When Armand happens to look down into his new neighbour’s yard one night and discovers him lying on his back, staring up at the night sky, he doesn’t know what to think. It doesn’t happen every night, but it happens often enough for Armand’s curiosity to be piqued.<br><br>When they finally meet, Armand falls instantly in lust with Ben, a dentist with an interest Armand can only describe as out-of-the-ordinary. As they get to know each other, Armand’s feelings towards Ben blossom into love. Yet Ben reveals he has recently come out of a six-year relationship and isn’t quite ready for anyone special in his life. Armand is disappointed but learns to live with the fact he and Ben might only ever be friends.<br><br>But the future is a strange and wonderful thing. When Armand starts to show a fondness for Ben’s unusual interest, it leads to more than one surprise event.

The Sky at Night

They drove for about half an hour. The sun was setting the western sky on fire, and the evening was laden with insects and the birds feasting on them. They came to a roadhouse with a small park beside it. In one corner was a playground featuring a rusty slippery dip and a pair of swings, one of which had a broken chain and was therefore useless, even to the most imaginative child.


Ben parked in the gravelled area and they got out of the car. Armand retrieved the cane basket of food and wine, and, following Ben, carried it to a grassed area by a large eucalyptus tree.


He spread out the blanket and Ben sat on it, leaning against the trunk of the tree.


“Damn it,” said Armand, tearing open the foil bag containing the cooked chicken. “I forgot plates.”


Ben shook his head. “Doesn’t matter.”


He tore off a chicken leg while Armand removed the lid from the olives and opened the box of savoury biscuits. By the time he’d uncorked the wine, Ben had devoured the second chicken leg.


Chapter 10