OUT

Chapter 24

Saturday, December 6th 2014

'Are you OK? Are you drunk?'

'Yeah, I'm bananas!' Jack replied with a laugh.

'It's three o'clock.'

'I just came from bottomless brunch,' Jack said, as he stepped into a stranger's house.

'Wow, hold up,' the man protested, 'how drunk are you?'

'I know what I'm doing, if that's what you mean? Relax.'

Jack stepped into the entrance of the old Georgian house. He was just off Camden Street. The hallway was massive, with ceilings taller than Jack had ever seen. A huge chandelier hung in the entrance hallway, and just inside the doorway was a coat rack with lots of wax hunting coats in different shades of green and brown. Underneath them, was a basket full of walking sticks and Jack was pretty sure he spotted a sword. This man was minted.

'What's your name?' he asked.

'Eoghan,' Jack lied.

'Rob, nice to meet you.'

The man was handsome, probably mid forties, but Jack couldn't really tell. He was broad, but muscly, with a thick head of browny-grey hair which receded a little into a widow's peak and his skin was relatively wrinkle free. He had well groomed stubble that highlighted his massive jaw. His biceps were choked by the sleeves of his t-shirt; they were massive. He wore a pair of Levi jeans that made his ass look quite peachy. He was in great shape for someone his age. He kind of looked like a porn star.

'Do you want a glass of water?'

Jack nodded, 'probably a good idea.'

He led Jack into a ginormous kitchen, with an island bigger than Jack's bedroom in the centre of it. The fridge was twice as big as anything he had ever seen and the Agga beside it was massive too. Everything was so grand. The room engulfed the pair of them. A sitting room adjoined the kitchen, and there was a grand piano in one corner and another chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Everywhere he looked, there was something else to marvel at and so his eyes didn't know where to fall. This man was rich, rich.

'Here.' Jack took the glass from him and downed it in one. The water tasted like gold. He didn't realise until now how dehydrated he was. He turned, poured himself a second glass and downed that one too. Then he felt the man press his chest against Jack's back, and gently began kissing his neck. Jack lolled his head backwards slightly and rested it on the man's shoulder blade, opening up his neck more. His hands explored Jack's stomach, and slowly pulled off his t-shirt and he let him. Jack turned to face him and helped the man take off his own t-shirt, getting a whiff of cologne as he was pulled closer.

'You're hot,' he said, and Jack smiled.

The man's body looked photoshopped. He was in better shape than anyone Jack knew and they were probably half his age. He had visible abs, and as he was pulled in for a kiss, his arms rested on the man's pecs which were rock solid.

'Jesus, you're in some nick,' said Jack as the man alternated between kissing him and kissing his neck.

'You're in fairly good shape yourself. Grab your t-shirt, let's go upstairs.'

He led Jack up the first flight of stairs. The walls were speckled with photographs of young children, no more than ten years old. He spotted a photo with three young blonde girls who all looked the same age, with the man, and a woman who had to have been this man's wife.

'Are you married?'

'It's complicated,' he responded as he led Jack up a second flight of stairs onto a third floor - the place was huge, 'but don't worry, we've an agreement.'