Meet Matthew, Freddie, and Jake, three gay best friends looking for love but somehow always coming up empty. Can a steamy summer excursion to Europe's great capitals bring each of them the love of their lives? Or will love once again prove elusive?
In this prequel to Adam Carpenter’s European Flings Quartet, find out the reasons each man has decided to leave behind their New York apartments in search of love on foreign soil. Was it a lost love? A regretful one-nighter? Or maybe a date gone bad? Whatever happened before, these three friends are about to embark on the journeys of their lives in this funny, sexy, hopeful short story that shows what happens when you open your heart to the possibilities that exist beyond your comfortable borders.
Time was 10:15 in the evening. The scene, the dark, noisy Gaslight Bar, one of the new gay bars that had opened up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Named after the old movie, it was an ironic, iconic name. Men came here to fall in love, only to wake up the next morning beside their true loves and realize the promise of a tomorrow was as stale as the sheets. In effect, they had been gaslighted, or so the term goes. Jake Westbury and Matthew Donovan each felt like that today, and Freddie leant a sympathetic ear, thinking their two stories were far sexier than anything he’d seen on his DVD player today. There were gathered on a back bench, pillows propping them up. Jake had a beer, Matthew a Grey Goose martini, and for Freddie, red wine.
“So, what’s this big development?”
Jake leaned in, speaking quietly. “I’m leaving town. Not permanent -- just for the summer. Flying out right after Memorial Day weekend, not back until Labor Day.”
“Where are you going?”
“London.”
“London? For three fucking months?” Freddie said, loud enough to attract attention.
“Why there? And why for so long?” Matt asked, showing more concern for his friend than Freddie did. Which was just like them.
“Okay, I told you about the guy from last night…”
“Right,” Freddie said. “The sexy, hairy Nico.”
Jake shot him a look. “Must you?”
“Just kidding around, Jake-y. You’ve hardly made it a secret, your thing for hairy guys.”
Jake just shook his head out with exasperation. “You hear this talk, Matt? Like it’s a crime to be attracted to a real man. You and I have gone bear hunting more than once. Fucking twinks in this town have ruined them for us all.”
Matt jus said, “Can we get on with this plan of yours?”
“Please. The truth is, I’m tired of New York, I’m tired of one-nighters, and I’m tired of not meeting anyone who really matters. So, why not try somewhere else?”
“And you think you’re gonna find true love in London?” Freddie asked. “That place is just like New York, but with funny accents. And bad teeth.”
“Stereotypes, Freddie. For too long I’ve felt my life has gotten stagnant. I don’t know what I want anymore, who I am. I’ve arranged for a decent writing assignment which will help pay the bills, and I’ve already secured a flat. I need this.” He paused. “Freddie, you’re so fun-loving, you’re always looking for the next party, the next lay, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Matt, you fall in love at the drop of a hat ...”
“Unlike Freddie, who falls in lust at the bend of an ass ...”
“Hey, that was uncalled for,” Freddie said, hitting Matt on the sleeve. “Just for that, I’m leaving town too, Matt. Screw this town, like Jake says. If he’s going to London, then I’m going to ...”
“Where?”
“Rome.”
“Huh? Wait a minute, why Rome?”
Freddie didn’t want to admit to the DVD he’d just watched, so he scrambled for a quicker answer. “Jake’s posters -- the ones on his wall. If he’s going to jet off to London, then I’m choosing Rome. I’ve got my mother’s inheritance, which will more than get me through the summer. Yeah, I’m liking this idea. Nice one, Jake-y.”
“So you’re both going to abandon me?” Matt asked.
“Well,” Jake said, a grin spreading upon his face. “There is still the remaining poster.”
“Paris,” Freddie said. “Oh my God, it’s perfect for you. You’ll fall in love your first day and we’ll never hear from you again.”
Matt thought about the straight guy who liked to get blow jobs from gay guys. Was this what his dating life was reduced to? He’d been fantasizing about Paris just this afternoon in the park, before Ernie had ruined any notion of romance. “Okay, Paris it is. I’m unemployed and no one hires people in the summer. I’ll have to use some of my savings, but hey, isn’t that what it’s for? Fine, count me in. It’s settled. Jake goes to London, I go to Paris, and Freddie can sleep his way through Rome.”
“Hey --”
But then all three best friends quieted down, and they all reached for their drinks.
“To London,” Jake said, raising his beer. “And starting a new life.”
“To Paris,” Matt said, martini in hand. “And falling in love.”
“To Rome,” said Freddie, wine glass raised. “And a summer of hot flings.”
It was decided, Europe awaited them.
