Notches

by Mason McCloud

  **********

  Cooper lost.

  Callum wasn't sure who was more surprised about it; him, Cooper, or the two men that Cooper had enticed out into the alley only to find Fergus and his two twinks already there, the younger men on their knees greedily feasting on Fergus’s cock. Cooper was fuming when he found his way back to where Callum and Tyler were propping up the bar, his two hopeful pretty boys still trailing after him.

  “How the hell did he manage that?” he seethed.

  “Erm, we could still have some fun,” one of the youths said hopefully. “My place is just around the corner.”

  Cooper glared at him. “Don't be ridiculous,” he spat. “Go away, I'm done with you.”

  “Fucking tosser,” the other one muttered as they both turned and disappeared back in to the crowd.

  “I should have won,” Cooper declared, gesturing to Lewis for a drink. “How did that happen?”

  Fergus appeared several minutes later, looking a little flushed but otherwise showing no signs of what he had been doing. “Your place or mine?” he asked smugly.

  Cooper glared at him. “Mine, of course.”

  Callum sighed and glanced at Tyler. “Can I crash at yours tonight mate?” he asked. There was no way he wanted to be in the same postal district as Cooper and the creep.

  “Yeah, of course,” said Tyler. Callum nodded his thanks and then summoned Lewis for another drink. There really didn't seem any point in staying sober.

  **********

  Over the following few weeks, Fergus turned up like a bad penny. Since the night of his bet with Cooper, he had been hanging around ‘Cascades’ regularly, and had even been at the flat a couple of times when Callum had come home from work. The whole thing made Callum uneasy, probably because of Fergus's obvious dislike of him coupled with a jealousy that Callum hadn't managed to choke off yet. Aside from the fact that Cooper had slept with him twice, Callum wasn't used to having to share Cooper's friendship with anyone other than Tyler, and especially not anyone who was clearly such a smug and arrogant git.

  The bar was pretty busy, given how early on a Saturday night that it was, and Callum pressed against the men to either side of him, trying to gauge just how long it would take to get a drink.

  “Oh, hi it's you!”

  Callum looked across at the man standing to his right. He looked vaguely familiar and, for a moment, he was concerned that it was another of Cooper’s shags who was going to start waxing lyrical about how absolutely amazing he was.

  “I saw you here last night,” the stranger explained, sounding faintly embarrassed, and Callum suddenly recognised him as the man Cooper had claimed had been checking him out the previous evening.

  “I do seem to spend a lot of time here,” Callum replied with a smile.

  “That's no bad thing. It means I get a second chance to pluck up the courage to talk to you.”

  Callum’s smile grew. There was something endearing about the way the man alongside him looked faintly panicked, as if he wasn't really sure he could control what was going to come out of his mouth next.

  “I'm Callum,” he said.

  “Kurt. Can I get you a drink?”

  “Definitely,” said Callum.

  Kurt gestured to Lewis and then pointed at Callum, the barman returning his actions with an acknowledging nod. “On your own tonight?” he asked.

  “Nah, with a friend,” Callum replied. “He’s off dancing…or something.”

  Kurt frowned slightly. “A friend,” he asked, “or a 'friend'?” He accompanied the last word with a raise of his eyebrow.

  “Oh no, just a friend friend,” Callum said firmly. “I have to look out for him because he has a tendency to be a complete idiot.”

  Kurt laughed. “Yeah, I’ve got friends like that. Ones you have to keep an eye on or they'll end up being thrown out by the bouncer.”

  “Cooper's more likely to shag the bouncer,” Callum snorted, “but yeah, sort of like that.”

  “Cooper?” repeated Kurt. “You're friends with Cooper Ryan?”

  Callum couldn't restrain a groan. “Please tell me you haven't slept with him,” he said, without much hope.

  Kurt looked taken aback. “No, I haven’t,” he replied. “But I have heard the stories. They can't really all be true though, can they?”

  “Trust me,” Callum said with a bitter laugh. “They are!” He looked across Kurt’s shoulder to see his flatmate approaching, a broad grin plastered across his face. “It looks like you’re about to meet him.”

  Cooper took one look at Kurt and then smirked at Callum. “I told you,” he said.

  “Yes, yes,” Callum replied hurriedly. “You're always right.”

  Much to Callum’s relief, Kurt seemed more than able to resist Cooper's charms, probably helped by the fact that Cooper showed zero interest in him. He and Kurt went off to dance and, when they returned, Callum was disappointed to see that Fergus was, once again, hanging around. The Irishman was leaning close to Cooper, explaining something that seemed to involve a lot of hand gestures. Cooper was watching him with his usual expressionless facade, but Callum knew him well enough to tell that he was intrigued.

  Fergus gave an exaggerated sigh. “This is going to be so much more fun!”

  Cooper mulled it over for a moment. “Fine,” he said. “You’re on. Later, Callum!” he added before both he and Fergus purposefully strode off in the direction of the stairs.

  Callum suppressed a sigh, and looked at Kurt. “Another drink?” he suggested.

  **********

  Callum didn't see Cooper again until much later but, for once, he didn't mind being abandoned. He had a good time with Kurt, who turned out to be almost as much fun to dance with as Cooper was, especially when he plucked up the nerve to pull Callum in close and kiss him. Callum was just beginning to contemplate the prospect of ending a very long drought when Kurt glanced at his watch and made an unhappy face.

  “I'm going to have to go,” he said with regret. “It's my son’s birthday tomorrow and I've got to get up stupidly early to take him to ‘Dinosaur World, of all places.”

  “Oh,” said Callum. “That's a shame. How old is he?”

  “Six, going on sixty,” Kurt laughed before adding awkwardly, “I've had a really good time tonight though. Can I have your number? I'd like to see you again.”

  Callum felt his smile grow to ridiculous proportions as he pulled out his phone. “Of course,” he said. He might not be getting a shag tonight, but there was always next time. Maybe he'd be able to get more out of it as too. Unlike Cooper, he didn't live in a world where relationships began and ended with the exchange of bodily fluids.

  Once Kurt had left, Callum texted Cooper.

  Thinking of heading home. Where are you?

  The reply came less than a minute later.

  Women's toilets. Be with you in a minute.

  **********

  “Why the hell were you in the women's toilets?” was the first thing Callum asked when Cooper returned to the bar, closely followed by a dishevelled-looking youth bearing a dazed and awestruck expression. Cooper, as per usual, looked as together as he always did, his appearance offering up absolutely no suggestion of whatever it was they had been up to.

  Cooper gave his flatmate a wry grin. “Their cubicles are larger than ours,” he replied. “Clearly discrimination.”

  “Right,” Callum said, shaking his head. “Well, I'm going home. Are you coming?”

  Cooper glanced around. “What happened to your shag? Surely even you can't have messed it up already.”

  “He had to go home,” Callum replied through gritted teeth. “He's got an early start tomorrow. I've got his number though. I'm hoping to get a date.”

  “A date?” Cooper repeated, a disgusted look spreading across his face.

  Callum decided to just ignore him. “Look, are you coming home now or not?”

  “Yeah,” Cooper replied. “I just need to text Fergus and tell him that he was wro
ng.”

  Callum opened his mouth to ask about what, and then shut it again without speaking. When it came to Fergus, he was almost certainly better off not knowing.

  “Erm, excuse me,” said the youth that had followed Cooper back. “Do you want me to come with you?”

  Cooper gave him a look that said he had forgotten he was still there. “No, no,” he said impatiently. “I'm done with you now.”

  The youth went to reply, but Cooper was already distracted by his phone, and so, instead he stalked off quietly back in to the crowd.

  “Would it really kill you to just be polite for once?” Callum sighed.

  Cooper made a disgusted face. “Yes,” he replied with conviction before putting his phone back in his pocket. “Done. Come on, let’s go.”

  He set off for the exit with his usual confident stride and Callum scurried to keep up, wondering why Cooper didn't get punched in the face more often.

  ***********

  Callum waited until the following evening to text Kurt. He was sitting back on the sofa, bloated from eating far too much pizza, trying to ignore Cooper.

  How were the dinosaurs?

  The reply came back quickly, so fast that Callum barely had time to put his phone down.

  Very scary, but Jake loved it. What are you up to?

  Just chilling and watching TV with Cooper. I like quiet Sunday evenings.

  Enjoy xx

  Two kisses, Callum mused as a series of explosions rang out from whatever blow ‘em up movie Cooper had chosen. Were two kisses good? They must be he decided, curling his knees up tight to his chest. Yes, two kisses were very definitely a good sign.

  ***********

  Kurt and Callum exchanged texts throughout the week. Kurt was a hairstylist, and his little comments about some of his clients made Callum grin more than once. They managed to find time to meet for a quick lunch on Thursday, and Callum took the chance to ask Kurt out on a proper date the following night. Kurt said yes with rather more eagerness than Callum thought he meant to show and he spent the rest of Thursday afternoon with a ridiculously happy grin plastered across his face. After almost a year of putting up with Cooper's general attitude that everything other than anonymous sex was dull it was refreshing to have met someone whose genuine pleasure at getting to spend time with Callum was obvious.

  Cooper went into a sulk when he found out Callum was going out without him on a Friday night.

  “It's just one night,” Callum sighed, putting the finishing touches to his hair while Cooper scowled at him from the bathroom doorway. “I'll be coming out as usual tomorrow night. Besides, it's not as if you really need me there.”

  “That’s not the point,” Cooper replied ruefully. “You're meant to come out with me on Fridays.”

  Callum glared at him in the mirror. “I'm not your bloody puppy,” he said crossly. “If I want to go on a date with a nice bloke, you have no right to be pissed off about it. I'd have thought you'd be pleased for me. I might even get laid tonight.”

  Cooper looked him up and down. “Not dressed like that you won't.”

  Callum glanced down at his clothes and frowned. It had been longer than he cared to remember since he had dressed for a date, and he wasn't really confident that he had managed to nail it. Perhaps it was finally time to take advantage of Cooper's expertise.

  “Okay, superstud,” he said. “What exactly should I be wearing?”

  Cooper's face lit up.

  When Callum met up with Kurt an hour later, he was wearing clothes that he hadn't really known he had. Although he felt a little uncomfortable, the look on Kurt's face when he saw him was worth it.

  The date went well and, although Callum didn't get his shag, they left it with a satisfying snog and a furtive grope that left him in no doubt that Kurt was packing something that he was definitely interested in exploring further. Kurt’s very evident arousal gave him hope that there would be a next time, and the dreamy look in his eyes as they had kissed left him in no doubt that Kurt wanted more too. He was a man whose company Callum felt at ease in, even if Callum did find himself drifting off into wondering what Cooper was up to at certain points in the conversation, especially when Kurt got into an overly long anecdote about highlights.

  ***********

  The following morning, when Callum stumbled through to make his tea, there was a blond-haired youth sitting on their sofa, clutching at a blanket and staring blankly at the wall.

  “Morning,” Callum said chirpily, causing him to jump and look around with an almost terrified expression.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  “Callum. Cooper's flatmate.”

  “Oh, right,” said the youth, glancing at Cooper's closed bedroom door and then at the clock. “Is he…I mean, do you think he'll be up anytime soon?”

  “I doubt it,” Callum sighed, before adding, as gently as he could, “And, take it from me, he probably won't be all that interested in you when he does.”

  The youth looked as though he was about to burst in to tears. “Oh, right, erm, okay,” he muttered.

  “Are you alright?” Callum asked.

  “Oh, yes…yes,” the blond replied in a very unconvincing voice. “I just…it was very intense, you know, with…”

  There was a beep from Callum's mobile and the youth flinched and stood up. “I should go then,” he said. “Tell him…” he paused, looking at Cooper’s bedroom door as though whatever was behind it was disrupting his train of thought. “Just tell him…thanks.”

  He grabbed his shoes and left the flat without putting them on, running out of the door as if someone was chasing him. Callum watched him go, wondering what the hell Cooper had got up to with him, before checking his phone.

  Had a great time last night. Hope we can do it again soon.

  Callum smiled and replied before he had even put the kettle on.

  Me too. We're going out tonight, probably to Cascades again. Want to come along?

  He set about making his tea and Cooper emerged from his bedroom, Callum automatically reaching up in to the cupboard for a second mug.

  “What the hell did you do to that poor blond lad?” he asked, before hurriedly adding, “Without going into too many details, if you don’t mind.”

  Cooper shrugged his shoulder. “Just trying something a bit different,” he said nonchalantly. “I don't think I'll be repeating it though. It was Fergus's idea.”

  Callum's phone beeped again before he could respond.

  Sorry, got Jake for the night, otherwise I totally would. How about coming over for a quiet Sunday evening instead?

  Callum let himself think about the idea for a moment, but Sunday evenings were when he got to hang out with Cooper without anything or anyone else intruding.

  Bit of a standing arrangement with Cooper, sorry. I can do Monday, though.

  Cooper gave Callum a withering glance as he handed him his tea. “I'd ask how successful your evening was, but I can already tell you didn't get a shag.”

  “It was great, actually,” Callum scowled. “We had a really good time, and we just decided not to rush into anything straight away.”

  “You mean he decided,” Cooper replied, with a look that said he knew that he was right. “You're probably better off anyway. He looked like sex with him would be pretty dull.”

  Callum glared at his flatmate, but was saved from having to come up with a response by the beeping of his phone.

  Monday would be great. I'll cook us a meal, if you want to come over?

  Callum allowed himself a victorious smirk. An invitation to Kurt’s place could only mean one thing. He was definitely going to get laid on Monday.

  Sounds good. I'll bring beer.

  **********

  Callum’s theory was correct, and it wasn't dull. Maybe a little generic, but not everyone had memorised and mastered every position in the gay Kama Sutra. He stayed for a while afterwards, enjoying the chance to be close to someone, but an early start the next morning meant he
had to force himself to get up and head home.

  When he arrived, Cooper was settled in the armchair, with Fergus sprawled out on the sofa. Both turned around and gave him scrutinising looks.

  “I told you so,” Cooper smirked at the Irishman.

  “Oh, poor Callum,” Fergus said in a voice that managed to be both patronising and commiserating. “Was it all over too quickly?”

  “Shut up,” Callum snapped. “It's none of your bloody business.”