Read Online Waiting for a Prince by K. C. Wells - Free Book Online

that’s fine. I’ll meet you there at seven.”
    “Fantastic.” There was no escaping the note of relief in Sam’s voice. “See you then.”
    Sam hung up.
    Mark pulled off the earbuds and stuffed them into his pocket. Despite the logical part of
    his brain yelling at him that this was going nowhere, he couldn’t fight off the warm feeling
    which coursed through him at the thought of seeing Sam.
    Fuck, he had it bad.
    42

Chapter Five
    Mark was having a good time. Well, he would have been having a great time, but for the
    worrying feeling that had prodded him continually.
    Wetherspoons was packed. They’d been able to grab a booth to the rear of the bar, a
    great vantage point from which to see everything happening. He and Sam chatted about films
    and music, and it had been great to discover they both loved Steven Spielberg’s movies. The
    conversation was light and amusing, and yet Mark was constantly aware of an undercurrent. He
    caught it in Sam’s facial expressions, his tone of voice—something never fully seen but only
    glimpsed now and again. But as the evening wore on and Sam made no mention of whatever
    was on his mind, Mark decided that maybe he’d got it wrong after all. His mind was playing
    tricks on him.
    It wasn’t until after Mark had bought the third round that he plucked up the courage to
    ask the question that had been on the tip of his tongue all night.
    “Why do you put up with her?” he blurted out. His heart sank as Sam froze
    momentarily. Subtle, Mark, really subtle . Mark kicked himself.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sam wouldn’t meet his gaze but stared
    resolutely into his pint glass. Mark wasn’t backing down though, not this time. The alcohol
    might have had something to do with that.
    “Sam, mate, it’s obvious you’re not happy with Becky. So why do you stay with her?
    You two haven’t been going out for that long.”
    Sam’s jaw tightened. “Look, I really don’t want to talk about this right now, okay?”
    Mark stuck out his chin. “See, you say that, but I keep getting this weird feeling that you want to tell me something. And I think it has something to do with Becky.” He leveled a
    forthright stare at Sam. “So tell me I’m wrong.”
    Sam regarded him with an expression bordering on panic. There was no question of it.
    Mark backpedaled quickly. He held up his hands. “All right, all right, I’m sorry. Let’s
    change the subject.”
    “Good idea,” Sam mumbled as he got up from his seat in the corner of the crowded bar.
    “It’s my turn to get the drinks in. Same again?”
    43
    Mark nodded and watched as Sam edged his way through the tightly packed crowd
    which had gathered at the bar. It was warm tonight and the huge front window of the bar had
    been opened up to let in the night air. Mark stared glumly at the table, where the empty bowl
    stood from the chips they’d shared earlier. Way to go, Mark . He cursed himself for putting his foot in it. Why couldn’t you just leave it alone ? That was it. Once Sam returned to the table, Mark was going to bring the conversation back to lighter topics. He only hoped his outburst
    hadn’t soured the mood for the rest of their evening together.

    * * * * * * * * * *
“So when did you first know you were gay?” Sam’s words were less distinct now. That
    probably had something to do with the amount of beers he’d consumed in the last three hours.
    He wasn’t at the slurring stage yet, but Mark could tell he was trying to speak more
    deliberately. His earlier mood appeared to have been forgotten, much to Mark’s relief.
    Mark chortled. “You’re pissed.” Not that he wasn’t in the same state.
    Sam’s eyebrows shot up. “Am not!” he exclaimed indignantly. He gave Mark a wicked
    grin that made his knees go weak. “Anyway, answer the question.” He leaned forward and put
    his elbows on the table, resting his chin in his hands, staring at Mark in rapt attention. “I’m all ears.”