24
CHRIS
"Do you remember when we first met Conner?" Tom asked as he strolled into the kitchen. "I liked him instantly, although I worried he might break Lee's heart, at first."
Chris looked up. "I remember the day clearly. It was that garden party last summer. Eight months ago. We were all single back then. Now, they're married and you've hooked up with one of their coworkers." Chris didn't think about that day often but as he hadn't so much as hooked up with anyone since, he could still remember the significant day in the life of his friends was also the day one man got away. "Are you okay, Tom?"
Tom stood aimlessly staring out of the rear window. "I know it's too late to worry about whether I've done the right thing, Chris, But I'm worried about whether I've done the right thing." He placed his mobile phone on the kitchen table.
Having shared a house with Tom for over three years and a close friendship for more than ten, Chris knew exactly what concerned Tom. He'd played a key role in bringing together Lee's friends for a surprise party, organised by Connor's family, to be held later that day. Lee and Connor knew nothing about the party, which was to celebrate their wedding held in February, four months earlier. And almost everyone they knew was invited.
To say the wedding had been a small affair would be an understatement. It was held in secret at a romantic location, with only three guests present. At that time the men were not out to Connor's family or their work colleagues in the construction industry. In stark contrast, Tom happened to know hundreds of guests were expected today. Not just Lee and Connor's friends, but Connor's extended family, work colleagues with their plus ones, and just about everybody who knew the couple.
Chris replied, "It really is too late to think about that now. I'm sure Lee'll be happy, and I know Connor'll be delighted."
"Absolutely. It's the sort of thing Connor would love. All the attention on him. A massive surprise. Something organised in secret." Tom filled the kettle at the sink, flicked the switch, and stood next to it. "Perhaps it's something genetic that runs in his family."
"Like father like son," Chris agreed. "Connor's dad organised this; you can't take the blame, Tom. You just made sure the gay contingent is well represented, the friends they've got outside of work. I suppose I should get ready soon." Despite it being afternoon, not long out of bed, Chris sat at his kitchen table in chequered cotton pyjamas. He pushed away the empty glass that was once filled with orange juice. On his plate, his second slice of fruit cake. It looked as appetising as the first, which he'd just eaten while Tom was upstairs.
"You had an afternoon nap?"
"Yeah, since ten this morning. I've not been sleeping well at night. And I could certainly do with more coffee if that's what you're making."
Responding to the prompt, Tom took out the packet of ground coffee beans from the airtight container and placed a few generous spoonfuls into the cafétiere. "This will perk you up. It will be good for you to spend some time socialising away from the world of art and not working in the studio."
"You know how I get. I have a major exhibition in just a few weeks." Panic mode.
Tom nodded. "And I'm sure you are ready for it."
"There are a few loose ends that are giving me some stress. I don't know how to get my stuff up there, for a start. The haulage company that I've used before can't do it, they were booked but have cancelled. Connor's offered his company vehicles and manpower, but that'd be the last resort. They aren't haulage experts."
"I understand. They are used to handling scaffold equipment, which doesn't break. Not your delicate equipment."
"Precisely."
"You should put the same effort into your social life. By which I actually mean romantic life or lack thereof." The click of the kettle interrupted any further lecture Tom was about to give. He turned, poured the boiling water on the ground coffee, and gave it a stir.
"Steph has been trying to set me up again. She was appalled to hear that I am going to this do with you."
With a huff, Tom put the lid on the brewing beverage. He turned. "Am I not good enough?"
"Not now that you're spoken for. She says you should be going with your boyfriend and I should have a new man on my arm too."
"It may be a huge party, but it's very casual, not formal. We'll meet Ben there. And hopefully, find you a scaffolder of your own. That would please Steph."
Since Connor and Lee's universal outing, a couple of weeks after their wedding, Tom had been swept up in a love-at-first-sight, whirlwind romance. The object of his affection was another scaffolder.
Ben, Lee, and Connor were all employed by Sky High Scaffolds and had worked in the macho, male-dominated construction industry for their entire adult lives. An unfortunate set of circumstances had outed Lee and Connor at the beginning of March.
There was a knock-on effect that was fortuitous for Tom, because it was only through the revelation that Connor and Lee were a couple who had married in secret that Tom met Ben.
"I'm not looking for a boyfriend just to please the artists who share the studio," Chris protested.
"Just as well. As you're not likely to get one dressed like that on a Saturday afternoon," Tom muttered.
"It feels weird getting ready for a party that is so big, is organised by a stranger, and has no printed invitations." Chris took a bite of fruit cake.
"Smart move, if you ask me. Someone was bound to leave it where Connor or Lee could see it." Tom placed two mugs on the table, along with milk from the fridge and the pot of coffee. He pulled out a seat, sat down, and proceeded to pour the coffee.
"You are the only person who's told me about this party and told me it's casual. But look at you all dressed up in your best suit already."
"The one thing you do know about me: I don't have a huge collection of clothes to choose from. This suit seemed the best bet. And I've got my own reason to dress up and celebrate."
Chris slapped his hand down on the table. "I thought there was something different about you. Don't tell me Ben asked you to marry him."
Tom squealed and placed his hands dramatically on his cheeks. "That would be amazing, and I'd say yes in a heartbeat. It would also be ridiculous, though, since we've only known each other two minutes. No, I've been reconnecting with my old network, letting them know I'm available for acting work, and I've been invited for an audition. Lance is the casting director, and he says the character could have been written for me and the part is as good as mine."
Pleased to see Tom returning to the man he once was, before the last three years of disaster and depression brought him down, Chris could've screamed and danced around the kitchen. He remained calm as it was only an audition and he bit into another mouthful of cake.
"It's a household name, a long-running series. A bad guy who's going to come in and shake everything up. It's perfect. I'll be able to afford plenty of new clothes."
"That's brilliant news. Does Ben know?"
"He knows I'm looking for acting roles, but he doesn't know this news. Lance only just called me this morning. Ben is spending some quality time with Benji before his mom collects him. She's having Benji for the weekend, and I will have Ben to myself."
"So you sure it's not a strict shirt and tie event where everyone is supposed to be part of a couple?"
"The only requirement is that we get there before Lee and Connor so that we are ready to shout surprise and see the looks of surprise, or horror, on their faces."
Chris laughed. "Take it back a few months, and I think it would have been horror on Lee's face. From what he'd said over the years, he thought coming out at work was just about the worst thing that could happen to him."
"And it's been no problem at all. Not for Ben either, since he was so abruptly outed."