by Rowan Shaw
Florian raised his hands. "Okay, okay. I didn't mean to offend you."
"It takes more than that to offend me. You should know that by now." I grabbed as many books as I could. "I just wish our school library had more books in English. That's why I'm getting those."
Florian stifled a smirk. "Sure, that's why you need to buy all this. I get it."
"I can feel you judging," I said out loud.
"I just think you're adorable," he signed. "That's all."
"Yes, you've said that already."
"Well, get used to it because it's true."
I rolled my eyes at him, and we proceeded to the cash register.
"Do you want a plastic bag?" the cashier asked when I was getting ready to pay. "It's an extra fifty cents."
"Yes, please."
"You have your backpack," Florian signed.
"Yes, but I don't want the books to get damaged."
The cashier scanned everything and handed the plastic bag full of books to Florian while I inserted my card to pay. Florian opened my backpack and managed to fit everything inside. When he replaced it over my shoulders, I was thankful we were dropping by Raphaël's apartment. I didn't want to carry this weight around all day.
"Is it hard to teach the kids English?" he asked when we left the store.
"We haven't tried yet. You know I worked on a whole new program, right? I'd like to see those kids learn American Sign Language and make sure they learn to read and write English as well. It'll be a huge advantage for them."
Florian wrapped his arm around my shoulders to kiss my temple.
"Have I told you how proud I am of you?" he signed, then gave a tiny lopsided smile. "So which book for kids would you recommend I read first?"
"Haha, really funny."
"I'm not kidding."
I narrowed my eyes. "Why do you want to know what kids like? None of your friends have kids...that I'm aware of."
He pinned his dark blue eyes on me. "You never know what the future might bring. I just want to be prepared."
I froze.
"What?" he asked.
"You are aware you and I can't make babies, right?" Also, it was far too early for us to discuss building a family.
Florian burst out laughing, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he bent his head back, his mouth wide open.
"You are aware I am sterile, right?" he signed. "Even if you were a woman, that wouldn't happen for us anyway."
Right. Now I felt like a complete jerk for bringing up the word "baby."
He nudged my elbow. "Why the somber face?"
I shrugged.
"I'm okay with being sterile, you know? I made my peace with it. For me, adoption was always an option anyway." He wouldn't stop laughing at me. "Don't start panicking, Enzo. I'm not asking you to marry me and have kids."
When I didn't reply, he winked and added, "I'm not asking yet..."
Chapter 59
FLORIAN - A MONTH LATER
The fundraiser was everything I needed. It brought so much publicity to our queer community, the phone calls to my office wouldn't stop. The tours had tripled after just one week, with queers who wanted to help keep my business afloat—even the ones who weren't really into history wanted to help—and straight allies who wanted to prove that not everyone was a homophobe or sociopath.
"We need to expand," Héloïse commented when she saw the crazy schedule I had planned for us.
"Yes. I would like to start by promoting you and raising the salaries of my faithful employees who've worked for me from the start."
"You know you don't have to do that, right?"
"Actually, I do." I looked her square in the eyes. "Would you do me the honor of joining me in this partnership?"
She gave a tiny smile. "You are aware I have another job too, right? How am I supposed to keep up?"
"It's up to you. No obligation."
"I like things the way they are. And you're doing a great job, as I knew you would."
"I want to include bus tours. Like the one I took with Enzo in Paris. For groups interested in visiting other places around the region."
"That's a wonderful idea."
"And to thank the LGBT community, I would like to organize queer tours as well."
"How would those be different from regular tours?" she asked.
"They would involve French queer history."
"Nice!"
Maybe I was planning too much too fast, but I was on a high. The fundraiser had helped us raise awareness of the bias queer people still faced in the workplace and in everyday life. I'd received so many phone calls thanking me and the Center for what we did, it felt incredible.
"You still don't know who the person was?" Héloïse asked.
"The person?"
"The one who contacted the Center for the fundraiser."
I shook my head.
"I have an inkling," she said with a tiny smirk. "It was something I heard in passing at the fundraising party."
I was all ears. I wanted to thank whoever helped turn my life around, but the Center still refused to spill the beans.
"Let's just say I heard the head of the Center talk to Enzo during the party..."
"Enzo?"
Héloïse wriggled her eyebrows. "I guess your boyfriend is more than just your lover, after all. He's also your fairy godfather."
I laughed. I hated that term. I couldn't believe the organizer kept repeating it over and over again.
"I'm not kidding," she insisted.
"What did you hear?"
"I heard the guy thanking Enzo for bringing up the issue and for asking them to do the fundraiser."
I narrowed my eyes. "They told me he was a volunteer. Enzo doesn't volunteer at the Center."
"Are you sure?"
I stood there, baffled. "Why wouldn't he tell me he volunteers at the LGBT Center? Why didn't he tell me he was behind the fundraiser?"
"Maybe he wanted you to come back to him for him, and not as some kind of forced gratitude."
It made sense. Enzo hated it when people acted like he was a charity case. I couldn't believe he had gone out of his way to help me even after I'd broken up with him.
I grabbed my phone.
Me: Are you a volunteer at the LGBT Center?
His reply didn't come for a few hours since he was in class with his students. I was all alone in my office by then, trying to figure out how to schedule yet another tour. I sat on the edge of my desk as I read his words.
Enzo: Yes. I volunteer every Thursday.
Well, that explained why he was never available on Thursdays. I still couldn't understand why he hadn't said anything.
Me: What do you do there?
Enzo: I work at the library for the most part. Sometimes we're understaffed, so then I work at the front desk. I welcome people in. Things like that.
Me: You never told me.
Enzo: It slipped my mind.
Me: How could something like that slip your mind? How can you conveniently forget that you're a volunteer? Is there any other volunteering I need to know about? Do you also volunteer for the Red Cross or some animal shelter or something, too? 'Cause I'm feeling real guilty here, sitting on my ass all day without ever helping anyone. And this whole time, I was dating Mother Teresa.
Enzo: You could come to the Center with me. Or you could help me tutor the kids. There are more of them who need help with French Sign Language than I can handle.
I didn't even need to ponder that one. It was a definite yes.
Me: Can I volunteer on the same days you do?
Enzo: If you can behave, sure.
Me: Not sure what you mean by that. I always behave.
Enzo: Says the guy who blew me in a bathroom stall at the train station.
I laughed at that.
Me: Not my fault you looked so good. Besides, you blew me first.
Enzo: Don't I always?
I chuckled deeply all to myself.
Me: Thank you for what y
ou did.
Enzo: You're welcome. I might start charging for every public blowjob you get from now on, though.
I hooted louder.
Me: I meant the fundraiser. I know it was you.
He didn't reply right away. I wondered if Héloïse might have been wrong after all.
Enzo: You're welcome. I'm just glad it worked.
Me: I have something I want to ask you tonight.
Enzo: I'm volunteering tonight. Today is Thursday, remember?
Me: Can I join?
Enzo: Of course.
I smiled at my phone like an idiot.
Me: See you then.
My guts twisted at the thought of what I wanted to ask him.
I wasn't sure he would agree to move in with me, but I couldn't spend one more minute without him. I craved him all the time. I wanted him there all the time. The only problem was I had nowhere to live and Enzo owned his apartment. I wasn't sure he'd be willing to sell it to live with me in some brand new place we could choose together. But that was a chance I had to take.
Epilogue
ENZO
I dropped the last box on the hardwood floor and beamed at Florian. "All done! But we still need to unpack."
"How about we christen the place first?" His mouth rose on one side as he beckoned me forward.
Before I knew it, his mouth was on my throat and his hand down my pants. We christened every room of this place we owned together before I pulled him into the bathroom and penetrated him from behind, right there against the counter. I could see us in the mirror, Florian's dilated blue eyes staring back at me, his forehead pearling with sweat.
"Hello!" someone called from somewhere in the apartment when I was about to come.
"Shit," Florian hissed. "I forgot about her."
He pulled away, making me lament in a groan, then he turned around to pat me on the cheek. "I'll owe you an orgasm."
He winked and pulled his pants back on before buttoning them up. We were both still hard. I wasn't sure how we were supposed to cool down when we'd been interrupted so close to the edge.
I sighed in defeat as he slipped his shirt on and left the bathroom. I couldn't possibly walk out like this. I opened the toilet seat and closed my eyes, racing to the finish line on my own. I crossed it with a sharp inhale, trying to swallow down my shout.
The interruption was my own fault for forgetting to lock the front door. I was thankful whoever was here hadn't walked in on us having sex in the hall or the kitchen or the living room. There wasn't a room we hadn't tried out.
Once released, I got dressed quickly and left the bathroom to join Florian.
Héloïse beamed at me the instant she saw me. "Enzo!" she exclaimed before looking from me to Florian, her dark eyes detailing our wild hair. "Did I interrupt something?"
"No," I replied and tried to fix my hair just as Florian replied, "Yes."
"Please tell me you guys weren't having sex," she said.
We didn't reply.
"Merde! Okay, well, I'll be out of the way quickly. I just wanted to invite you for dinner tonight."
"Emma agreed to that?" Florian asked.
"I haven't told her yet," Héloïse acknowledged.
Florian made a face. "Mmm, I don't know..."
"Come on, it'll be fun. She's not as bad as she seems."
Just like that, we both had an engagement for the evening. Florian looked at me. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He had hoped to get take-out, have sex, watch TV, and have more sex all night.
"We can still do that when we come back, minus the take-out," I signed when Héloïse turned her back to leave.
"I'm still hard," he signed back.
"I already took care of myself. Sorry."
He pouted. A real pout too. I chuckled and only stopped laughing when Héloïse flashed us a quick glance over her shoulder. "Are you two signing behind my back?"
"No," I replied while Florian nodded.
Héloïse gave a little smile. "Well, I won't give you a kiss goodbye. I'm not sure where your faces have been."
My cheeks burned hot. I sure hoped I didn't have dried cum on my face or in my hair. I signed at Florian for confirmation, and he shook his head at me.
"See you tonight. Seven o'clock," Héloïse reminded us then left.
Florian let out a tiny complaint the moment she slammed the door. "I'm so fucking horny. I don't know if it's the thought of living with you, but I just want to fuck you all night. And now we're stuck having to socialize. Why did I have to say yes?"
I shoved him against the wall and got on my knees. "Let me take care of that for now."
After I blew his mind with my tongue, we showered together, got dressed, and realized there wasn't much time left before we were due to leave for Héloïse's apartment.
"I hope Emma isn't in one of her moods," Florian signed.
"What mood?"
"She hates humankind, men especially. It promises to be fun!"
Surely she couldn't be that bad.
Florian drove us there. He was silent the entire time, though he wouldn't stop beaming at me. I couldn't believe how happy it made him that I'd agreed to sell my place so we could both start fresh together. He stroked my cheek with one hand, holding the wheel with the other.
The moment we set foot over Héloïse's threshold, she kissed me on the cheeks, even though we'd seen her a few hours before. I handed her the bouquet of flowers I'd brought along, and she led me into her small apartment that smelled like jasmine.
"I cannot thank you enough for stealing him from Marlène," she said.
"I didn't."
"Meh." She shrugged. "Florian no longer thinks about her. That's all that matters." She flicked her hand while Florian followed us without a word. "This is my girlfriend, Emma."
She motioned at her when we entered the dining room. A small woman with pale white skin and bright pink hair faced me. She was dressed all in black, looking cute for someone who'd been described to me as anti-social. Her nose was long and pierced, her cheeks slightly colored, and her complexion spotless. She was one head shorter than Héloïse, so I towered over her when she gave me a wan smile, probably wondering why Héloïse was forcing her to socialize when all she wanted to do was stay home, have sex, watch TV, and relax. She kissed both Florian and me on the cheeks anyway before I got distracted by Amal, who exclaimed "Florian!" and ran to him from the entrance for more kisses on each cheek.
After he'd asked me to move in with him, Florian and I agreed it might be best if he lived at my place first until we found something together. He moved out of Amal's apartment and didn't see her again for weeks. Amal was always busy working at her Moroccan bakery, which made their meetings scarce.
Héloïse invited everyone to sit down at the large dining room table set with a white linen cloth, flowery plates, wine glasses, and a basket of bread. I wondered if Florian and I were supposed to buy all sorts of fancy utensils and plates to invite people over too, or if eating take-out pizza out of cardboard boxes would be enough. I was a terrible cook, and after living with Florian for a while, I could attest he wasn't much better.
"Do you need help?" I asked Héloïse.
She shook her head, but I insisted upon helping her serve the various drinks everyone wanted. I brought the bowls of potato chips, mini hot dogs, and the quiche she had cut into small squares to snack on. Then I sat next to Florian, facing Emma. I grabbed his hand to squeeze it, and Héloïse's eyes shifted toward our intertwined fingers.
"So how long did you guys date in high school?" she asked. "Do you have anything juicy to spill on Florian, Enzo? I need some good stuff in case I ever have to bribe him into giving me another raise."
Florian's eyebrow shot sky-high. "Not a very bright thing to say in front of your boss who could sack you on Monday."
Héloïse laughed good-naturedly. "You can't just fire people for no reason, and you know it."
"We dated for over a year in high school," I explained.
"Really? That's a long time."
"Especially when you have to hide it," Florian said.
"I'll offer a toast," Héloïse exclaimed, raising her glass. "To Florian and Enzo, who found each other again. May their relationship last longer than a year."
She winked at Florian when we all raised our glasses.
"Santé!" Amal added, though she didn't drink alcohol.
We all took a sip, and the conversation ensued. I noticed Emma didn't touch any of the food besides the chips. Amal also avoided the mini hot dogs and quiche.
"It's a vegetarian quiche," Héloïse said when she noticed us snubbing the dish. "It doesn't have any pork in it. I think the hot dogs are made of beef, but I'm not sure."
Amal smiled and poked at a piece of the quiche with a toothpick before eating it.
"You don't like meat?" I asked Emma, who still wouldn't eat anything but the chips. I couldn't hear her words too well over what everyone else was saying, but I read her lips.
"I'm a vegan."
"Really?" I exclaimed. "I'm a vegetarian. How did you manage to push the diet to veganism? I've tried so hard."
A smile bloomed on her face, and right then, I found out exactly why Héloïse loved her. Her grin was genuine and warm, all the more special because it was scarce.
"I can give you some recipes if you want."
"I'd love that."
We didn't say anything more. I couldn't follow the conversation at the table because everyone was talking too fast and often interrupting each other, so I did what I always did during meals with a bunch of other people: I ate my food, hid in my own mental space, and didn't say a word.
After a while, Florian shot me a sideways glimpse. "You okay?" he signed.
"I can't follow the conversation when so many people are talking at once," I signed back. "Please don't say anything. I don't want them to be uncomfortable around me."
He nodded and kissed my temple.
"Everything okay?" Amal asked.
"I forgot my medication at home," I lied. "It can wait until I get back."
Not wanting to seem rude, no one asked what I needed meds for.
