Benjamin is Mr. Average, but has big dreams. Every week he buys two lottery tickets in the hope of striking it rich. So imagine his surprise when, one Saturday night, his numbers finally come up. Ten million dollars transforms his life. He buys his dream house and outfits it with every beautiful thing he has ever wanted, complete with a real British butler. He also donates to animal charities and adopts Sasha, an abused dog. Yet with everything perfect, Ben soon feels unsatisfied. On one of his nightly walks, he stumbles onto a local hook-up spot. Soon he becomes a regular customer, seeking quick and dirty sex with random strangers to provide the exhilaration he craves. But when he’s attacked by a gay basher, he realizes this isn’t the life he wants to lead, and packs up everything to move to the countryside. Settling into a simpler life on a small farm, Ben hires the rough and ready Mick to help run the place. The two men become good friends -- Ben is attracted to Mick, but Mick appears to be straight, though curious about gay sex. But when Ben almost dies in an accident, the simmering attraction between the two comes to fruition.

Six Numbers

“One by one my friends disappeared." He paused, remembering how a few months ago he’d been telling Clarke the exact same story. "Part of me can’t blame them, but I was really hurt by my two best friends abandoning me." His mouth had become dry and he took a sip of beer. "I came out of my depression completely except for an anxiety about crowded places. I guess that’s why I feel so relaxed down here. I used to live in clubs and pubs. I was going to so many parties I was eating fried rice every night so I could afford to buy new clothes and alcohol.” He gazed into his beer. “Those days are long gone. Even the idea of going to a pub or club freaks me out now. So while I really appreciate you inviting me, I have an infinitely better time just one on one with people, like this.”


Chapter 25