Page 64 of Sweet Thing

CHAPTER 32

BLACKOUT #2

Two days had passed since Simeon had spoken to Bastian. He’d spent the weekend alone, lost in his thoughts, only receiving one message from Bast that was sent at three a.m on Saturday morning.

“Sorry. Forgive me. I’ll call you x”.

He’d bitten the bullet and sent a response of “Please call, I’m worried about you” but days had passed without another reply.

Friday night had been hell, and Simeon had awoken on Saturday feeling like crap, but determined to get on with his life until Bastian called and arranged to meet up and fill him in on the business deal that took precedence over their date night. Doubts crowded Simeon’s mind. Was Bastian having second thoughts? Had he met someone else? Was Simeon being dumped? The repetitive questions whirled around in his head, and there was nothing he could do or take to stop the incessant spiral. He’d trusted Bastian more than any man he’d known, shared his body, and opened his heart. They’d both jumped headlong into the relationship, and it had moved fast. Was the pace just too fast for Bastian?

Simeon had become so wrapped up in the man and the relationship that he’d had wishful dreams of their wedding. It would be a beautifully-themed wedding, and everyone in attendance would be in some sort of flamboyant costume. There would be amazing cake, Lukas would be the best man, and his papa would walk him down the aisle. Sim sighed. It would be gorgeous. Why couldn’t he have what other lovers aimed so effortlessly for?

He’d thought Bast was the one, but that secret dream never seemed farther away. Whatever was going on, it appeared that Bastian was no longer looking for a relationship, let alone marriage. His behavior was erratic, and the cold-shoulder treatment was completely out of character. And so, the silence smarted like a flesh wound. Simeon’s once balanced life was wobbling around him, and he had no idea what to do.

Simeon’s intense need for his boyfriend alarmed him. He wondered what he’d done wrong. Had he been presumptuous, demanding or assumed a closeness that was really one-sided? Was Simeon opening his heart to find his love unrequited yet again? The apartment felt too small, and Simeon had spent far too much time moping alone, listening to the saddest most lovelorn songs in his vinyl collection.

He couldn’t stand it any longer. Sim grabbed his phone, slid on a pair of trainers, grabbed his jacket, and left his apartment with a steely determination in his step. He wasn’t going to let this relationship go without a fight. Whatever was happening, Simeon was sure they could work it out. Nothing would get fixed if Bastian wouldn’t even return his damn phone calls.

Sim was going to return to Bastian’s home and have it out with him once and for all.

****

—THUMP.

“What did you drop?” Pieter called to Emily from their bedroom at hearing a loud noise.

Emily was in her son’s room getting Lukas ready for bed. “What are you on about?” she hollered back.

Confused, Pieter strode across the hall and into his baby’s room. “I heard a loud noise. I thought you broke something,” Pieter said suspiciously. Then the sound came again.

Alarmed, Pieter moved from the bedroom and headed in the direction he thought the sound was coming from—the front door. He peered through the peephole and saw nothing. On opening the door, Pieter’s heart dropped like a lead weight.

“Jesus Sim.” Pieter exhaled in horror, “What the fuck?”

Simeon was curled in the fetal position on the floor outside Pieter and Emily’s penthouse apartment. Pieter had no idea how he’d gained entry, since the building had a twenty-four-hour concierge and access to the elevators was for residents only. Simeon’s skin looked gray and clammy. His eyes were closed, and Pieter’s alarmed question and attempt to shake him awake hadn’t roused him. Pieter leaned in to check Simeon had a pulse and was immediately knocked back by the scent of alcohol.

“EMILY!” Pieter hollered, and then swore under his breath. He swiftly moved Simeon’s limbs into the recovery position and checked his airway was clear. “EMILY!” He called again, hearing the shrill of fear in his own voice.

“What the fuck’s the matter?” Emily exclaimed as she arrived at his back with Lukas in her arms. She saw the pale, unconscious form of Simeon and exhaled a gasp of shock.

“Call for an ambulance. He’s been drinking.” Pieter informed, his voice flat and emotionless.

Emily turned on her heels and rushed to Lukas’s bedroom where she deposited him safely into his cot. Sensing something was wrong Lukas wailed his disapproval, but time was of the essence. Emily had already lost her father to alcohol; there was no way in hell she wanted them to lose Simeon too.

****