Sometime after that first weekend where David and I discovered our desires for each other, things carried on getting better and better. We slept together frequently, we stopped going out on weekends looking to get laid and instead we started to enjoy each other's company more as lovers, rather than just friends. Although we kept things largely behind closed doors, we were, for all intents and purposes, in a relationship with each other.
Things were going great. I was happy, David was happy, we were in such a good place together everything seemed wonderful. I couldn't have been happier.
One day, near the end of November, I was having a run along the bank of the Thames. I was enjoying the cold, crisp air as I shot by groups of tourists, bundled up lovers enjoying the sights and the odd drunk businessman clearly in the wrong place. It was a dark evening and the lights from the south bank were beautiful, reflecting up from the calm and still waters of the river.
About an hour into my run, my phone started to ring, interrupting the pulsing electronica and inevitably, pulling me out of The Zone and back to reality. I pulled my phone from my arm holster (something David would frequently mock me mercilessly for) and looked at the screen. An unknown number. I remember thinking that it must be one of those automated marketing calls, but I still answered anyway
"MAAAAARRRRKKKKYYYY!" a booming northern voice yelled down the line, giving me a stark reminder at how loud I had my headphones.
"FUCK!" I yelled.
All I heard down the line was a roaring laugh and instantly it twigged to me who was calling,
"Adam? Is that you?"
"YOU'RE FUCKING RIGHT IT IS MARKY!" Adam thundered back down the phone.
Adam had been one of my good friends at University. We'd been friends for years, though not as long as David and I had been friends. He came from Manchester and he had a personality as loud as his voice. Adam was singularly responsible for nearly every hangover I suffered at University, the man could drink for England. He was also a strapping, built solid Rugby playing bloke, which is why he was the only person in the world who I allowed to call me Marky. He dwarfed me and I was not going to argue with 250lbs of walking muscle and beard. After University had ended, he'd moved back north and we'd both kind of lost touch with each other.
"Holy shit! Adam!" I beamed, "How the fuck are you?"
"I'm fucking top, mate," he replied in his thick Mancunian accent, "how long has it been?"
"Too long, far too long. What's up, man?"
"Well, Marky. I'm sorry to call you out the blue like this, but I'm getting married in a couple of weeks and that sackless bellend I got to be my best man forgot to send you an invite."
"Oh my God! That's wonderful! Congratulations!" I didn't even realise I was yelling down the phone at this point. It would have explained why the people around me were staring, "Who is the lucky lady?"
"Ha, well you know her," he postured while laughing.
"I do?"
"Yeah, remember Christine McCarrick?"
I remembered Christine McCarrick. She was in our class at University and she was probably the most beautiful woman I'd ever encountered. Tall, slender, incredibly athletic despite her fairly large breasts, locks of auburn hair and blue eyes that would melt even the coldest of hearts. I adored her and she never paid me any attention.
"No. Fucking. Way!" I said, not even bothering to hide my incredulity.
More laughter erupted from down the phone, "Yes fucking way, bonny lad," Adam chuckled, "and in case you were still wondering from University, yes she is that good in bed!"
I laughed harder than I would have expected at that, "Even after all these years, you're still a dick, Adam."
"Yeah, but this dick is inviting you to his wedding in two weeks' time and the bachelor party this weekend. Up for it?" The question had left me slightly lost for words. Me and David had no plans but it was still a shock to be asked so out of the blue.
"Erm, yeah, I think I can come."
"Excellent, we've got a penthouse down in London rented out. It cost a small fortune but it would be great to have you down."
"Well that's easy, me and David are flat sharing in London, so it's not an issue for us."
"You're still living with him?" Adam and David were always big rivals, "You might as well get married yourself at this point. I've met couples who spend less time together than you two!"
If only he knew...
"Yeah, well we're mates and it's a nightmare to meet people you get on with down here," I said, trying to deflect the conversation away from me and David.
"Ha! Well he's welcome to come too. The more the merrier."
Giving me all the details as I frantically typed them down on my phone, I got the address, what time to get there and what to bring. Including David and I there would be 6 of us there. Adam had asked if I'd mind bunking with David as there were only three double beds in the place and everyone would have to share. I assured him that it wasn't an issue, slightly giggling to myself. Adam had also specified that it was a party weekend, so any drink and drugs were welcome and actively encouraged.
David didn't take much convincing about going to the party. At University he and Adam were always trying to one up each other. Who could drink the most, who could snort the most lines of coke before passing out, who could get the most phone numbers on a night out and one particularly random challenge which consisted of who could pull a girl, go back to her place then get back to the club and do it all again. In reality I always doubted there were every any winners in their challenges, but by David's count they were level pegging with each other.
