CHAPTER 8 - HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE

JUSTIN

I feel his gloved hand wrap round my clasped ones and he moves them lower. “I need to breathe and you’re holding on too tight.” He explains and I just nod against his back. “Before we go, do you want to use my phone?” He points at the waterfall.

“Please.” I reply quietly and he hands it to me. “I won’t be long.” He waves me away and relaxes on the bike, looking ahead of him.

I am about to take my fifth picture when I feel him behind me. “Candy pink.” He says quietly and I turn around in confusion. “Your mouth and your nipples are the same candy pink colour. And to answer your question, no you’re not.”

“And I suspect the same can be said for my face. It feels as if it’s candy coloured right now.”

“Yep. Are you finished?” I just nod and stare at his zip. “This is where you give me my phone back.”

“Sure.” I look up at him and smile. “Lips are light cranberry. Can’t say much about your nipples, even though your skin tone suggests they are dusky pinky brown.”

“You’d be right about them. And we need to stop this conversation before…” I put my finger to his mouth and then gasp slightly when he sucks said finger into his mouth. I can barely breathe as his tongue slowly wraps around my now trembling digit and sucks at the same time.

“Please stop.” I whisper. “Or I will embarrass myself.”

He lets my finger slowly out of his mouth. “So I’m not repulsive either?”

“No. Can we go home now please?”

“Sure.”

WOODY’S - TWO HOURS LATER

VIC

I mop up the drink that I managed to spit out when Chyna and Daph described the hollow thunk of Michael’s head hitting the floor and David's look of, not concern, but disbelief and embarrassment.  

“Hey Vic, ladies!” Debs comes bustling over and immediately sits down. “So who do we have here?”

“Debs, this is Chyna. She runs THRUHELL4HEAVEN Studios; this is Daphne, she is Brian’s new computer person and this is Cynthia, who’s Brian’s assistant. Ladies, this is Debs, my sister and Michael’s’ mother.” They wave their hellos. “I take it they haven’t discharged him yet?”

“Discharged who?” She frowns.

“Michael. He knocked himself out attempting a back bend.”

“A back what?” She asks and then grimaces when Emmett shows her the picture.

“What on earth was he doing one of those for?” She sighs.

“Trying to impress Brian. He failed.” I reply bluntly and she curls her lip at me.

“Why did you say it like that, Vic? Michael can impress anyone, if…”

“Because he’s trying too hard. If he would just be himself, then…”

“He still wouldn’t land him. Brian doesn’t suffer fools, nor does he want to be in a relationship with one.” Cynthia retorts tartly, earning a narrowed eyed look from Debs. “I should know. As well as being his assistant, I am his best friend and I know everything about him.”

“Not everything.” A haughty voice intones. “I do believe I know more than you. After all, I shared his bed for a long time; something you’ve never done.”

We all turn to look at the person who spoke and although he is good looking, there’s an arrogance about him that makes him uglier than hell. And judging by the expression on Cynthia’s face, he’s someone whose ass she’s about to kick.

“You’ve crawled out of your coffin, I see. Shame, I had hope it was hammered shut.”

“A pleasure as always, Cynthia. So where is that errant boyfriend of mine? He’s overreacted a touch, as usual.”

“Yeah, imagine being upset about catching you in bed with someone else. How gauche of him to be upset.”

“I see he’s only given you the edited highlights so allow me to elucidate. I did not cheat on Brian. We have an open relationship and…”

“Oh, you do?” Cynthia smiles and he, whoever the fuck he is, looks smug. “Then you won’t mind him fucking Justin then? They should be into it by now, maybe on their third or fourth round. Seems that he’s finally found someone that can keep going.” His face falls in such a comical fashion that Cynthia snickers. “Yeah, so that’s you caught out in that lie. As I said, you cheated, you got caught, you are done.”

“I am far from done! I will get Brian back. He can’t and won’t function without the love of a good man.”

“So you like the house then, Adam?” We all turn to the bar where Brian is leaning. How long he’s been there is anyone’s guess.

“Yes, I love it.” Adam smiles at him and sidles up to the bar. “I can’t believe you bought that for me...for us…”

“Neither can I. It could’ve been an expensive mistake, but it’s not.”

“No, it’s not.” Adam looks over at an incredulous Cynthia. “As I told you Cynthia, Brian…” He pauses as Brian leans towards him and sniffs his neck. He moves his head so that he can have more access to him.

Brian smirks and leans back again. “But you are.”

“I am wh…”

“An expensive mistake and not one I intend to repeat. But right now, one I am glad I made. Hmm. You still smell of him, so I am assuming he’s waiting for you somewhere. Go to him, because you sure as fuck aren’t coming back to me!” Adam steps back slightly and frowns. “Cynthia, can you do me a favour please?”

“What’s that?” Her eyes light up. “Please tell me it’s that?!”

“Say hello to his Celiac.” He smiles at her and then saunters away. She nods at Chyna and Daphne, and all three of them approach the bar.

Adam is still watching Brian leave. Minutes later, we hear the sound of a motorbike revving off and then fading into the distance. He scowls at the door. “Asshole. And, what the hell is my….” Suddenly there is a thud and a strange wheezing noise. We whip our heads back to the bar where Adam is crumpled on the floor, and all three are back in their seats lightning quick.

“There, it’s just there!” Emmett calls out. “And in case you were wondering, that’s what it feels like to have your heart ripped asunder or in your case punched in the solar plexus!” He is writhing on the floor and is pale and sweating. “Your pain will ease soon enough, but there will be no getting jiggy with it for you tonight.”

“Adam! Adam, are you okay, baby?!” A man comes rushing up to him. “What happened? Did he hit you? Why can’t that fucker just accept we are together? I don’t know why he called you.”

“W...wa...wasn’t him. One...!” He grunts out.

“Which one of you bitches hit my boyfriend?”

“No bitch did!” Debs snarls and steps up to him. Immediately, he blenches and takes a couple of steps back. “There are no bitches in this place. There are ladies of refinement, elegance and decorum. And as for that boyfriend of yours, are you sure you’re together? Because he came here looking for his ex, not the other way around!”

“What?” He demands, looking at Adam suspiciously. “He did what?”

“Hmm, came straight from fucking you to hunt for Brian; didn’t even wash your smell off.”

“Didn’t even…” He leans down to Adam, who is now sitting up and looking furtive. “Well considering I haven’t been fucking him in the last two days, whomever did that to you, I thank them! Needless to say, by the time you get your breath back, I will have checked out of the hotel and got on with my life. Without you in it!”

“Jose…” Adam gasps out.

“Joshua, you asshole! The name you need to forget is Joshua!” He turns heel and flounces out.

“Joshua!” Adam calls out weakly and limps after him.

“Well that was fun!” Debs giggles and then sighs as her phone beeps. “His lord and master is ready for picking up now. Cynthia, I think you and I need to get together for some girl time to work out how my son and your best friend can become as one. He’s in that big house and there’s a legend about it.” Her eyes go misty. “Those who live in one or the other always find their true love...and I am going to make that come true for my Michael! Vic, give her my number and we will sort something out. Bye now!”

For a few minutes, we are too flummoxed to speak. “So Chyna, what was your idea?” I ask, shaking myself clear of the image of Brian and Michael doing anything together.

“Yeah…” Chyna grimaces. “I’ve decided instead of holding the King of Babylon Contest in 3 months, we’re going to be hosting a pole dancing contest, called Studs of the Silver Staff. They are going to be doing the tandem pole dancing to music at Babylon.”

“Justin will never do that!” Daph gasps.

“Yes, he will.” Chyna replies with surety.

“How can you be so sure? I’m not even sure Brian would do that!” Cynthia sighs exasperated.

“Because of the two first class tickets and all expenses paid trip to Australia, which is the prize for the winning couple.”

“Justin has always wanted to go to Australia, for pleasure not business.”

“Brian too.” Cynthia nods.

“Yeah, it’s amazing what a little bit of people watching will get you. I spotted Justin looking at the travel magazines in the studio and he gave this little sigh. Two minutes later, Brian was looking and he tore out the page…”

“Christ, you are determined to get them together, aren’t you?!” I laugh.

“Yep!” Chyna grins.