Night club
He sat at the desk for what felt like hours, the bottle of Jack Daniels almost empty, giving him the courage he needed, and he rang the number on the old telephone at the desk.
He had done it so many times that it now felt like clockwork and he did not even need to think before he tapped the numbers, the small clicks calming him as he held the phone to his ear. As soon as he heard the click from the other end, he started to speak, his words slurring from the alcohol.
“Look, i am so fucking sorry, I couldn’t say it and you know I can’t, I’m just, I’m just fucking broken from Trina. I want to tell you that I love you, I really do, but I’m scared that If I say it out loud, you’ll think that I don’t actually mean it. So I’m waiting. Look, I’ll work less hours to see you, I’ll let you live with me, I’ll drive you to work each morning, I’ll do couples shit that I hate so much, I’ll do that all for you. Because I do… I do… I do but I can’t say it. I just feel so shitty for leaving you there in that crappy apartment because I was too scared to tell you I love you. Please, let me come over tonight cutie, I promise I’ll make it up to you.” He just sat listening to the breathing at the other end of the line, catching slightly as they turned into sobs in his partners throat.
“It’s over Marvin.”
And he hung up.
Marvin drowned his sorrows at the bottom of the bottle, staggering to his feet and trying to work the clasp on his briefcase. He banged it angrily against the table as he failed to open it, sitting back down again and screaming into the decorative pillow that sat on the couch in his office. He stopped shouting, taking deep breaths in and out and tried to put his suit jacket on, getting it caught in his suspenders and knocking over a glass jar. He shrugged as he watched it crash to the floor, realising he did not even like it anyway, and suddenly the phone rang. He almost tripped over as he grabbed it, pulling the chord taught and falling with a tiny yelp to the floor.
“I knew you’d come around love. Shit, I love you, I love you, I love you. I finally said it-“ tears slowly fell down his face as he felt the relief of finally letting go of the words that he had been holding back for years. “- you stopped me from being damaged, how could you be so kind to me. How can I repay you?”
“I think I got the wrong number.” The voice at the other end replied sheepishly.
“Wait so you aren’t my partner and you aren’t getting back together with me?”
“Oh shit, I’m so sorry to give you hope dude. What’s your name?”
Marvin choked back the sobs that were catching in his throat, trying so hard to sound masculine “I’m Marvin, who are you and how did you get my number?”
“I’m Whizzer, my friend recommended you but I don’t think you’re a prostitute, are you?”
Marvin laughed,” no I’m a lawyer.”
“Do you know any good prostitutes?” Whizzer asked, seemingly not caring about Marvin’s answer.
“I’m sorry, I’m not really into the whole ‘night club’ scene.”
“So you’re gay?”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh honey, it’s 1987, my wallstreet buddies have ‘tutes’ at work, the only reason you wouldn’t be into the ‘night club scene’-“ he said, mocking Marvin “- is if you aren’t into the people at the night club scene.” Whizzer could hear the fear through the phone
“Also you said partner not girlfriend or wife. You probably wouldn’t say boyfriend to a random stranger.”
“Well since my night can’t get any worse, yeah you’re right, I am gay, if my boss finds out, I will be fired so please don’t tell him.”
“Well, Marv-“ his tone was smooth and cocky and Marvin loved yet hated it at the same time “- I don’t even know who your boss is. Anyways I wasn’t askin’ for female prostitutes.”
Marvin cocked his head slightly, looking to the clock on the wall, realising it was late, but not late enough for him to be able to face his empty house.
“Where’d you work?”
“Wall Street. Head trader of a big firm.”
“Top or bottom?”
“Top.”
“Where do you wanna meet, I need someone to fuck me hard enough for me to forget about my ex.”
“There’s a gay bar on Washington street called ‘Mine shaft.’”
“I’ll see you there.”