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Quint should have stayed on the train to Richmond, but he wanted to spend more time with Leo, as well as make sure that he got back to his hotel safely. Besides, he could easily catch a bus home from Hammersmith.
They made their way up the stairs, Quint cringing as Leo blocked the left-hand side, much to the disgruntlement of the many hardcore Londoners trying to make their way to the exit. Leo apologised profusely for not knowing the rules, nevertheless receiving a barrage of tuts from a group of young lads hurrying to catch their last bus home.
When they were outside, Quint ordered an Uber for himself. He had decided he couldn’t be bothered to wait ten minutes for the bus, which was ever-so ‘London’ of him.
“Grr, ten minutes for the Uber as well,” grumbled Quint.
“That’s alright, isn’t it? Why the long face?”
“You’re not from London, are you?” said Quint, half-joking about how impatient London life made even the most tolerant of people.
“I’ve got enough time to roll a spliff, then.”
Drugs? Quint smiled at Leo. They’d shared what would be the equivalent of a spliff or two back on Vondiv’d. Leo had introduced him to a weed that he remembered tasted and smelt identical to marijuana. The universe must have thought that everybody deserved a piece of that action to take the edge of the trials of terrestrial life.
Leo tipped a ready-rolled joint from his tobacco pouch, then lit it, filling the air with that unmistakably sweet aroma. “You want some?” He offered it over.
The old shared habit was too hard to ignore. “I absolutely do. We might want to go somewhere a bit more discreet, though,” said Quint, looking around them at a bustling group of drunk girls unsteadily wobbling towards their next destination.
“Oh, nobody cares about a bit of weed anymore. Worst that’ll happen is a copper’ll come and tell me to stub it out. It’s all I’ve got on me, anyway. Come on, lighten up, I’m celebrating a new career.” Leo took a long drag of the joint, exhaling out a satisfied sigh, before handing it to Quint. “Oh, I forgot to say, I’ll pay you back half for the drinks, by the way.”
“It’s okay, really. I enjoyed your company. It’s on me.”
“Well, maybe I can return the favour tomorrow evening? I’m down here until Sunday. It’s the least I can do,” said Leo.
“How could I refuse?” Quint was unable to hide his smile. “Here’s my number. Text me, and then I’ll have yours.”
He read out his number, and Leo tapped the digits into his phone. They stood by the curb, huddling under the bus shelter as they waited for Quint’s Uber.
“I’m still thinking about what you said to me earlier,” said Leo. “It’s just, I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten or that I’ve just dismissed it. It’s just a lot, you know?”
“I know. I honestly didn’t even expect you to still be hanging around. Most people-”
“I’m not most people. Most people are narrow-minded.” He left it at that for a moment. “I know there’s more, by the way. I’ve got this feeling that you’re still holding something back.”
Quint dropped his smile. There was no hiding that Leo was right. It was just that this lifetime wasn’t the time to be telling him the whole truth. He still wanted to, though, so badly.
The warmth from Leo’s hand surrounded his. It felt like something he could become addicted to, stirring feelings that he hadn’t felt in so long: a familiar rush of excitement massaging his spine as he swallowed.
Whether it was the effects of the weed or just that they had used up all their energy for the day, neither of them said anything to each other until a Prius pulled up at Quint’s meeting point. A haze of disappointment clouded Quint.
“This is you, then,” Leo said, his lips pursing politely.
Quint didn’t want to leave, but also didn’t want to invite himself in, or tackily invite Leo back to his house. Instead, he did what seemed to come natural on the back of Leo’s scent. He pulled Leo in for a kiss.
Leo seemed as lost in that as Quint, leaning into him and pulling him closer.
“Sorry.” Quint pulled quickly away. “I don’t know where that came from.”
“I think I do.” Leo smiled and glanced down between them.
Quint shifted, his hardness pressing into Leo’s warm thigh. “Erm… yeah. Just a little… awkward,”
Leo laughed. “I think your Uber driver’s getting a bit stroppy. ‘Til tomorrow, then?”
Quint shrunk into a more relaxed smile. “Tomorrow it is.”
“Indeed. See you in the future.”
