Chapter Text
Scene: Eddie & Agustin’s house
“So, you know how much I love a theme party-but Holiday Drama seems like it's been done one or a thousand times.” Eddie is up on a ladder, hanging fairy lights. He's talking to Agustin, who is stirring mulled wine on the stove.
“I know - but it's been a long time since they split. Lynn has been an amazing benefactor to the shelter. And Dom is with Chris now, right? And in the end, it's an open house, so no one should feel trapped.”
“Everyone play nice with others.”
“Oh shit, is Handsome Jake coming down, too?”
“Yes, so is the actual theme ‘people who Dom has fucked’? Present company excluded.”
“Who else?”
“Paddy?”
“Ok yeah - but he doesn't count.”
“Is Lynn bringing that porn star looking bear power bottom friend of his?”
“Matthew? Yeah - then him, too.”
“Jesus, Dom is a such a slut.”
“Jealous?”
“Kinda.” Eddie and Agustin kiss.
Scene: bedroom at Chris’ Apartment
“So he is your former boyfriend?”
“We were never ‘boyfriends’; you can't call a 50-something year old guy ‘boyfriend’”
Dom and Christoph - a handsome native of Sydney, who came to San Francisco in the first wave of Silicon Valley investment - are in bed, and Dom is casting around for a different topic of post-coital pillow talk.
But Chris is undeterred, “Well, then your lover?”
“Ok. Yes.”
“Dom, possum, I just want to know what I might be walking into. Most nights out with your mates tend towards low drama and -at this point - a very stable cast of characters. If Lynn’s presence is significant enough that Agustin thought to warn you, you can't fault me for curiosity.”
“Well his concern would seem to be misplaced...just because Dom’s Chicken is a bit downmarket from where Lynn would typically eat, the boys think that there's something in it.”
Chris sighs, then smiles, “downmarket? You are starting to sound like me, mate.”
Dom laughs too, and pulls Chris on top of him, running his hand down Chris’ chest and kissing him hard.
Scene: Patrick & Richie’s house, kitchen
“Are we going over together, or do you have to meet me there?” Patrick is washing dishes.
“Right before the holidays, I may be slammed. So let's meet there, ok? Is it going to be a big party?”
“From the looks of the evite - a lot of Eddie's work people too, including Lynn, Dom's sort-of-ex. I guess he's a big donor to the Centre.”
“Will that be a problem for Dom?”
“I don't see why it would. There was a period of time where you couldn't swing a rainbow flag without hitting someone Dom fucked.”
“Including you...”, Richie wraps himself possessively around Patrick's waist.
“Including me a million years ago”
“Yeah, but Lynn wasn't just a fuck, right?”
“True. Do you think I should call him? Make sure he's ok?”
“He knows Lynn might be coming - I'm sure he'd call you if he felt like he needed moral support.”
“I'm sure it will be fine.”
Scene: Agustin & Eddie's Holiday House Party.
All of the boys (plus a very pregnant Doris) are there, drinking (and spiking) the mulled wine. Richie and Chris have not arrived yet. Dom talks about planning a launch of a sit-down restaurant in the Spring. Doris repeats the suggestion of calling it Sister Dominic of the Tenderloin. After a while, Dom slips away to use the bathroom. Of course, he bumps into Lynn in the hall.
“Dom! It's really good to see you.”
“Hi Lynn, happy holidays.” They hug.
“Really good.”, Lynn keeps a hand on Dom's bicep and looks him over, “How's the restaurant business treating you? I've heard great things.”
“Yeah, it's good. The window is doing well. We've even started thinking about a sit-down sister restaurant. So...yeah. You should stop by sometime. Uh,...how is Buds?” Dom glances at Lynn's hand uncomfortably. Lynn notices and moves it.
“Oh you know - I've been around so long, seems like all that changes is the season.”
“The benefits of being an institution.” Dom smiles, recalling their first conversation at the Baths.
“That's right. That's right. “ Lynn laughs and takes a deep breath. “Dom, I've been meaning to reach out to you...well, for a long while now, only I didn't know how to say what I wanted to say...about when we were together.”
Dom feels a rising panic as he looks at Lynn, and wonders for the 50th time where in hell Chris was. “Lynn...I am sure we covered all the bases the night Esta Noche closed.”
“We did. Except it wasn't until you left that I really thought about what you said. In fact, I've thought about it over and over, every night since then…about me being done. Not letting myself be surprised. That night, I thought, ‘it's true - I don't want surprise, not any more’...but it feels like ever since…I’ve been - waiting - for something that will surprise me,....for someone.” Lynn corrects himself. “And, well,...it's occurred to me that the reason I continue to wait is that surprising someone was...you.”
“Lynn, I….I don't know what to say.” Dom rubs the side of his face.
“I don't either. I don't know if you feel the same way, and I don't know - after so many years of holding back when I'm with someone...I don't know if I've lost the….muscle memory for trying this again. But, when I saw your name on Eddie’s evite, I thought….maybe we have been pulled back into each other's sphere for a reason.” Lynn moves closer to Dom "And I knew that this was my best chance to say what I needed to say, what I needed you to hear, even if it doesn't change anything for us." Dom is stunned into silence, but as Lynn begins to reach towards Dom, Chris comes bounding down the hallway.
“Dom, love. I'm so sorry I'm late. Stupid meeting went on forever. But - I am here now, and will be 100% all yours thru Christmas.” Chris lands a kiss on Dom and then turns and ‘notices’ Lynn. “G’day, Chris Jackman.”
Dom snaps back into the moment, “Sorry, where are my manners. Chris, this is Lynn - he's one of the co-owners of Buds in the Castro. Lynn, this is ah ..my boyfriend, Chris.” Lynn and Chris shake hands, but Lynn's gaze doesn't entirely leave Dom.
“Pleasure to meet you, Chris. Dom, great to see you.”
“Are you going?”
“I am. Just need to say goodbye to our hosts. Happy holidays.” Lynn shakes Dom's hand too, holds his arm for just a beat and moves on. Dom watches Lynn walk away.
“The famous Lynn…”
“Live and in person.”
“Is everything ok?”
“Yeah, everything was good. Surprisingly good.”