Ainsley curled his hand around his pint even tighter, not bothering to look around. He knew what he'd see, and while he didn't mind the whole club scene as a rule, it wasn't really his thing either. He preferred the ambiance of his local, really. Quiet, except on a weekend night, but then it was footballers and their birds, or large groups out together, interspersed with a few loners like him. Also, he knew exactly what he was paying for there. Here, a few quid just didn't stretch nearly as far. And no one wanted to sleep with someone who couldn't even buy him or her a drink.
Fuck. It had been a while. Ainsley wasn't exactly a slag or anything. But once in a while it was nice to be able to let loose with someone, take someone to bed. Someone with no expectations or hopes beyond that night. Someone he didn't have to explain things to, or apologize to for his life.
His life wasn't so bad, really. A little lonely at times, perhaps. But he had Hannah, and that made everything worth it. Mondays were his days. The only day he reliably had off from both jobs. The day she didn't have to go to preschool while her mum went off to work.
Fuck, he wished it was Monday.
"Hey. Hey, Ainsley." Marcus slugged him on the arm to get his attention, then pointed out a girl across the bar with a subtle nod of his head. "Her?"
Ainsley shook his head. She looked rather high maintenance. He wouldn't have been able to keep her attention for even the night.
"Fine. Him then?" Marcus nodded in the opposite direction, this time to a bloke sitting with a group of friends at a nearby table.
Ainsley shook his head again. "Straight. I think. If not, not the type to not be straight among his mates."
"Picky picky."
Ainsley smiled and lifted his beer. It felt nice and cool in his throat in the warm club, but still he drank slowly. He had enough for one, maybe two more, and that was it. Less if he actually had to treat someone else at some point.