The Line of Beauty - Alan Hollinghurst [172]
"Don't put that away," said Wani, which was one of his little jokes.
Tristao clucked and said, "He likes that."
"I know," said Nick.
"I know where I see you now," Tristao said, putting it away none the less, and flushing the lavatory. He washed his hands and talked into the mirror. "Is Mr Toby birthday party. In the big big house. Long time ago."
"That's right," said Nick, struggling up and taking off his jacket. Tristao took his tail-coat off too, as though it were agreed what they were going to do. The instinctive certainty made Nick smile.
"You come lookin for me, in the kitchen. I think you was very pissed."
"Was I?" said Nick vaguely.
"Then I feel very bad because I say I meet you later, and I never come."
"We know why," said Wani.
"Don't worry," said Nick. "I'm sure I forgot too."
Tristao put a hand on Nick's shoulder, and Nick understood and got out his wallet and gave him £20. Tristao tilted his face and stuck his long fat tongue into Nick's mouth, kissed him systematically for ten seconds, then pulled out and turned away. Wani hadn't noticed, busy with the hill of coke. Tristao went and peered over his shoulder. "I get in big trouble for this," he said.
"No trouble," said Wani. "Couldn't be safer. House under police guard."
"Yeah, I mean with my boss. Just a short break, yeah?"
"See how you like it," said Wani, groping back at the waiter's crotch without looking round.
"I mean, do you need more money?" said Nick.
"I've just given him fifty fucking quid," said Wani in a loud drawl.
Tristao mooched about and looked in the mirror again. He said, "So you no bring your wife with you to the party?"
"She's not my fucking wife, you slut," said Wani cheerfully.
Tristao grinned at Nick. "I see you dancin with the big lady tonight," he said. "Jumpin around. I think she likes you."
Wani's head reared in a single laugh. "I'm going to ask her just what she thinks of Nick the next time I see her."
"You a good friend of hers then, are you?" said Tristao, and grinned at Nick again.
"A fucking good friend," said Wani, tapping and peering at his work. "An exceedingly good friend . . . There . . ." He turned and stared. "No, don't you love her? Isn't she just beautiful?"
Tristao made a little moue. "Yeah, she OK. OK for me, anyway. Lots of parties, lots of money. Lots of tips. Hundred pound. Two hundred pound . . ."
"God, you slut," said Wani.
Nick went to the basin and drank two glasses of water. "I need a li-ine," he crooned. They were all wired up now and desperate to go on, with the great, almost numbing reassurance of having packets more stuff. It was beyond pleasure, it was its own motor, pure compulsion, though it gave them the delusion of choice, and of wit in making it.
Tristao bent to snort his line, and Wani felt his cock and Nick felt his arse. "Is good stuff? So where you get this stuff?" he said, stepping back, escaping for a moment, sniffing sharply.
"I get it from Ronnie," said Wani. "That's his name. Ah, that's better"— pinching his nostrils. "I love Ronnie. He's my best friend. He's really my only friend."
"Apart from the Prime Minister," said Nick.
Tristao had the big first smirk on his face. A dozen decisions were already being made for him. He said, "I thought he's your best friend. Him, Nick. No?"
"Nick? He's just a slut," said Wani. "He takes my money."
Nick looked round from the first half of his line. "What he means is he's my employer," he said, with necessary pedantry.
"Not that he does any fucking work," said Wani.
"Actually that's one kind of work I do do," said Nick pertly.
"What—fuckin work?" said Tristao, and laughed like an idiot.
"Anyway," said Nick, "he's a millionaire, so . . ."
"I'm a mw/tf-millionaire," said Wani, with a sort of airy scowl. "I want you to do your trick now."
"What is his trick?" said Nick.
"You'll see," said Wani.
"I hope this drugs don't make my dicky go soft," said TTristao.
"If your dicky go soft I'm having my fucking money back," said Wani.
Tristao dropped his trousers and pants round