Dancing Days by Clare London

Author:Clare London [London, Clare]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2015-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

THE DAY it ceased being just a date between friends had to come. Glen occasionally wondered if he were dreading or anticipating it. Yet he made no move to stop their time together. In fact, he found himself looking forward to Aston’s company more as weeks went by.

One Saturday night they’d gone to see a film, but by the time they got to the cinema, Glen had lost interest. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but instead he suggested they pick up a takeaway from the new Chinese buffet that had recently opened in the same leisure complex. Neither of them had eaten, and Aston seemed pleased with the idea. They went back to Glen’s—it was Aston’s turn as designated driver again—and Glen went to fetch bowls and chopsticks while Aston settled in the living room. It doubled as Glen’s dining area as well, with another folding table set up against the back wall. Humming under his breath, Glen picked a couple of beers out of the fridge for them, one of them low alcohol. He’d started to put them on his regular shopping list for when Aston drove over. At the last minute, he scooped up a fork. Aston had never been brilliant with chopsticks.

The next half hour was spent appreciating good food, drinking the beer, chatting about life in Kingsmere in general, and laughing at Aston trying to master the chopsticks. He hadn’t spent the last twenty years practicing that skill, Glen thought wryly. They finally sat back for a rest between courses, and Glen put on a Bowie compilation CD. He wasn’t sure what mood he was aiming for as background music, but Bowie had always been a genre to himself, and Glen knew he and Aston were both fans. As they relaxed, the quiet between the men was companionable. Glen picked desultorily at the prawn crackers left in the packet.

“I’m glad we didn’t go to see the film,” Aston said.

Glen nodded. “Honestly, I think the franchise ran out of momentum around number two. I think we had a lucky escape.”

“Nothing stays the same, old man.”

Glen raised his eyebrows. “True enough, older man.”

Aston laughed. “It’s given us a chance to have a proper chat too. Not just whispering critical abuse in the cinema, then a quick post mortem in the car on the way home.”

“We used to quote back the worst lines, remember?”

“God, yes. And you were one of the biggest horror geeks I knew. I bet you couldn’t quote from any of them now.” Aston’s eyes were twinkling with mischief.

“No bet, it’s a sure thing. I’ve seen too many films over the years. I’m the only one of the family who’ll go with my nephew Adam. Horror and sci-fi. Next he’ll have me playing Dark Souls, but I’ve held off buying an Xbox so far.”

“You have my sympathy, especially regarding the horror.”

Glen frowned at Aston in mock disapproval. “Is this a confession that you weren’t really a fan?”

Aston had the grace to look shamefaced. “I only watched horror because I was with you.

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