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“You sound like you know,” the doctor said.
“I should,” Luke said. “And I do.”
CHAPTER 11
The Daddy of Your Dreams
They took an Uber to Hayden’s place. It was in a modern apartment block off The Strand, with what Luke guessed an estate agent would call a “sea view”: shipping cranes, stacked containers under security lights, and a behemoth of a car carrier unloading its endless stream of cheap, used compacts, which were rolling, rattle-clunk, rattle-clunk, rattle-clunk, down the ramp. He guessed it still counted, though, because the dark void behind the ship was surely Waitemata Harbour, and beyond it would be Rangitoto, Auckland’s iconic volcanic-cone backdrop.
The apartment also had a marmalade cat in it, who came running up the second the door was open, talking and meowing for all he was worth. The cat began rubbing himself against Hayden’s ankles, then started walking toward the kitchen alcove, looking back all the way and talking some more.
“George,” Hayden said, with what Luke was guessing was about the last of his energy. “And it is not pathetic that I have a cat. I like him. Just now, he wants his tea. He has dry food, but he likes the canned kind best. High maintenance, possibly. A cat of refined tastes.”
“He can wait a few minutes,” Luke said.
“He’s—” Hayden said.
“Where’s the bedroom?” Luke asked.
“Flattering,” Hayden said, “but possibly overly optimistic.”
Luke said, “Never mind. Got to be over there,” and walked that way, hoping that Hayden would follow him. Fortunately, he did.
“The view reminds me a bit of Newcastle,” he told Hayden, once Hayden was finally sitting on the neatly made bed in the minuscule bedroom, which had no view at all, or even any windows, but did have an enormous framed poster of Rent hanging over the bed like a defiant two fingers up the bum of New Zealand masculinity.
“You’re meant to think it’s flash,” Hayden said, not lying back in the way Luke could tell he wanted to, the way Luke wished he would. “I’m thinking that comparison may be insulting. It has a sea view and a lovely deck.” The marmalade cat jumped into his lap, and Hayden’s hands closed on it. The cat butted his head up under Hayden’s chin, and Hayden took a deep breath and may have blinked back a few tears.
“I noticed,” Luke said, wishing Hayden would start getting undressed. “Nice kitchen as well. And excellent lobby.”
Hayden sighed. “I know. Not much character, possibly. I’ve got pictures hung and all, though, d’you notice? I’ve decorated in stylish black and white and all that. Also, it has a pool and a little gym. And a carpark. And I can walk to work. I’ve kept thinking I should try to buy a place, but—” He trailed off, and Luke thought he knew why. Because I thought I’d be with somebody, and we’d choose it together. Hayden was hopeful, apparently. Luke had always assumed he was on his own.
“Speaking of that,” Luke decided to say, “I’m going to get you settled here and feed the cat, and then I’ll go back for your car. No need to pay that overnight bill.”
Hayden closed his eyes and swore. “I have a monthly parking pass, but … what time is it?”
Luke looked at his watch. “Eleven-fifteen.”
“Oh, bloody hell.” Hayden looked exhausted at the thought. “I had a monthly pass. Runs out at midnight. I thought—good, because I wouldn’t be tempted to spend the night.”
“Ah. The pass was because of the wanker.” Luke didn’t touch the other part, but he filed it away. Vulnerable, like you thought. Possibly like you.
“Yeh,” Hayden said. “That’s his garage. OK, that’d be good, if you’re sure you don’t mind. Otherwise, who knows, Trevor may decide to key my car. Or burn it. It would be beneath Julian’s dignity, but Trevor? He could very well set it on fire and do a dance around it. Have you noticed that this is all my fault? Odd, but there you are. You go on, if you don’t mind, and I’ll feed George, then take a shower and climb into bed. I have a couch, if you like, but really—you don’t need to stay, or to get the car. I’m fine. Just tired, and my head hurts. You got me home, so—thanks.”
That was heaps of talking for somebody in Hayden’s shape. Luke considered. “On second thought, we could just leave it there for now, and I’ll get it in the morning.”
“And pay the bill,” Hayden said. “I told you—I’m not a toy. I pay my own way.”
“You’re bloody stubborn,” Luke said.
“Don’t sound so surprised.” Hayden was still sitting up. “I need to brush my teeth. Take a shower. Burn these clothes. Get over my humiliation. We could have breakfast, if you like.”
Luke smiled. “I’ve definitely changed my mind. Car can wait. He won’t key it. He knows that if he does, I’ll find him and do him over, and I won’t care. I live in France, and they’re not going to extradite me over a spot of easily healed revenge. Let’s get you out of these clothes and into the shower.”
“I can—” Hayden began.
“Nah, mate,” Luke said. “You can’t. I’m going to unbutton your shirt now. Don’t get excited, because I’m not.”
“Geez, thanks,” Hayden muttered, but he let Luke do it. When Luke started on the trousers, though, Hayden put his hand over Luke’s. “I’ll do it. And I’ll get into the shower, too. By myself. If you’ll feed George—” He blinked. “Well … I’ll be grateful.”
