7. Nick

Nick twisted his free hand in his hair again, pretending not to see Luke casting concerned looks his way as they walked hand in hand (which was still new and exciting and something Richard had never chanced) on the way to the pub.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked, and Nick nodded, trying to smile.

Nick hadn't been worried about meeting Luke's friends before, but the closer they got to their destination (The Old Boot, which somehow sounded familiar), the more nervous he felt. This was Luke's London family and if they didn't approve of Nick, it wouldn't lead to anything good.

It had been weeks now since he'd first heard all about Mitch and Tash, and now the reality of meeting them loomed over him, crowding out his common sense. He almost wished Lucas and his wife Donna would be there, even though it would have meant more of Luke’s people. He thought that at least Donna would understand how tough it was to meet your boyfriend's best friends – she'd had to go through the same thing with Luke and the other two when she started dating Lucas, not to mention the whole pre-wedding stuff.

"You really shouldn't be this nervous," Luke said as they arrived at The Old Boot. He stopped them outside the door. "I, uh. I kind of spent the most of last week about you, so they’re probably just going to mock me about that."

"Yeah?"

“Yeah. Besides, Edo is in there. If there’s anyone who should be nervous it’s me.”

“Edo?”

“He works here.”

No wonder the place had sounded familiar.
Luke made to push the door open, but Nick stopped him, “But what if they don't like me?”

“Edo already does.” Luke reassured him, “And Mitch and Tash will love you. To be honest, if Tash weren't a lesbian, I would be afraid she might try to steal you from me.”

Nick squeezed his hand, “Are you sure? I don't want this to be... weird. Or disappointing.”

“Disappointing?” Luke squeezed back, “Whatever happens – and it will be fine, you'll see – you'll always have Edo or me to pull you away if the situation becomes uncomfortable.”

“But they're your friends.”

“Right. And if I like you, why wouldn't they? Come here,” he wrapped Nick in a hug, warm and smelling like the spiced coffee they’d shared on the way over, “Listen. If you really don't want to, we don't have to go in. Meeting my friends shouldn't be this hard.”

“I'm just a dancer from a nightclub who you slept with once and decided wanted something more with. Won't they judge you for it?”

Luke’s chuckle reverberated against him, “They won't judge me for it – trust me, everyone in there has done far worse things, remind me to tell you how I met Mitch and Tash – and they won't judge you for it either. You are so much more than a dancer from some club. You're amazing. Now we're going to go in there and show them just how amazing you are.”

Nick took a deep breath and made himself say, “Ok. Fuck, ok, let's do this, before I change my mind.”

They walked into The Old Boot and Nick schooled his expression to change from nervous to happy, as though to convince himself (and possibly Luke's friends) that he was fine with this. It was all in the acting. He could do this, did it every night he had to dance.

Tash was sitting at the bar, wearing a green top and a slinky skirt, talking to Edo, who was pulling a pint.

“Luke!” she exclaimed, running over in heels so high she was probably fighting vertigo, “Hi!”

“Hello.”

She hugged him tightly, whispering something in his ear.

Nick hastily wiped his hands on his jeans then offered Mitch, a tall guy with close-cropped hair and dimples, his hand. Mitch shook it vigorously.

“Nice to meet you.”

“And you,” Nick hoped his smile was more confident than he was, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Mitch’s grin widened, “I assure you, it’s probably all true. Especially the part where I’m amazing.”

Tash poked him in the ribs, “Pfft. You must be confusing yourself with me again. Go on, your turn.”

Mitch turned to Luke and gave him a manly hug, complete with slaps on the back. 

“And you must be Nick,” she smiled, “I'm Tash, this is Mitch.”

Mitch nodded.

Tash tilted her head in a put-upon innocent manner, “Can I have a hug?”

“Of course.” Nick said, opening his arms.

Nick's breath got squeezed out of him. Tash may be tiny, but her hugs were rib-crackingly strong.

Edo chuckled from behind them.

“You,” said Tash, pointing a dark green fingernail at him, “are next.”

Edo just pushed a bunch of drinks at them.

“To calm the clearly stressed: beer for Mitch, Malibu and coke for Nick, White Russian for the lady and a Gay Bartender for Luke.”

Nick flashed him a grin of thanks, “You’re my favourite.”

Luke made a disappointed face at him, taking his drink, “I thought I was your favourite.”

“Ah,” said Edo, “but I bring him alcohol.”

“Ah,” said Tash, “but Luke brings him sex!”

Mitch let out a great guffaw of a laugh.

Luke let his head drop onto Nick’s shoulder.

“Save me,” he whispered, “it’s only going to get worse from here.”

“Nonsense,” said Mitch, guiding them towards a table, “We’re fairly genteel people.”

“That’s a big word,” said Luke, following him and winking at Nick, “For someone who yesterday told me that a hypochondriac was a water mammal who thought he was ill.”

“Hippochondriac,” corrected Tash absently, sipping at her White Russian, “and this thing is gorgeous, ta Edo!”

Nick had quick look around at the pub as they walked across it. It was old fashioned, all dark, polished wood and red velvet seats, the smell of old books mingling with that of good cider and chips.

They sat down and there was a moment of silence before Tash turned to him and asked, “So. Sex or personality?”

Luke buried his face in his hands.

“Excuse me?” Nick asked, not entirely sure what to make of that question.

“Which was it that convinced you to go out with Luke here again? The sex or his personality?”

“Because that’s not personal or even any of your business…” muttered Luke.

Mitch shrugged, “You invited her, you knew this was going to happen.”

“I thought she might start with something more polite, like where he works or how we met…”

“We know how you met.”

Tash sighed, “It’s just that I don't know what would compel anyone to go home with you. You're so... male.”

Nick put his hand on top of Luke's and squeezed back, “Well, since I'm gay, that's pretty much the first item on the checklist.”

“Hmm,” Tash swirled her glass around, as Mitch sat next to her, “I suppose. But still. You could have done so much better than Luke.”

“Glad to know this is going to turn out into another one of these 'Let's All Mock Luke' sessions,” he said, rolling his eyes, “I do so enjoy them.”

Mitch grinned, “What? Were we supposed to discuss your love of cock instead?”

Nick cracked a smile as Luke gave a sigh, slipping a hand onto his thigh, “I knew this was going to happen. I just knew it. I’m sorry, I should have warned you.”

“To be fair,” Nick leaned over towards Mitch conspiratorially, “I do quite enjoy his love of cock.”

And that right there was the moment he figured out everything would be fine, even if Luke was still uncertain about this. Nick himself was still nervous, despite Tash's bright, honest smile and Mitch's loud, obnoxious laughter and, really, they were Luke’s friends. If they loved him, how could Nick not love them?

He turned his palm over and slid their fingers together, using it as an anchor point.

“Edo said you were cool,” Mitch added, using his beer to point at Nick, “but I'm never sure if I can trust a man who has rather questionable tattoos on his buttocks.”

“How do you-,” Luke stopped himself, “No. I don't even want to know.”

“But Luke, amigo,” said Edo, putting a big plate of chips in the middle of the table and dropping into the last available seat , “it's such an interesting story!”

Nick smirked, “Is it the story about the woman with the blue eyebrows?”

Edo quirked an eyebrow, “They were green. But no.”

“The Goth girl?”

“No, she was my first tattoo.”

Nick stared for a moment, “You got this one for a guy.”

Edo nodded and Mitch cried out in his best shocked voice, “Dear Lord, I'm surrounded by homosexuals.”

Tash shrugged at him, “What do you expect? We're required by law to have at least one straight person at our gatherings. Otherwise we're not allowed to use the term 'meeting', we have to call it an 'orgy'. I can't believe I'm the only lesbian who turned up.”

Edo grinned at her, “I have an inner lesbian, if you're interested.”

Tash pushed her drink away in disgust.

Nick looked at him with pity, “She’s rejecting the alcohol. Edo, I think you went too far.”

“It's ok, she still loves me really.”

Mitch snorted, rising to the bait, “Oh yeah? What makes you think that?”

“I have access to the best gay club in town.”

“I shall not be bribed into your matchmaking sessions,” Tash sniffed, exaggerating her displeasure, “If it’s an Edo plan it will all lead to disaster.”

 “I don’t know,” said Nick, glancing over and Luke and sharing a smile, “Personally, I think his last one worked quite well.”

Mitch let out a sound that could only be described as a delighted squeal.

When Nick looked back at Edo, the man had placed his chin on his palms and looked rather like an anime character.

“You are the cutest.”

Tash nodded, “Ok, fine. I ship them too.”

Luke was as confused as Nick was, “Ship?”

Mitch nodded, “So hard. Definitely OTP material.”

“I don’t have a single clue as to what you’re talking about,” said Edo, “But it sounds kinky.”

“It can be. But we’re losing them, quick, Mitch, say something clever!”

Mith paused, halfway to grabbing a chip.

Nick took a sip of his drink and Luke let go of his hand to do the same.

“Confucius say: man in front of car gets tired, man behind car gets exhausted.”

The occupants of the table let out a collective groan.

“Mitch,” said Tash, appalled, “That was terrible. We must be making a terrible impression on young Nicholas here.”

“Nicola, actually. I’m Italian,” he said, pulling a chip from the pile, “And no, you’re still well within my realms of normal. After all, I’ve known Edo almost as long as I’ve lived in the UK.”

Luke’s hand was back to resting on this thigh, and the warmth was a good reminder that, in the end, these were just people who had the best in mind.

Edo put an offended hand to his chest, “I resent that – you’ve known JT for longer and he is much odder.”

Tash pretended to consider this, “I don’t know, you’re pretty weird.”

Edo picked up Nick’s drink and stole a mouthful, “You’d know, doctor.”

“Physiotherapist, please. We’re much nicer than doctors!”

Nick asked her about her job, with devolved into a fifteen minute rant about hospital paperwork before she stopped herself, smirked at him and said, “Congratulations. You passed the test. You’re now officially allowed to date our Luke.”

“Thanks, I think.”

Mitch nodded, “It’s an honour and a privilege.”

Nick nodded solemnly back, “I shall not take it lightly.”

“Wonderful,” said Mitch, slathering his next couple of chips ketchup, “The League of Evil will reconvene next Thursday from six to eight. Please let us know if you cannot make that date and we shall compare schedules.”

“Will do,” Nick replied, turning to Tash, “But in answer to your previous question, I’d say a combination of the two, but personality was the defining factor. You can’t build a relationship on great sex alone.”

Nick could have sworn Edo winked at Luke, but by the time he looked over, Edo was grinning at Tash, who looked like somebody had just told her Christmas was coming early this year, and every present was a way to embarrass Luke, whose face was slowly turning brighter than the seats.