Sometimes you can’t see the silver lining for the clouds. Abandoned as a baby and now working as a rent boy, Daniel finds it hard to let people get close to him. But nightclub bouncer Rob has a kind face and he’s helped Daniel out once already, so when he catches Daniel on a bad night, Daniel accepts his offer of money and goes home with him. Even though it breaks his heart. Letting Rob pay him for sex may have wrecked their friendship just when Daniel needs all the friends he can get. But there are more reasons why he hasn’t seen Rob since that night -- and one in particular that makes building a relationship seem almost too much to hope for.

Making It Pay

“Thought so. I went back to find you, a week after that, and one of the other lads said he’d heard you wouldn’t be around no more.” He laughs. “Fucking awful timing, that, wasn’t it? Right, here we are. Little step, couple of inches, then you’re fine. Table on the left’s free. You sit down, I’ll get the coffee. How d’you like it? No fancy stuff here, just plain black or white.”


Daniel finds a chair and sits. “White, no sugar. Extra milk, though.”


The place sounds pretty busy, but then it usually is. Daniel’s been here before. He wonders if it’s the same girl at the counter as last time he was in, and if she’s staring at him as he folds up the white stick carefully and puts it in his coat pocket. He sits there listening to other people’s conversations until he feels a large body brush past him and a couple of mugs hit the table with a thunk.


“There you go, mate. Extra milk, just like you asked for.”


Chapter 6