"What? WHAT? I was only talking. I liked his glasses, Rory wears glasses, the speccy twat. That boy kept talking about tube trains, I told him I had an Oyster card, but he didn't seem impressed, said it was in my trouser pocket and he could feel it, if he liked…What?"
Christian manhandled Michael back into the kitchen and pushed him up against the sink.
"You were upsetting his partner…"
Gaping guiltily, Michael's hand flew to cover his mouth.
"Was I? Oh shit, fuck, sorry.."
"It's not me you need to apologise to.."
Christian glanced around the door to watch as Syed gently relieved Matt of the Dorito's, saw Calum's bemused shaking of the head as he kissed Matt on the cheek, and smiled with relief as the three of them began to laugh.
"I think you got away with it. If you need to flirt with someone, do it with Sam."
"Too damn easy, I've got him already."
"Roxy then."
"Too many breasts."
"I think she's only got the required amount, but your guess is as good as mine. Talk to Greg and Barry, they're fit. Barry loves talking dirty.."
Pulling a face, Michael slumped back against the draining board, knocking over a glass.
"Whoops! Too straight. Pointless."
Christian laughed.
"Worth a try, surely? Must have worked for you before? Used to for me.."
"Their subsequent guilt bores me." Michael wondered if the long word had come out correctly, and where he had dragged it up from.
"Fair enough. Congratulations on 'subsequent' by the way, not easy for a pissed bloke to say. That is what you said wasn't it? You weren't talking about squids? Steve then, he's lovely!"
Michael rolled his eyes.
"Subsquidscent. It'd be like trying to get off with a mountain, size of him. Anyway, all those massive muscles and bulgy veins, he probably hasn't got much of a penis…"
"You, are dreadful. Sam assures me, often, and in hideous graphic detail, that he does. Still, if you get Sam or Steve, you usually get the other one thrown in for good measure.."
Instantly, Michael seemed to perk up.
"Do you now? That's an idea… Oh bollocks, I think I'm beginning to sober up. I can feel the shame seeping up from my toes. I've been an incredibly annoying prat, haven't I?
Christian came to stand beside him and folded his arms, nudging against Michael, he nodded.
"Yes, you have, but it's helped me realise what a complete and utter pain I must have been when I was hurting over Sy.."
"But it's alright now? You got a happy ending?"
"Happy beginning.." Christian corrected him.
"And is he okay now? Remembered everything?"
"Yes. Which is good, except, of course, for the bad things,the things he's had to endure to get where he is today, the ones that make him weep in his sleep…."
"Oh.."
They were silent for a moment. Michael picked up the glass he had knocked over and ran his finger thoughtfully around the rim.
"What about you, Christian? Now he's back and safe, nothing scares you, does it? You seem so fearless.."
Christian slowly took the glass from his hand.
"I have an irrational fear that he'll change his mind, wake up one morning and think he made the wrong choice, realise I'm not who he wants, that I'm just a catalyst to set him free. Look, you've got me maudlin now! I need to give this.." He waggled the tumbler. "…to Sy. Oh, here he is!"
"Hello! Look at you two, always in the kitchen at parties! Is that for me? It's okay, I found where I'd put my drink.. Zahida and Baz are heading off, and I think Tanya and Greg too. Darren and Jodie have just left. Jodie wanted to know whether you're called Christian because your parents are Christians… Do you want to say goodbye?"
As Christian made to leave, Tamwar and Afia appeared in the doorway, Afia clutching Michael's goody bag ro her chest.
Christian grabbed the bottle of champagne that was poking out the top and popped the cork with practiced ease, taking a large swig, he opened his eyes wide at Syed.
"I need a drink. First one tonight. You can keep the Lucozade and the eyelashes though, Afia. And that perfume, did you see?"
"Yeah, it's really cool.. We've had a great time, wild, thank you…"
"But mum keeps texting me…" Tam shrugged.
"Turn your phone off." Christian suggested, and Tamwar and Syed exchanged a sympathetic glance.
"Not that easy.. Thank you for having us." Tamwar held out his hand optimistically and braced himself for the assault he knew was imminent. Christian nearly knocked him and Afia over as he hugged them both, making his way past and taking another gulp of champagne, he called behind him;
"Always a pleasure! ROXY, you old cow!…"
"You really did have a good time?" Syed's brow creased with worry.
"Awesome!" said Afia and Tamwar smiled.
"Yes. And you will, you know, come? If I can wrangle it?"
"Nothing would keep me away.."
Glowing with happiness, Syed embraced them both, and watched them leave, weaving cautiously around the dancing Sam, Steve, Roxy and Christian, Tamwar neatly dodging the slap that was aimed at his bottom.
"Aww.." Syed turned glowing eyes to a chastened Michael.
"Now then, what's up with you?"