A Bar Tender Tale (14 page)

“But Sunday evening is my only time off, apart from Monday daytime, which
you’re
working.”

“I’m sure we can sort something out the next week.” A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
124

Next week!

“All right,” Nathan said. He tried his best to remain calm while suggesting, “Why don’t you come in now? I was gonna watch a film to unwind. You haven’t seen
House of 1000

Corpses
yet, have you?”

“Er….” Auryn blinked at him. “No. I mean, yes, I
have
seen it but….”

“But what?”

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea, Nathan. It’s been a long night—”

“Okay, don’t worry,” Nathan said quickly. “Bye.” He stepped inside and carefully shut his door. Auryn didn’t stop him.

Well, that was that then.

At least he’d tried. Nathan drew in a shaky breath and hurried down his hallway, bustling with his keys to get in his own door. Thank fuck he had some rum inside. Although the only cola he had was probably flat, but he’d live with that.

He needed a goddamn drink… or several.

He let himself into his bedsit, closed the door and leaned against it. In the dark he took a few deep breaths while he contemplated what to do next. Tonight had been the shittiest night in… well, forever! Maybe it wasn’t too late to emigrate?

Nathan’s thoughts were interrupted as he heard footsteps echoing from outside in the hallway. Could be one of his neighbors; there were three other doors along there.

But the footsteps came to a stop right outside his door.

A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
125

Shit!
Nathan thought, what
now
? Was it the loopy old man from flat one? Damn his door for not having a peephole!

A soft knock on the door made Nathan jump.

“Nathan?”

Auryn?
Nathan’s heart began thumping earnestly. He blinked a few times in the dark. What should he do? He quickly put his keys away in his pocket and shrugged off his jacket. He tried to hang it up on a peg but missed, and it fell to the floor. He barely noticed.

Nathan took one breath to calm himself, then slowly opened the door halfway. Auryn was standing there, waiting.

Those dark eyes found his, and Nathan had never felt more relieved to see anybody as he did right now.

Assuming this was a good thing, of course.

His hopes had already started soaring; he couldn’t help it. He waited for Auryn to say something. After a long moment the man looked away. He appeared to be nervous.

“Um, well… we’ve been
here
before,” he started. Nathan frowned slightly in confusion.

“Nathan,” Auryn said, holding his hands out as if trying to pluck the words from the air. “I….” A wry smile appeared on his lips then vanished just as quickly. “I feel like I’ve upset you again.”

Hm,
Nathan thought.
Déjà vu
. His patience for beating around bushes was thin tonight. Heart still thumping away, he answered as calmly as possible.

“Honestly, Auryn? Yes, you have.”

Auryn looked at him, seemingly surprised. His arms dropped down by his sides.

A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
126

“Right,” he said. “Um… why is that?”

Nathan resisted the urge to beat his fists on the man’s broad chest.
Breathe in
, he thought.
Breathe out…
. “Look,” he replied, “as I’m sure you’re well aware, I’ve had a pretty shit night. I don’t care if you don’t want to watch a movie with me—”

I do care!

“—but like I said before, I wanted someone to spend time with me, and y’know, you’re kinda giving me the impression that you… don’t.”

Those dark eyes dropped down as Auryn looked away.

Was he thinking of an answer, Nathan wondered, or an excuse?

“I do want to spend time with you,” Auryn said softly.

“Right.” Nathan still tried to keep his voice steady. “But this is the second time I’ve invited you in and you’ve said no.

Fair enough, the first time I was roaring drunk, and I’m sorry about that, but what is it
this
time?”

“I… um….” Auryn ran a hand through his hair, mussing up those black waves. It wasn’t helping Nathan’s resolve; his fingers were itching to do the same thing with the man’s hair.

“What?” Nathan sighed.

“I just… didn’t want to rush.”

“This is hardly rushing,” Nathan replied. “Maybe you should give me a time frame of what you think is acceptable?”

“Nathan—”

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Melanie Tushmore
127

“Because that would make things a lot clearer!”
Oh boy.
He hadn’t meant to raise his voice. Auryn looked a little startled.

Nathan quickly calmed down and said quietly, “I’m sorry, okay? I’m in a crap mood. I’m sorry, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He took a step back, about to close his door. To his surprise Auryn stepped forward, as if he were about to come inside. Nathan blinked up at him.

“I don’t want to leave it like this,” Auryn said.

Nathan only took a moment to consider, then he shoved his door open as wide as it would go and pointed inside.

“Then get your Welsh butt in here, before I lose my rag.” Auryn darted a glance at him. The beginnings of a smile were tugging at his mouth.

“All right,” he said, carefully stepping through the door.

“We’ll just watch a film, but that’s it.” Once Auryn was inside, Nathan quickly shut the door, allowing the darkness to envelop them so his sly smile went unseen.

“Oh,
of course
.”

A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
128

Chapter 6

“UM, IT’S a bit dark, Nathan?”

Nathan snorted a laugh. “Yeah, hang on, I haven’t turned any lights on yet. Stay there, and don’t move or you’ll walk into something. It’s a bit… er, cozy.” He moved forward in the dark, demonstrating his own warning by bashing his elbow on a shelf. Nathan swore but continued on into his main room. No way was he turning on the main lights. Oh no, this situation called for mood lighting.

Carefully navigating his way forward, he also forgot about the laundry hanging up on its drying stand until he walked into it. “God’s sake,” he muttered, edging around the laundry and fumbling for his TV. When his hands found the TV, he located the power button and switched it on. The screen flashed blue, bright, and near blinded him. Nathan squinted and bent down to fiddle with his DVD player, hurriedly putting a disc into the slot and hitting play. As the DVD whirred to life and the screen flashed through the opening trailers, Nathan grabbed his laundry stand and tried to fold it down. The damn thing wouldn’t cooperate.

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” he hissed under his breath.

“Having some trouble?”

Nathan looked over at the door. Auryn had found his way through the gloom and was watching him with a smile on his face, bathed in the flashing glow from the TV.

A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
129

“No,” Nathan quipped. “I always wrestle with the laundry. Don’t you?”

“I’ll give you a hand,” Auryn said.

I want more than a hand
. Nathan smiled back at him.

“Why, thank you. Don’t trip over anything. I did actually tidy up for you, though.”

“For me?” Auryn neared him and took hold of the laundry stand. “I’m touched.”

Nathan laughed, numerous flirty comebacks on the tip of his tongue, but he left it for now.

Auryn dismantled the stand with ease. Nathan thanked him and propped it against the wall. Without the clothes in the way, the flat-screen TV could be seen in all its glory.

“Nice set,” Auryn commented.

“Yes, it’s my baby.” Nathan handed him the DVD and TV remotes. “Now, do me a favor and start the film. Take a seat.” He gestured with a wave of his hand towards the futon, currently sitting in its upright position. Like a good boy, Auryn did as he was told. Nathan turned away, mostly to hide his smirk, and also to face his kitchenette.

“You want a rum?” he called over his shoulder. “It’s all I got.”

“What, neat?”

“No.” Nathan laughed. “I've got Coke.”
Or flat,
supermarket brand cola anyway.

“Okay,” Auryn relented. “Just a small one.”

“No problem.” Nathan took out two glasses and loaded them with ice, mixing up the drinks.

A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
130

Auryn was currently skipping through the various trailers to get to the film. Nathan spun round, brandishing the drinks. As he neared the futon, he smiled at Auryn, then glanced down to the floor. Spying his plug sockets on the lower wall, Nathan balanced on one foot and used the other to kick on one of the switches. After the third attempt it worked, and a mixture of soft green and orange light joined the glow of the TV.

Auryn glanced above them at the source of the light; a collection of Halloween themed fairy lights were draped around the walls. Pumpkins and ghosts hung next to monsters and little bats with toothy grins.

“Very cute, Nathan,” Auryn chuckled. “What are the green ones?”

Nathan smiled as he sat down next to Auryn. “Not sure,” he replied, handing the man his drink. “Think they’re supposed to be Frankenstein heads, but they just look like generic zombies or something.”

“Hmm.” Auryn took his drink and held it absently as he gazed around. “I was kinda expecting your place to be like this.”

Nathan took a glance around his nest. Any flat surface available had a collection of B-movie inspired memorabilia and toys on it, while the walls were covered haphazardly in posters for various films and punk rock bands.

“Hmm.” Nathan shrugged. “You mean your place isn’t?”

“Um… well, I haven’t really unpacked yet,” Auryn explained. “I have a few collections boxed away. I guess I A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
131

could put them up now. My ex wasn’t really keen on any of it.”

“Oh.” Nathan was surprised. “Well yeah, now you can put up what you like.” He gestured at the room with a sweep of his hand. “And you too can live in what amounts to a teenage nerd’s bedroom.”

Auryn laughed. “I like it. I could never decorate this well. Certainly makes the right setting to watch scary movies in.”

“Definitely!” Nathan agreed. “I’ll drink to that. Start the film, then.” He took a large gulp of his drink as Auryn obediently selected start. Nathan grabbed the TV remote and turned up the volume to a satisfying level.

House of 1000 Corpses
started with one of Nathan’s all-time favorite scenes, and he intended to watch it. He settled into the futon, sitting close but not overly close to Auryn.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Auryn take a sip of his drink.

“Oh, I like it strong, by the way,” Nathan said innocently. He tipped his head to gulp down more of his own drink. When he looked back to the TV, he tried to ignore Auryn giving him a look.

“I’ll say, Nathan. I could probably get drunk on one sip of this.”

“You want me to make it weaker?” Nathan replied, pressing his lips together so he wouldn’t smile.

Auryn smiled and shook his head slightly. “No, it’s fine.” Nathan couldn’t help smiling as well when he saw Auryn take another sip.

A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
132

“Let’s watch the film, shall we?” Auryn said.

“That’s what
I’m
trying to do,” Nathan settled back down.

Little did Auryn know, Nathan was only interested in the first scene. It was like the opener before the film really started. They’d both seen it before anyway, and Nathan happened to watch this film on a regular basis. He could probably quote it word for word. Patiently, he sat still and sipped his drink, watching and only offering the odd comment.

“I love Captain Spaulding.”

“Hm,” Auryn replied. “He creeps me out.” Nathan almost choked on his drink. Laughing, he set it aside. “But he rocks! He has all the best lines too.”

“He’s great, but he still creeps me out.”

“Not a fan of clowns?” Nathan teased.

“Not really.”

“Better behave yourself then, or I’ll put on
IT
.” They chuckled as the scene played out. Nathan enjoyed their banter and almost wished they could watch the whole film… but he really couldn’t wait much longer.

After the scene ended the credits started to roll with the opening song. As the grinding beat and dirty guitar licks filled the air Nathan’s heart started to pound hard. He sneaked a discreet look at Auryn, who was eyes front watching the TV. Nathan weighed up whether what he planned to do was a good idea.

Oh hell, of course it is!

A Bar Tender Tale |
Melanie Tushmore
133

Nathan made his decision. With one fluid move he launched across and swung his leg over Auryn. The drink was knocked out of Auryn’s hand and went flying.

“Shit! Nathan—”

Nathan straddled Auryn’s lap, sliding his weight onto him. He briefly glanced at the drink on the floor as it spread over the carpet. “Oops,” he said, biting his lip. He nervously looked back at Auryn, worried he had upset him.

But a smile broke over the man’s face. “Smooth,” he said.

Nathan couldn’t help a chuckle. “Well, you know me.”

“Yes, I think I do.”

“Oh? That's good, then.”

Encouraged, Nathan relaxed himself into Auryn’s lap. It was a more than satisfying seat, and the feel of his rapidly hardening cock resting on the man’s groin was pure heaven.