Love at the Right Tempo

by Michael Mandrake

  “Then he’s gone.”

  “I don’t do fuck-em-and-leave-ems, Kelly. You know that.”

  “I know. But even the great Vaughan Emmanuel Singleton deserves some booty. Blue balls aren’t fun, and there’s only so much masturbation can do. I mean—”

  “Jesus! Kelliani!”

  She eyed him. “There is no use hiding anything from me. I know what men go through, trust me. I’ve watched enough porn.”

  Vaughan groaned. “All I’m saying is I might be—well, I haven’t been with a man since Sam.”

  “Army Sam? The same man who refused to acknowledge you were banging his brains out because he thinks it will make him less macho, Sam?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh Sin, please! That brain-dead idiot doesn’t deserve any sort of loyalty from you. If he can’t claim you, he doesn’t deserve to lick Nefertiti’s poop off your shoe.”

  “Ick.” Vaughan made a face at the image. “Thanks for that.”

  “I’m serious!” Kelliani said before moving to sit beside him. “So, did you at least get his number?”

  “Shit!”

  “What?”

  “We’re supposed to go out Sunday, and I forgot to get his number.” Vaughan sighed, picked up the ball and sent it sliding across the hardwood. Nefertiti sprung up and darted after it, slipped and almost crashed into the wall. Vaughan frowned. “I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

  Kelliani sighed.

  The prospect of not seeing Frederick again sucked, and it hurt Vaughan more than it should. But he couldn’t help the way he felt. Since Sam—almost two years ago, he hadn’t been with another man. In all fairness, he’d spent most of that time healing from the blast in Iraq. He hadn’t had time to go out looking. Then again, if anyone asked Kelliani she’d promptly tell them that Vaughan wasn’t even trying to find a man.

  “I guess you won’t be getting that ticket after all,” Vaughan said.

  “Sin, come on now.” Kelliani rubbed his shoulder. “How many girls can say they had a private concert with the one and only Frederick Tremblay? Huh?”

  “Not many, I guess.”

  “That’s right. And I can say I did, so forget sitting in a crowd of thousands of screaming fans. There’s nowhere for me to go but down from my own, private concert.”

  Vaughan laughed as Nefertiti hopped into his lap and began staring up at him, wagging her tail.

  “You know something, I think she loves you.” Kelliani snickered.

  “The feeling is mutual, trust me.” He dragged a palm down her back.

  “You wanna go shopping for stuff for her?” Kelliani said. “It’ll give you a chance to get out of the house.”

  “Sure,” Vaughan agreed. “After breakfast. Nothing is open at this hour anyway.”

  Though he tried pulling his mind off the missed opportunity that was Frederick, Vaughan couldn’t silence the thoughts permanently. He’d kissed Frederick. He’d gotten hard from the kiss, but there was something else in the way Frederick smiled at him that grabbed Vaughan’s heart and twisted it into so many beautiful shapes. He hadn’t gotten that with Sam. Out of all he put into that relationship, all he ever got back was a muttered I love you, which turned out Sam didn’t even mean in the first damn place.

  What a fucking joke.

  Vaughan sighed. Frederick was gone. All he could do now was, for the next little while, imagine what could have been, then let it go.

  Chapter Eight

  On a ladder, Vaughan stuck his pen between his teeth and checked through the bottles of liquor on the top of the display behind the bar. A decorating and cleaning crew was working to set the main space back to its original grandeur. Scott Bathurst was busy checking the pumps to ensure none of them needed changing. The two worked in silence for a while, and when Vaughan finished, he descended the ladder and rolled it to the side with a mental note to move it before the restaurant opened.

  “Do we have any Hendo?” Scott asked.

  Vaughan perused his list and nodded. “We still have two cases from last night’s party left. That should run us until about Wednesday. I’m still going to order a backup case.”

  “Last night was something, huh?” Scott said, leaning his back into the bar.

  “Oh you have no idea.” Vaughan turned away to hide his smile.

  “That boy was a little weird. First I saw him hitting on the musician, and then he was hitting on a girl over by the piano.”

  “Girl?” Vaughan faced Scott.

  “Yeah, African American, real pretty.”

  Vaughan frowned. That had to be Deena. “Oi.”

  “I know, right?” Scott shook his head and went back to work by inspecting the glassware. “Strange dude.”

  Vaughan would have to agree. The two continued chit-chatting until the limes were cut, the booze was primed, and the counter space spotless. They then entered the change room to get ready for the evening’s service.

  “I hear you’re taking over from Baptiste.”

  “Bad news travels fast,” Vaughan joked, pulling his graphic tee over his head.

  “Nah, man. Trust me. Working with Baptiste had me looking for a new job.”

  Vaughan turned to look at Scott. His dark brown hair was done up perfectly like it always had, exposing a face with strong, handsome features topped off with deep, brown eyes. “Yeah. He just kept riding me and riding me, and because I know I wouldn’t do well in prison, I figured I’d leave.”

  “And now?”

  “I think I’ll stay.”

  Vaughan smiled. “Who’s to say I won’t be riding you, too?”

  “Well, Vaughan, if that were to ever happen I would happily be your willing donkey.” He stressed his point a wink.

  Vaughan chuckled before reaching for his shirt. By the time he was dressed, he was having issues with his tie. Scott laughed but stepped in to help him, and soon the two of them were back in the main hall. The wait staff for the night along with the kitchen crew crowded around Vaughan. This was new. The kitchen staff had gone out of their way to avoid Baptiste.

  That’s because the guy’s a giant dick.

  “Well, people. I know you’re tired, but tonight is your last night before the secondary crew takes over so you can get some much-needed rest.” Vaughan glanced around. Kelliani stuck her tongue out at him. He grinned. “We only have two cases of Hendo, so go easy tonight with that. The second female bathroom has been fixed so the sign is off the door. Have fun tonight, and if anyone has any trouble, I’ll be behind the bar. Questions?”

  Everyone shook their heads.

  “Awesome.” Vaughan held out his hand. “All right, my doves, bring it in.”

  One by one each staff member stacked their hand atop his. “Prince’s on three. One. Two. Three!”

  There was a thunderous roar of Prince’s, and they dispersed. Kelliani stopped to kiss his cheek, and soon she, too, was gone. Vaughan looked around him, and it dawned on him that soon, the night shift would be all his. That was more responsibilities than he thought he’d ever be able to handle again. But, Patrick had hope—Vaughan nodded—so he would work with it and do his best.

  Soon the doors opened, and it seemed each time Vaughan blinked, more and more people crowded the dining room. He kept up by talking to Scott, but keeping on top of orders, the levels of their supplies and ensuring the wait staff were okay. At the end of the bar, he noticed a man, Chinese, dark hair, dressed in a white suit, who was by himself, drinking one scotch after another. Soon, he tapped Scott on the shoulder.

  “Did he order another?” Vaughan asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Let me.”

  Scott looked from Vaughan to the forlorn man but nodded. Vaughan prepared the drink then made his way down to where the stranger was perched on one of the designer stools and slowly slid the glass to him while gathering the empties. “Want to talk about it?” Vaughan asked, leaning in so he didn’t have to shout.

  “Talk? About what?”

  “You�
�ve had a little too much to drink,” Vaughan said. “So, before I cut you off, I want to make sure there is something actually wrong.”

  “How do you know how much I’ve had?” the man asked before muttering something in Mandarin.

  “It’s my job.”

  The man lifted tired eyes to Vaughan as his shoulders rose and fell. “I’m just tired of this life. I’ve done everything right—gone to school like my parents wanted. Got the job and the business and the wealth they wanted. Dressed how they wanted. Talked how they wanted…”

  “Where is you in all of this?”

  “I don’t matter, it seems.” The man sighed and downed his drink in one shot.

  “You know what I learned when I was eighteen years old?” Vaughan asked. “I learned that you can’t live your life to please people because sooner or later you’ll wake up and you’ll roll over and there will be no one there.”

  “How do you deal with the loneliness?”

  “I joined the military.”

  The man laughed. “I just wanted one thing out of this life that was supposed to be mine. One thing…”

  “What is that one thing?”

  “A man.”

  Vaughan arched his brow. “A man?”

  “Yes. I told my family that I am gay. They didn’t disown me, but they might as well have. They want me to not act on my feelings.”

  “And there’s someone you’re interested in?”

  He nodded.

  Vaughan sighed. “You’re going to have to decide which is more important—your happiness or your parents’. Everything you’ve done up until this moment, it seems, has been for them. When do you get to sit back and enjoy your life?”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “I get that, but you’re going to have to make it that simple. When I came out to my parents I was left with nothing.” Vaughan inched closer. “My parents own one of the biggest candy empires in the world, and here I am serving booze to strangers.”

  “Singleton Candy—I thought they only had one son?”

  Vaughan’s heart broke again for the millionth time over his loss. “That’s my point. After I came out they erased me from their lives. Look, this may not be what I wanted for myself, but I’m happy. I have a home I’m comfortable in, friends who care about me, and a life that is my own. You may lose some people, but your happiness is the result. Now, can I get you some coffee?”

  The man laughed. “Yes, please.”

  “Okay. Coming right up.” He turned to leave when the man’s voice stopped him.

  “What’s your name?”

  Vaughan faced him once more. “Vaughan. Vaughan Singleton.”

  “Well, Vaughan Singleton. It is nice to meet you. I’m Rui Feng.” Rui extended a hand.

  Vaughan shook it. “Let me get you that coffee.

  After about another hour, Rui waved, and Vaughan hurried over. He settled Rui’s tab and handed back Rui’s credit card.

  “I’ll remember what you said,” Rui told him. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “You didn’t have to do it. How can I ever repay you?”

  “For being human?” Vaughan asked. “Pay it forward. Be kind to someone else.”

  Rui nodded. “You know something, Vaughan Singleton? In our next lives, I’ll fall in love with you.”

  Vaughan’s cheeks heated. “I’ll see you there.”

  With a wink, Rui climbed off the stool and headed out the glass exit. Vaughn watched after him before smiling and going back to work. That was the strangest encounter he’d ever experienced. He could barely find love in this life, but he was already taken for the next? How did that even happen?

  True, Vaughan didn’t believe in reincarnation, but if it was real, Vaughan was happy he already had a love. He chuckled.

  “Eh! V?” Scott called.

  “Yeah?” Vaughan didn’t look away from the bottle of tequila he had lifted to the light.

  “Someone’s here to see you…”

  ****

  After fending off Steven Berringer for the duration of the night, Frederick was exhausted. Berringer was like an octopus. His hands in every place imaginable, and he had no shame to do that even in a public place. Frederick continued to ask him politely before he finally gathered up enough courage to storm out, not bothering to leave his part of the bill. He figured since he didn’t eat much of his meal, why pay for it? Besides, it wasn’t his idea to go out with the jerk in the first place.

  Sitting in back of the cab, Frederick fumbled with his necklace. He eyed the view from the window, wondering what to say to Vaughan once he arrived. As Deena said he didn’t know him, but Frederick couldn’t care less. They would have plenty of time to talk tonight and tomorrow during their evening together. Frederick only had to come up with an excuse to give his parents. Deena did say she’d run interference for him, so Frederick wasn’t too worried about what to say.

  “Sir. You asked to be dropped off at Prince’s?” The driver’s voice interrupted him.

  “Yes, please. Thank you.” Frederick reached in his pocket for his gold money clip and pulled out a twenty. He glanced at the machine, seeing it was almost fifteen, so he yanked out another ten. Frederick never under tipped people because he felt it important to pay people who’d given him a service. His dad had taught him well.

  The car slowed in front of the familiar building he’d been asked to play at the night prior. Frederick smiled to himself then handed the man the money.

  “Thank you, sir. You have yourself a good night,” the driver said to him.

  “Yes, you do the same.” Frederick checked his look in the mirror. He ran a finger over his eyebrows and turned his head slightly, noticing the slight color in his cheeks. He hadn’t put on any blush, only the eyeliner and mascara to bring out his eye color. He brushed his blond locks out of his eyes. He hadn’t bothered to pull it back in a ponytail because he hoped for Vaughan to reach across and braid it for him. Having Vaughan’s hand on him sent electric shocks to every part of his body, and Frederick hadn’t recalled feeling that way about anyone in the past. He desperately desired Vaughan to make him feel that way again.

  Stepping out the cab, Frederick buttoned his sport coat and ambled to the front of the tall building. The doorman pulled the door open for him and waved Frederick inside. Passing past the security desk, Frederick walked to the fancy elevator and pushed thirty-eight. When he arrived, he made a right turn to well decorated doors in the center. Walking in, he stood behind another couple who were whisked away by another host.

  “Hello again, Mr. Tremblay, right?” The same hostess who’d greeted them last night beamed at Frederick.

  “Yes, that’s right. I don’t have a reservation, nor am I playing. I’d like to sit at the bar.”

  “You need no reservation, Mr. Tremblay. Right this way.” The young woman waved him ahead behind the familiar curtain, and he followed her through throngs of people, sitting at tables or standing around, listening to a smooth jazz band playing in front.

  In moments, Frederick eyed the bar, seeing several bartenders behind it. Only one interested him however, and instantly the memories of having his hands wrapped around Vaughan’s waist flooded his brain.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t want a table, Mr. Tremblay?”

  “No, ma’am. The bar is exactly where I’d like to be and actually…” Frederick’s voice trailed off when he sat directly in back of Vaughan. “Here will be fine.” He smiled at her.

  “All right then. Let the waiters know if you change your mind. You have a good evening.” She patted his shoulder.

  “Yes, thank you.” Frederick nodded, then turned his attention back to Vaughan, who at this point had his back turned. Frederick swiped his tongue over his lips, admiring Vaughan’s toned muscles through the shirt. His broad shoulders, strong arms. If only he had more time to be in Cardova to have a chance to be wrapped in them.

  “Excuse me, sir. May I have a Sprite with a lemon wedge please? E
asy on the ice.” Frederick waited for Vaughan to respond.

  “Well,” Vaughan said, facing him. “Only because you said please. What’re you doing here? Our date isn’t until tomorrow.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t be able to take you on a proper date without your information, could I? Where would I know to pick you up from? I’m assuming you don’t live here at the restaurant.” Frederick grinned at him and bowed his head slightly when Vaughan sat a tall glass in front of him. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t live here?” Vaughan asked, brows raised. “Don’t let my boss hear you say that. And you’re right. I didn’t even realize until this morning that I hadn’t given you my number. So—are you going to ask? Remember, what I said about asking for what you want?”

  Frederick nibbled on his bottom lip a moment then inhaled sharply. “May I have your phone number and your address? You don’t need to say it aloud. I could program it into my cell phone.”

  “I tell you what.” Vaughan leaned in, so close Vaughan’s breath bathed his face. “We’re almost finished for the night. If you’d like to stick around, I could give it to you in private.”

  Frederick’s breath caught in his chest, and he stared at Vaughan, getting lost in the dark chocolate pools of his eyes. Frederick took a quick sip of his soda. “Sure. I’m guessing the boss’s office again? We made great memories there.”

  A smile traced Vaughan’s lips. “Not necessarily. Once everyone clears out we’ll have the place to ourselves. The cleaners come early in the morning.”

  The prospect of being alone in this place with Vaughan sent heat rushing to his cheeks and groin. He could barely manage a thought, thinking of the restaurant being devoid of other patrons and being high above the clouds with Vaughan.

  “They do? Well, I suppose a pre-date would be wonderful.”

  Frederick leaned in closer so he could inhale Vaughan’s cologne. He’d noticed it last night. Something woodsy, not commercial like Obsession or one of those other overbearing scents. Perhaps it was Old Spice. Who knew? Regardless, Frederick loved it, and he wanted it all over him.