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“Dorian, looking marvellous as ever.”
He stood, not knowing whether to shake his hand or something else. Jez solved the issue by leaning in for a quick hug that lingered a little too long. Instead of sitting opposite, Jez moved the chair so he was to Dorian’s right.
“Sorry I’m late, I had a production meeting overrun and the traffic was a complete bitch and my taxi driver got us stuck by going a stupid way.”
“Not a problem. So you’ve a new project?”
“Oh yes, I’m very excited.” Jez had one of those faces that made him come across as smug, but get him talking about work and it tripled. “It’s an existential rethink of a classic. The reimagining of Dante’sInferno.”
Jez was famous for being a pretentious wanker, and this seemed on-point. “Reimagined in what way, dare I ask?”
“It’s based on a department store, each floor is one of the levels. With the parking area being Purgatory.”
“Certainly different.”
“That’s the point.”
Dorian decided he was going to need a drink if he was going to be able to cope with this sort of conversation for a couple of hours. There was a nice-sounding bottle of Crozes Hermitage that should keep him going.
A waitress dropped off food menus and Dorian ordered the wine, hoping it would come quickly. He needed not to think like this, he was supposed to be here to enjoy Jez’s company. Jez was an attractive bloke, older than him by around a decade, and Dorian wouldn’t have said he was his usual type, Jez’s colourings were closer to his own and he was a little on the broad side compared to Robin or Alex.
“If you trust me, I can order for us. The menu might look strange on first read, and I would have never thought mango and crab go together, but it’s sublime.”
Dorian thought the different flavour combinations would be described by someone like Jez as brave and experimental and Dorian thought it probably better to let Jez choose. “Go ahead. You know this place well, then?”
Jez smiled at him over the menu. “I’ve been a few times. A couple of dates, and some business lunches. The owners are lovely people and really know their stuff.”
He was flirty, not overbearing and Dorian thought the evening had potential. “I’m also keen to find new places. I’m still not decided where I’m going to settle at the moment.”
“You’re at Crofton Hall, aren’t you? Bedding down with the delicious Ben Redbourn.” He smirked. “I read about your history… thinking of adding to it?”
It was a strange question for what was a first date, but he guessed a lot of people who had read the headlines might be thinking the same thing. “No. He’s married and not the type to play away from home.”
“More’s the pity. I suppose there has to be a few men capable of maintaining their wedding vows.”
Dorian wondered if that was a dig at Jez’s husband. “So I’m staying with him until I decide what to do. I’ve no particular rush to move out or settle far away.”
“I’m surprised you’ve not got a London base.”
“I do, but it’s not home. I’m not one for living in an apartment all the time. I think I might be too old to want to live in London full-time.”
“Never! When you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life.”
“That might have been the case in the eighteenth century but I’m pretty sure Samuel Johnson might have had a different take on it nowadays.”
“You just need to find your people, Dorian. You’re not long back from LA, you’ve come home and you need to regroup. I’m sure that’s something I can help you with.”
Maybe that was what he was missing, a connection to people, but he wasn’t convinced those people were the same ones Jez might think he’d want to mix with. “Well, I’m open to exploring new things. But you’re right in the sense that I’ve been back in the UK for less than six months, and I’ve still got much to figure out.”
Jez waved over the waiter and ordered a selection of dishes that he didn’t think would belong on the same menu let alone chosen to be eaten together. It would either be a taste sensation or he’d be worshipping the porcelain god into the early hours.
A strange-looking amuse-bouche, bright green foam balanced on a strip of marinated tuna arranged on a dessert spoon, came first.
Jez moaned loudly as he popped it into his mouth. “Sweet Lord, that is heaven in a mouthful.”
He had to admit it was good, but he wasn’t quite ready to moan like a whore in public over a piece of fish.
“Reminds me of a pretty lad I met in Honolulu.”
