he missed and Edwin relaxes. Last time, he didn't get further than acquaintances, but these can be his friends as well as Caroline's. They're his people, no less than Patrick and Robert and the other men he's met.

"Should I go buy our drinks again?"

"Yes, please." Caroline shoots him a blinding smile.

Standing at the bar, he remembers the man who approached him, the knots of unease in his belly. He's nowhere to be seen now. When he returns and hands Caroline her drink, she gestures at the person next to her he hadn't noticed yet. "Remember Vincent?"

And Edwin does remember. The dark brown skin, gleaming in the dim light and the moving shadows, the dark eyes, the glittering make-up on his eyelids, the flashy clothes. The make-up is the same as last time, but he's showing less skin now, even though his clothes are still colourful and fit and feminine.

"He's here too for the evening," Caroline continues.

"Darling, I practically live here!" Vincent places a hand with several rings on her arm. "But glad to see you came back. I wouldn't have wanted to scare you off." He holds out his hand. "Edwin, wasn't it? Don't look so surprised, honey, I have manners."

Edwin grips the offered hand. Vincent's palm is dry and warm and his index finger touches the thin skin on Edwin's wrist. The spot still tingles when they let go. He's not sure what to say. Vincent disrupts his balance.

And he has no qualms about using the gap in the conversation to push. He did that in May too and Edwin wants to push back, to not fall. "You still dress like a straight man, though. You sure you don't want any fashion lessons from me? I dress people as well as I undress them." A frisson trickles down Edwin's back, anger or something else.

"Vincent!" Caroline reproaches.

He blinks at her with a seductive smirk. "I might sell accessories, but I know the main course too." Another blink, too slow to not be deliberate. It unmoors Edwin and he grapples to find steady ground under his feet.

"What do you do? As a job." The full force of Vincent's gaze lands on him and he wishes he hadn't spoken, had slipped away and joined another conversation, as awkward as that might have been when Caroline would confront him later.

"I'm a watchmaker, but I also sell jewels. Can't live on watches alone these days, when people have phones. Watches have become a jewel."

"Aren't watches much easier to know the time?"

Vincent chuckles. "I agree, but sweetie, we're relics!" He strikes a pose with his hand on his hip.

"You can't be that old." It slips out before Edwin can change the thought into a respectable "how old are you". Vincent will know he has looked.

Vincent's eyes twinkle in mirth. "I'm flattered, but I'm 42." Not that far off from his guess then.

"Vincent! So great to see you!" A person barrels into their little group of three and hugs Vincent fiercely. Edwin recognises the short hair and dangling earrings of Kim. Caroline had said they are non-binary - because that's apparently a thing - and as much as he doesn't even pretend to understand why someone would use pronouns other than he or she, he can sure try to be polite. Not like he can tell people what they feel and how they can or can't identify and what pronouns they should use, as crazy as the whole thing might be.

Kim holds Vincent at arm's length and looks him over. "I didn't know you were here! How have you been? You're looking well."

"Darling, I have never been better! How's the little rascal?"

"Growing faster than we can buy new clothes. You should visit soon. She's been begging us."

"Next Sunday? After the concert? You could bring her to listen, if it's not too overwhelming." Vincent's voice softens.

"We'll see how she feels about that. But you should absolutely come over. I'll bake your biscuits."

"You spoil me, winner of my heart. Anna and biscuits." Vincent covers his mouth with the fingers of both hands, another gesture that can hardly be spontaneous. Edwin follows the conversation with rising incredulity. Vincent playing with a child? A concert? Does he play an instrument? Vincent seems to know everyone here, but if Kim bakes his favourite biscuits, they must be special. They're his friend, his close friend.

"Concert?" he asks before second thoughts can creep in. As much as he ... dislikes the man, he can be polite and make small talk. "You play an instrument?"

"The best of all, honey. I'm a clarinettist in an amateur orchestra."

"I play the saxophone."

"Saxophone? We're instrument cousins! You keep surprising me." Before Edwin's irritation at that remark can boil over, Vincent continues: "Do you play in an orchestra or band?"

"Fanfare." Now he's sounding too curt. Vincent is only asking a polite question, making reasonable assumptions.

"Of course. I've always loved fanfare, but a clarinet has the warmth of wood that a saxophone or a trombone or - perish the thought - a trumpet don't have."

"Is that not also a matter of technique?"

"Of course it is, but I'm no prodigy and I want to be able to hear myself without stuffing my ears full."

That startles a laugh out of Edwin. "Fair, but I've heard enough clarinet to know it can grate your ears too."

Vincent lays a hand on his heart in mock indignation. "Darling, you're supposed to ignore that!"

"You know what instrument I hate when it's not played well?" Kim pipes up. "Violin. Anna's been asking for one and I can only tell her she's too young for so long."

"How old is she?" Edwin asks.

"She's five."

"You could send her to a teacher when she's six."

"Yeah, we'll do that if she still wants it then. Not risking it if it turns out to be like her pony phase."

"Pony phase? My youngest had one of those too." Ellen still keeps some of Tamara's pony drawings. They had gone to a farm that year for her birthday.

"You have children?"

"Two daughters." He can't keep the pride out of his voice.

"Two? My life is chaos with just one." Kim comically pulls up their eyebrows. Edwin decides he likes them. They are fierce and gentle and funny. They have a little flair for the dramatic, like Vincent, but milder. Edwin can appreciate it. Vincent overdoes everything.

"At times like these, I'm happy I have no children," Caroline says. "One husband is more than enough."

"Are you suggesting your husband is a child?" Vincent drawls. "Because girl, do I have news for you."

Caroline laughs. "Not quite. Because I can tell Bart to fuck off if I want quiet, but I couldn't say that to my child if they needed me."

"I liked the noise," Edwin says. "I miss hearing other people." He misses Ellen, but he misses the fullness and security of a person in another room more. Someone on his couch, someone who would make idle remarks about the TV or listen to the distillation of his day.

"Empty nest?" Kim asks.

Edwin nods. "All grown up. And I moved out of our house, so I'm truly on my own."

"That's tough. You can have as many friends as you want, but it's not the same as people living with you."

"I've been going out more for that reason. New friends and all that."

"Excellent decision." Kim squeezes his shoulder. Their firm grip grounds Edwin. "And since you're here, I assume you know queer friends are the best friends."

Caroline laughs. "We're working on that."

"And you're doing a great job." Vincent smiles. "In May you looked like I might eat you alive. Not that I'd say no if you offered, but I like my men willing." Another slow blink. Vincent might still eat him alive, willing or not.

Kim chuckles. "Have a little mercy, you old flirt. Not everyone is used to you and your version of flirting can be a lot to swallow. No. Wait. Don't you dare. I take that back." Oh. The double entendre dawns too slowly and too quickly at once. Immediately, the bar seems hotter.

"Only for you," Vincent says. His gaze rests on Edwin, who resists the urge to squirm.

"Anyway," Kim draws their attention, "as much as I'd like to stay and talk, I really gotta say hi to Olivia before she escapes my claws. It was nice to meet you." They smile at Edwin, wave with their fingers and are already turning away. "Take care, everyone." For Vincent, she adds: "I'll text you. Don't be too awesome."

"Darling, you're asking for the impossible, but I'll try."

"You better!" Kim disappears in the crowd with another wave.

***

Author's Note: Just to be clear, I don't share Edwin's views on non-binary people and they/them pronouns, but he's got a bit of a boomer mentality.

I'm recommending another two novellas this week! Both of these are lighthearted romances and complete, so perfect for a binge-read while you are waiting for the next update. First, we've got Where there's a Will, there's a Tiara by solorzanowriter.

Adelaide's parents' accidental death should have been the worst part, but their last wish has left her reeling. Proving her responsibility grows increasingly difficult with her facetious grandmother, a very forward carpenter, and the man she's engaged to all vying for her attention.

Secondly, check out It Tastes Like it Sounds by _coffeewithhoney (which used to be called One More Cup of Coffee)!

An autistic barista learns to communicate with a reserved pianist when their life is predicted by the musical selection the man performs.

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top