Read Online When Love Comes to Town by Tom Lennon - Free Book Online Page B

upsetting his admirer. It was stupid, he knew, but he felt guilty chatting to Sugar Daddy, as though he was being unfaithful to Ian. To lessen his guilt, he switched his glass into his left hand. He would be left-handed for the rest of the night, he decided and, like Jackie and Liam’s bangles, this would be the symbol of his unspoken love. If people knew, they would more than likely consider him a sad case, but they didn’t know the warmth he felt inside from this simple little gesture. He wondered what Ian would say if he knew.
    The spell was broken at precisely half past eleven when glaring bright lights were switched on to clear the pub. The anonymity of the dim lights was shattered and people shielded their eyes as they fled for the door.
    “D’you want to go clubbing?” Sugar Daddy asked.
    Neil hesitated, then he shook his head, deciding that he had taken enough chances for one night. “Nah, I better head home…Listen, thanks a lot for the drinks and all that,” he said, slightly taken aback by the plethora of wrinkles that lined the older man’s face. The harsh light did him no favors.
    Sugar Daddy waved his thanks away. “I’ll run you home, my wheels are just outside,” he said, jangling his car keys on his index finger.
    “Ah no, you’re going to Clontarf. I’ll get a taxi,” Neil lied, conscious of the slight slur in his speech.
    “It’s no problem.”
    Neil thought quickly. “I’ll tell you what, could you drop me to my cousin’s house in Blackrock?”
    “I’ll drop you home, Gary. It’ll be my pleasure, believe me.”
    “No, I’m a bit too buzzed to go home, I better stay with my cousin.”
    Sugar Daddy laughed. “Whatever you like.”
    True to form, Sugar Daddy drove a brand new BMW, and his tape rack was full of classical tapes, just like Neil’s dad’s collection. Despite strong temptation, Neil turned down the offer of a cup of coffee in Clontarf. But all the way home he kept thinking of the lure of that comfy little bachelor pad. Sugar obviously wasn’t a psycho, and he certainly wasn’t going to make unwanted demands. As the powerful car purred its way through the city, Neil had to struggle on several occasions to restrain himself from grabbing Sugar Daddy’s arm and telling him to go to Clontarf. Repulsive, maybe, but sex was sex. What harm was there in lying back on the bed, closing his eyes, and enjoying a slow, sensuous massage, all the time imagining that it was Ian’s fingers touching him. Sugar was silent, pretending to concentrate on the road in front of him, but Neil knew that he was just waiting for the horny command to do a U-turn.
    However, Becky’s words of warning were still ringing in his ears. “Whatever you do, Neil, for God’s sake be careful. Promise me that,” she had pleaded, looking deep into his eyes. And nice and all as Uncle Sugar was, he was certainly no novice. Twice around the block at least, Neil guessed, sneaking a quick look at the aging profile. Sparse graying hair, sagging chin and jowls, leathery complexion, shiny black hairs sprouting from the bulbous nostrils, a little tuft of chest hair peeping out over the collar of his casual shirt, thin spindly legs lost inside his trendy, baggy trousers. Neil couldn’t help smiling to himself; for all the talks about AIDS at school, situations like this were never mentioned. After all what would a nice little Rock boy be doing with a man as old as his dad?
    It dawned on him how much power he had over this middle-aged man; the poor fellow would have done anything for him. Ever willing to please, he wore his heart on his sleeve, awaiting the slightest whim from his new obsession. And Neil knew that he, of all people, should have been more sympathetic, but he also knew that any displays of sympathy were bound to be misconstrued by his lovelorn suitor. Instead he played the role he was well used to. The innocent that he had played so often with so many would-be girlfriends over the years. The trick