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For once, Reece was enjoying himself on a night out. Anne Marie had dragged them to yet another party in one of Paris’ more luxurious arrondissements, but a good party, fun and relaxed, and from what Reece could tell, Adam was having a good night. He liked it when that happened. Adam on a good night was one of Reece’s favorite people.
He and Adam were sitting on a couch with designer cover, and Anne Marie on a big cushion on the living room floor. She was smoking what Reece knew was a joint, but it seemed to make her relax. Anne Marie also seemed to be having a good night and Reece silently wished they could be like this more often.
They were having fun. Adam had been teasing Reece that he was jealous about Anne Marie. Reece had played along, saying it was his biggest regret that he had let Adam ask her out first, jokingly telling Anne Marie that she’d regret it in the end. He was just about to reach for another beer on the table when Tony walked into the room. Tony looked a bit surprised and seemed to be taking in the scene. His eyes lingering a bit at Adam, in a way that Reece knew they always did, sort of checking in if he was drunk, high, or miserable. Suddenly Anne Marie reached for Tony and dragged him down to sit next to her.
She looked him deep in the eye, seemingly ignoring Reece and Adam.
“Hi, we were just talking about you,” she lied and Reece wondered why. Tony stared back at her, but didn’t say anything. “Are you sure you’re not interested in women, like, at all?"
Reece wished Tony would have looked at him, so that Reece could assure him that wasn’t the case, that they had not been discussing him or whether or not he liked women. Tony just raised an eyebrow. “If I’m sure? Yes, I’m sure.” He focused on her, like he pretended that Reece and Adam weren’t there.
Anne Marie looked disappointed. “Not even me?” she asked with a pout and a put on girly voice that made Reece listened up.
Reece could see the quick look that Tony threw in the couch’s direction. “No, not even you,” he answered firmly and for a second something in Anne Marie’s face hardened.
Reece sort of noticed it, and had it confirmed through Adam when Adam leaned forward.
“See, nothing personal, babe,” he said quickly, almost apologetically, like they had had this conversation before.
Reece gave Adam a warning glance. Had he bragged to Anne Marie about Tony being in love with him? Or something to that effect, since Adam hated to directly acknowledge the elephant in the room. Adam just shrugged at him.
Anne Marie ignored the couch and straightened her back. “What if I kissed you?” she asked Tony a bit too cheerily and with a smile that was probably meant to be alluring.
Reece leaned forward, ready to intervene, but Adam stopped him with a hand on his arm, clearly thinking this was interesting.
Tony smirked, but it was an uncertain smirk. “Why would you do that?”
Anne Marie didn’t answer, but cradled his face, leaned in and kissed him slowly. Adam let out a surprised chuckle and Reece studied Tony closely. To his surprise, Tony closed his eyes and kissed back.
After almost half a minute of this caricature of Seven minutes in heaven, during which Adam had gone from cool to almost uncomfortable and Reece didn’t know where to look, Anne Marie leaned back with a triumphant grin. “What about that? Didn’t that turn you on, just a little?”
Tony bit his lip and shook his head. “Nothing, sorry,” but he didn’t sound sorry at all, more like he had won something, proved a point. It was almost hurtful and Reece figured Tony had probably had a bit too much to drink.
Adam chuckled again, a bit forced this time. “Told you, babe,” but he stopped when Anne Marie gave him an angry look. She then turned to Reece with a sweet smile, but her eyes scared him. She was on the warpath.
“What about you, Reece? You’re attracted to me, right?”
Adam tensed again, but Reece was happy that Anne Marie’s focus had shifted from Tony to himself.
“Well, as I told you, you’re an extremely attractive woman. But I’m afraid I can’t kiss you without making your boyfriend here insanely jealous.” He turned to Adam with a jovial smile. ”And we’ve managed not to fight for over a week now, so-,” he joked and took a mouthful of his beer and hoped the moment would pass. Adam seemed to relax again and Reece had to fight not to roll his eyes.
Anne Marie smiled, a big drunk smile and looked over at Adam. “He can kiss you,” she said calmly, too calmly.
Adam burst out laughing and Reece forced himself to chuckle, but Anne Marie remained perfectly serious.
“I give my permission. Come on,” she said and put a hand just above Tony’s knee. “We put on a show for you . . . We’re waiting.”
Reece did his best not to look at Tony, to remain calm and not be dragged into whatever this was.
“Hmm . . . No offense, but he doesn’t really do anything for me,” Reece tried to joke again, becoming increasingly aware that Anne Marie and Adam had had more than just alcohol. Again he got the feeling that this was part of a conversation Anne Marie and Adam had had before.
“Chicken,” Adam teased, making Reece quickly turn to face him in surprise. That was the last thing he expected. Adam grinned at him. “Not man enough to kiss another man? Afraid you’d like it?”
At that, Reece let out a genuine laugh. Unlike with Anne Marie, there was no malice in Adam’s voice, he’d just found the idea of Reece finding him attractive really funny. “Why? Are you?” Reece countered.
Usually Reece was quite good at reading Adam, but now he was totally blindsided when Adam lunged forward and pressed his lips to Reece’s. The kiss was sloppy, unsexy, but definitely reciprocated. Reece couldn’t help but think that objectively, Adam was a good kisser. Adam had ended up on top of him and Reece’s attempt to keep his balance turned it into a sort of half wrestling on the couch, until Adam took hold of the back of the couch and managed to push himself up. The whole episode only lasted a few seconds.
The two men had barely parted when Reece could hear Anne Marie’s teasing voice. “How about that? Did that turn you on?” It took him a second to realize whom she was talking to and when he turned away from Adam, Tony was half way up and heading for the door.
Anne Marie laughed, triggering Adam who also laughed and she walked over to the couch and sat down between the two men. “I thought that was pretty hot.” She reached up and kissed Adam and was soon sitting across his lap. Reece quickly decided it was time to go.
“See you guys later,” he mumbled, but it was unclear if the couple heard him.
He walked as casually as he could out into the kitchen where he found Michel talking to a girl with black curls. Reece was pretty sure she was Anne Marie’s friend, and the owner of the apartment.
“Hi . . . Have you guys seen Tony?” he asked and Michel looked up.
“Try the balcony,” he suggested. His eyes seemed to wonder what was going on, but he didn’t ask.
Reece walked out to the balcony where he found Tony sitting on a wooden bench, leaning against the wall, smoking.
“Are you ok?”
Tony wouldn’t look at him, but made a deep sigh. “Yes, I’m fine. Go away.”
Reece sighed, but didn’t leave. “Anne Marie can be a bit . . .” Tony made a scoffing sound and Reece got slightly annoyed and closed the door to the balcony. “She might be a bit careless, but has it occurred to you that maybe she doesn’t appreciate you running after her boyfriend like a lovesick puppy?”
He immediately regretted the term, but Tony barely seemed to hear him, just gave him a sullen look. “Like I’d be any threat to her.”
Reece moved closer and sat down on the bench next to Tony, trying to be kinder. “That’s not the point though, is it?”
“So you think it’s ok, what she did? . . . Why did you kiss him?”
Reece shrugged. “For a laugh. Because he threw himself at me. Why did you kiss her?” Reece pushed back. He didn’t know why he had kissed Adam. Out of curiosity? As a joke? Because it would guarantee that Adam would shut up, at least for a few seconds?
“To make you jealous?” It was unclear if he talked about Reece and Adam or Reece alone.
“Get over yourself,” Reece told him, more sternly than he’d intended.
“I’m just a joke to you,” Tony muttered, looking out over the rooftops. ”I’ve tried to . . . I’m not even sure Adam knows, that I was . . . How come she does?” Reece sighed. The only reason Adam pretended not to know was because it was easier for him, but it was painfully obvious to anyone who bothered to look. He figured Tony’s use of the past tense was for his benefit.
“Did it work?” Tony finally asked, looking down at his feet.
“Did what work?” Reece asked, the confusion clear in his voice.
“Did I make you jealous?” he asked, still not looking up, but this time it felt like he was talking just about Reece.
“Oh, yeah, if Anne Marie wasn’t so tiny, I’d beat her up.” The voice was sarcastic, but he put an arm around Tony and took the cigarette from him. “She has a mean streak.” He took a drag from the cigarette and studied Tony.
“Has she ever done that to you?” Tony wondered.
Reece thought about the time Anne Marie had jokingly asked if he wanted to join her and Adam for a threesome. She’d been high at the time and luckily Adam hadn’t heard, or Reece was certain there would have been a fight.
“Nothing like that. I think she might be a bit jealous of you, hanging around Adam all day, and that he tries to be good for you, much more than he does for her.”
“He doesn’t.”
“He does,” Reece insisted. “That he keeps failing at it doesn’t mean he isn’t trying. Like the other week, he took a swing at me.” Tony looked uncertain. “Can’t remember what we were arguing about. Anyway, he missed and I for once was smart enough to not go after him. He looked around and then said I was lucky you were nearby.”
“You’re not jealous of him, are you?” Tony asked, watching Reece stub out the cigarette before turning to him.
“Why would I be jealous of him?” Before Tony could answer, Reece had leaned in and kissed him. Soon he had him pressed against the wall, his arm around him and one of his hands in his hair.
Reece’s hand was about to make its way up Tony’s thigh when there was a cough behind Reece and if it hadn’t been for Reece’s arm, Tony would’ve jumped into the air. They turned to see Max, who didn’t look very surprised.
“Oh, super,” Max muttered. “Adam’s having sex in the living room and you’re out here with him.” It was a bit unclear who he was talking to, but probably Reece.
“Looking for a smoke?” Reece asked and turned slightly, but kept his arm in a steady grip around Tony. Max nodded and joined them out on the balcony, throwing Tony an amused look.
“I thought you didn’t want anyone to know.” Again it was unclear who he was talking to.
Reece threw him his package. “Don’t tell Adam, alright?”
“Grazie,” Max said and lit a cigarette before once again looking at Tony. “How about you, little guy? Are you alright? Or is the tall dark handsome chef taking advantage of you?”
“Shut up, Max.” Reece’s voice was somewhere between joking and threatening.
Max shrugged, still looking expectantly at Tony. “Just thought I should ask. We all know you can’t be trusted.”
“I’m fine, Max. Thank you,” Tony mumbled.
“Any time, little guy,” Max winked at him, but then finally turned to Reece. “If you’re planning to leave for London, I want you to at least give me a head’s up.”
Tony’s head jerked up, and Reece’s arm became slightly tighter around him. “No plans at the moment.”
Max blew out some smoke, looking at Reece. “It’s funny, Michel said the same thing . . . Fine, I choose to trust you.” He then smiled at Tony. “Sorry for ruining the moment. I’ll leave you and see if the kitchen is safe or if they’ve started having sex there too.”
Once he had left, Tony looked up at Reece. To his surprise, Reece thought Tony looked at him just like he’d looked at Anne Marie earlier. “Could you really leave Paris?”
“If I am, you’re coming with me.” It was meant to be reassuring, but Tony didn’t look reassured. He looked like he was standing on the edge of a cliff and he leaned out of Reece’s hold and avoided Reece’s gaze.
“I couldn’t do that. My career is here.” Adam is here. Then he forced a laugh. “I mean, it’s Paris, the sky is the limit. What could be better for your career than Paris?”
Reece wanted to tell him that the world wasn’t Paris, that there were so many other cities and countries and kitchens to explore. But that wasn’t what he wanted to tell him at all. Instead, he forced a smile and took a new hold of Tony.
“You’re right, what would be better than Paris?” What could be better for Adam’s career than the safety of Jean-Luc’s kitchen?
“And we’re such a good team,” Tony added, clearly encouraged by Reece’s words. Adam and Tony.
“Absolutely,” Reece agreed. I absolutely have to get out of here.
Tony smiled, leaned in and kissed Reece one more time. “Much better than whatever you’d find in London,” he murmured.
“No doubt,” Reece murmured back and returned the kiss. London it is.