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“If you’re looking for your friend, he went towards the river with my friend.” A petite blonde addressed me, fingers twirling her hair seductively.

She was barking up the wrong tree. Girls weren’t my thing. “Thanks. I’ll go find him.”

“I wouldn’t if I were you. I think they had other plans that didn’t involve me or you. Unless you’re into threesomes. Or you could stay here with me.” She giggled and ran her finger down my chest.

“I’m good, thanks.” I took a step back. Still nope.

“Suit yourself.” She flounced away, her long hair floating behind her, along with the eyes of the surrounding men, her short shorts leaving very little to the imagination.

I stood on tiptoe, but she was right. No doubt he’d gone for the night.

I didn’t want to stand around like a spare dick at a wedding, and I’d been out for far longer than I’d expected. Now that I thought about it, my body ached. The feet I’d been on all day screamed at me to rest them, and this time, I listened.

Home. That was where I needed to be. I handed my drinks to an unsuspecting couple of guys and left the beer garden. I was about to text Sal, letting him know where I’d gone, but before I could get my phone out, I heard a shout from the other side of the road.

“Come on. Don’t fucking lead me on, then turn me down.” More scuffling ensued, loud grunts and groans. What the hell was going on?

I ran across the road towards the noise. “Hey, is everything okay here?”

“Stay out of it. Don’t concern you.” The voice was gruff, definitely male. I couldn’t be sure who the other person was, other than that they had long hair.

In the semi-darkness, it was difficult to see exactly what was happening, but it was some kind of altercation. I couldn’t walk off and not intervene.

A cry split the night, followed by the slap of retreating footsteps on concrete. What fucking idiot did this kind of thing and then ran off?

“Yeah, you fucking coward. Piss off and leave me alone.” That wasn’t a girl’s voice, but it was one I recognised.

“Frankie? Is that you?” He turned to face me as I reached him. I placed my hand on his arm, the flesh hot to the touch.

“Of course it’s me,” he said, shrugging me off and brushing himself down.

“But you were…” I looked between him and the direction his attacker had fled.

“Yeah, we were kissing, okay? S’not a crime, is it?”

“God, no. No, that’s not what I meant.” And it wasn’t. I guess I was surprised to see him kissing another guy. But then, what did I know of him other than what he’d told me?

And why should he share that with me? It was none of my business, the same as my sexuality had nothing to do with him or anyone else. Not something we announced to the world.

However, I had a horrible feeling it wouldn’t go down well in his house from what he’d told me about his mum and Brian.

“Here, sit down and I can check you out.” I led him to a low wall and leant him against it.

“Huh, that’s what he said, then before I knew it, he’d got his tongue down my throat and his hands down my jeans. Fucking liberty. If he’d asked, I’d have probably said yes, but consent is a thing, you know.”

“Hey, I know all about that, but what I meant was I’ll check you out medically. See if you have any cuts or anything.” I swayed a little, the fresh air intensifying my intoxication.

“Looks like you’ve had one too many, Doc.” He smiled and steadied me with his hand.

“Maybe a few, but it’s been a tough day. Look, are you sure you’re okay?” He didn’t seem to be hurt, with no apparent cuts or grazes.

“I’m good, but he’d best watch out next time.”

“There’ll be a next time?” I asked, my eyebrow raised.

“Nah, probably not.” He laughed dryly. “He should be so lucky.”

The green eyes that had drawn me before looked different tonight; more intense and full of life, sparkling beneath the streetlight.