Chapter Two #2
The memory of his walk of shame through Wagner, McKay, Berrentini, Wong, and Associates burned his cheeks, and he was glad the only light was from the kitchen inside as night closed in.
“I know, but since you up and quit the firm for apparently no reason—” Bel cut herself off. “Sorry. I sound like Dad, don’t I? It’s fine. You’re going to be fine.”
He could only imagine what their father would say. The thought of his puzzled disappointment turned Lachlan’s stomach.
“So, how was it?”
“Huh?”
Bel rolled her eyes. “Tell me about your trip to Bali!”
Images of Tim shirtless and wet filled his mind along with remembered gasps and groans. Lachlan could practically feel the heat of Tim’s bare flesh against him—in his mouth—strong arms circling him…
He managed a high-pitched laugh. “What’s to tell? You’ve been to Kuta before. Bintangs, bikinis, bogans. Hawkers on the beach selling tourist crap.”
“I’m talking about the St. Regis!”
He jerked. “How did you know I went there?”
“Claire told me.”
Claire, who was his mate Jack’s sister. “Don’t tell me Jacko was whinging about me ‘abandoning’ them. It was only one night. I’d had enough partying, and I got a great deal.”
“You don’t have to justify it to me. Mitch and I will be sticking to the quiet side of Bali for this holiday, believe me. Though we can’t quite afford the St. Regis.”
“I can’t afford the regular rate either.”
Bel laughed. “Why are you so uptight about this?”
His voice rose. “I’m not!”
“Are too,” she replied—as only a big sister could. “Look, I just wanted to get a restaurant rec. We’re staying in Nusa Dua, so I was thinking we could do dinner at the St. Regis. How was it?”
“Oh, I, uh—I just had a snack in the bar. Wasn’t really hungry.”
His face heated again as he remembered ducking underwater to swallow Tim’s cock. Thick and hard and—
“What’s up with you?” Bel sat forward, peering at him, sounding even more like a big sister.
“What? Nothing!”
“Did you do something you regret in Bali? Wouldn’t be the first, mate. Won’t be the last.”
“No,” he said automatically, taking another swig of beer.
Did he regret it? He probably should have, but he couldn’t seem to. It was done, and he’d never see Tim again.
“Okaaay. Lachie, you’re still acting weird.”
“Am not.” He focused on smiling and acting normal. “See?”
“You think I can’t tell when you’re hiding something? Spill it.”
God, sisters could be annoying. “I’m just tired. Flight was delayed this morning. I only just got back before I came over.”
During the hours at the Denpasar airport, Lachlan had roamed, telling himself it was exercise and not that he was searching for Tim at the gates of flights bound for Brisbane or any Australian city. He’d checked the Kiwi departures too.
Tim’s flight must have been first thing, since Lachlan hadn’t spotted him. That would explain too why he’d taken off the way he had the night before without a backward glance.
Sure, mate. Keep telling yourself that.
It was ludicrous to have his delicate feelings hurt over a fleeting encounter on holiday. Tim didn’t owe him anything.
“So, who was he?” Bel asked in a sing-song voice.
Lachlan huffed but couldn’t fight a genuine smile. Tim may have ditched him in the end, but for a few hours, it’d been magic.
“Ah-ha! I knew it. Go get the chips and tell me everything.”
Lachlan grabbed another beer and the honey soy chicken chip bag from the cupboard over the fridge where their parents had always kept treats. He tossed the bag to Bel before flopping back down and traced a seam on the paver with his big toe.
“It was just a hookup.”
Bel pulled the bag open with a pop. Through a mouthful, she mumbled, “And? You’ve had hookups before, right? I can only assume. But you’re acting weird.”
“I told you, I’m tired.”
“Hmm.” She offered the bag, leaning over to pass it to him. “Fine, we’ll say I believe you. Tell me more. I’m in a monogamous marriage. I need to live vicariously.” She wrinkled her nose. “Minus certain details.”
“No, no, you wanted to hear more.” He shoved chips in his mouth with a devilish grin. Through a mouthful of salty-sweet chips, he mumbled, “The orgy started out at—”
Bel threw a striped pillow at him. “Forget I asked!”
They laughed and passed the bag back and forth. Lachlan found the words were keen to pour out for a change. After fighting it for a minute, he gave in. With Mr. Bullock’s—Tim’s—name permanently redacted, what was the harm?
“He was older. Still really fit.”
“Ohh. How old are we talking?”
“Around fifty.”
Bel’s eyebrows flew up. “Wow. Not your usual type. Actually, I don’t have a clue what your type is these days since you haven’t had a boyfriend in ages.”
“Don’t start.”
She raised her hands, then wiped crumbs from them. “It’s just good to see you having fun for once.”
“I have fun.”
Bel snorted. “When? You’re usually whinging about Ryan and the boys.”
He shifted uneasily and gulped his beer. “I’m not.” Was he? “Just feels like all they want to do is party still. I’m over bush doofs and getting pissed.”
“You’re telling me you didn’t enjoy Metal Fest?”
He groaned. “It was torture. Daz was supposed to bring the tent and of course stuffed it up. It barely fit two people let alone five of us.”
“I can’t believe Darren Newman is getting married. That woman will have her hands full.”
Loyalty to his mate rose up, and Lachlan said, “He’s a great bloke, though. He’s crazy about Ella.”
“Glad to hear it. Now back to the silver fox,” Bel ordered. “You’re finally working out your daddy issues?”
He sputtered. “I do not have daddy issues!”
She tipped her head back and laughed. “Coming from the bloke who modeled his life’s plan on making our father proud.”
“I—I—” He bit back the defensive retorts that would only prove her point.
“It’s okay.” Bel shrugged. “You think I don’t have my own issues?”
“Come on. You were his favorite, and we both know it.”
She blinked, and her voice softened. “Mate. That’s not true.”
“You had perfect grades and never got in trouble partying.”
“Sure, the police never brought me home. I just didn’t get caught. As the oldest daughter, I had a reputation of responsibility to uphold. And that had its own pressure, trust me.”
“You never had any problems, though.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted everyone to think.” She patted her own back. “Mission accomplished.” Her joking tone vanished. “Mum and Dad loved us both equally. Lachie, they loved you so much.”
“I know they did. I’m not—forget I said that.”
Bel was frowning. “But is that really how you feel? That Dad liked me more?”
He sighed. “Sometimes? I had the thought as a kid. You know, those insecure moments.”
“Yeah. We all have them. And I’ll refrain from pointing out that what you’re describing is textbook daddy issues.”
He clapped slowly. “Remarkable restraint.”
“I’m sorry for always being right. Now tell me about this mysterious older man.”
He crossed his arms, not sure whether he wanted to talk about their parents or Tim less. “There’s nothing to tell. We met at the bar. You know how it is.”
“I vaguely remember. What was his name?”
“T—Todd.”
“Aussie?”
“Yeah, uh, from Brissie.” He’d been about to say Gold Coast and thought better of it, as if hundreds of thousands of people didn’t live there and Bel would somehow know.
Lachlan’s pulse picked up thinking about Tim.
He’d barely had time, energy or interest for hookups when he’d worked at the firm, and even after he’d “quit” and gone back to lifeguarding, he’d only been going through the motions occasionally messaging blokes on the apps because he’d told himself he should.
Plenty had wanted to meet, but he’d made excuses to himself as well as them.
With Tim, it had been fire. Bel was right that older guys weren’t historically his type, but he’d been missing out. He’d never been with an older man, and the way Tim had held him on his lap had been so… He wasn’t sure of the right word. Comforting?
Was that weird?
Doesn’t matter because it’s never happening again.
“Earth to Lachie?”
Cheeks burning, he refocused. “We had a few drinks and watched the sabering ceremony. Oh, you should be there early for that if you go for dinner. It’s a weird rich people thing, and you get a free glass of champers. There’s a fire dance too.”
“Think they’ll let us in even if we’re not staying at the hotel?”
“Yeah, as long as you have a dinner reservation. You wouldn’t get past the gates without one.”
Bel tapped at her phone, mumbling under her breath, “Ask about weird saber thing.” She glanced up. “Any other tips?”
“I think that’s it.”
She put down her phone and popped a chip in her mouth. “Okay, back to Todd. Is he rich?”
“Nope. He was there for a wedding and the room was paid for. We were both a little out of place. Anyway, we hung out and eventually went for a swim.”
“A ‘swim.’” Bel made air quotes.
“Don’t think you need any further details.”
Water splashing, breath hot on his skin, wanting to kiss Tim so badly…
“Probably not. Do you have his number?”
Cold, hard reality brought Lachlan back down to earth with a thud. “Nah. Just a hookup, like I said.”
“Glad you let loose for a change.”
“I let loose!”
Bel gave him a dubious look. “Mum and Dad would be calling, ‘Objection!’ right now.”
Lachlan smiled softly. Dad had been the lawyer and Mum a bookkeeper, but they’d both jokingly used courtroom terms at home.
“They never thought you had enough fun,” Bel said. “Well, Mum didn’t. Remember how she used to tell you to stop studying so much? Even Dad did that one Chrissie break. I think it was Boxing Day?”
Lachlan laughed, quoting Dad: “‘I didn’t meet your mother in a textbook.’”
Regret and love swelled in his chest, making it hard to breathe for a few moments. He tried to smile. “Yeah.” Of course, their parents never discovered the real reason he hadn’t been keen on picking up chicks with his mates.