by Jake Biondi
Derek laughed. “I don’t deal well with paparazzi.”
“Well, you looked and sounded great today during the press conference. Well done,” Michael said.
“Thank you,” Derek said. “And thanks again for hosting us all tonight. This has been great.”
“It’s been a while since we all got together to just hang out,” Keith said. “And we wanted to formally offer our condolences for the loss of your father since we couldn’t be at the service in California.”
“Why do you need to offer condolences?” Emmett asked. “Hell, I couldn’t stand the old man and skipped his funeral, too.” Emmett’s comments got the attention of everyone. “He can rot in his grave for all I care.”
Justin put his arm around Emmett. “It’s okay.”
Emmett shrugged Justin’s arm off him. “I’m good.”
“Well, regardless of each of your relationships with your father, we wanted to let you know that we are here for you and we love you,” Logan said.
“We appreciate that,” Derek said.
Keith stood up from the table and grabbed Emmett’s glass. “Let me get you some more wine.”
“Why don’t you just bring the bottle to the table?” Michael asked. “It’s easier.”
“Sure,” Keith said, somewhat ignoring Michael’s suggestion and heading to the kitchen with Emmett’s glass.
“So what was it like to meet the mayor?”
“Pretty cool, actually,” Justin said.
“It was a landmark moment for the company,” Derek added.
“And talk about landmark moments,” Keith said, returning from the kitchen with a glass of wine in one hand and the bottle in the other. “How excited are you guys to debut your restaurant and club at the fundraiser?” Max reached for the glass of wine which Keith put in front of Emmett. “No, no. This glass is for Emmett. Here’s the bottle for anyone else who wants more.”
“I’ll have some,” Logan said, taking the bottle from Keith.
“We are pretty excited,” Max said. “We can’t believe this is finally happening. Emmett and I have been talking about opening a restaurant for -- well, forever.”
“And Jesse has done a fantastic job preparing for the fundraiser. Along with Keith and Michael, of course.”
“Our pleasure,” Michael said. “And I thought it was really nice of you to include the Ciancios. Nice gesture.”
“We’re trying,” Derek stated.
“Is Cole’s mother coming?” Keith asked. Michael immediately shot him a glare.
“I thought we were leaving certain topics at the door tonight,” Derek said.
“I’m sorry,” Keith mumbled.
“Don’t blame Keith,” Emmett said loudly. “There are so many damn topics to avoid that it’s like a field of landmines in here tonight. Jesse. Cole. It’s ridiculous.”
Max looked at his watch. “You know, it is getting late. We should probably be going.”
“Fine with me,” Emmett added as he got up from the table. “I’ll get our coats.” Emmett went into the bedroom to get their coats.
Derek looked at Max. “What is going on with him? He’s been sick for days and now he’s acting like this? He needs to see a doctor.”
“I agree,” Max said.
Keith interrupted them. “A doctor? I’m sure he just needs to get some rest. Something’s going around. A lot of people in my office have been out sick, too.”
“I’m sure they’re not behaving like that, though,” Justin declared. “Something is definitely wrong with my brother.”
“Let’s go,” Emmett said, returning with the coats.
“I’ll have everything checked out,” Max assured Justin and Derek.
“Thank you,” Derek replied.
Max and Emmett said goodbye to everyone and headed out into the warm Spring evening.
As the first dinner wrapped up, Joyelle and Tyler had finished eating their dinner and were seated on the sofa in Tyler’s living room. Tyler poured Joyelle another glass of wine as she curled up on the couch beneath a blanket.
“Tonight has been amazing,” Joyelle said. “So fun and relaxing. Just what I needed.”
Tyler smiled. “I’m glad. I’ve had fun, too.”
“I’d forgotten what it’s like to relax and de-stress. Everything has been so crazy lately.”
“I know,” Tyler said. “Things will get better; I promise.”
“They already are,” Joyelle said.
“How’d things go with the lawyer earlier?”
“They went,” Joyelle said. “The process has begun; that’s what matters.”
“You know I’m here for you throughout. Regardless of what develops between us.”
“I know – and thank you.”
Tyler hesitated a moment. “I know this may be a bit forward, but I’m wondering if you’d like to go to the fundraiser with me.”
“That’s not forward; that’s wonderful,” Joyelle replied. “Of course, I’d like to go with you. I was planning on going anyway, but with you would be even better.”
“Derek will be there. And Cole, too. It may be awkward.”
“It’s going to be awkward regardless,” Joyelle admitted. “I’d like having you there with me.”
Tyler learned forward and kissed Joyelle softly. He pulled away slightly to see Joyelle’s wide smile and then kissed her again. He carefully removed the wine glass from her grip and placed it onto the coffee table. Then he shifted his position, crawling on top of Joyelle and kissing her deeply. She ran her fingers up his back and pulled him closer to her.
While Joyelle and Tyler continued to kiss, Cole and David shared a kiss as well. Standing in Cole’s kitchen, the two men kissed and then returned to cleaning the kitchen after their dinner. When the last of the dishes was in the dishwasher, Cole pulled two beers from the fridge and handed one to David.
“Thanks for helping with that,” Cole said. “But I didn’t invite you over here to clean my house.”
David laughed. “It’s not a problem. You made dinner, so helping to clean up was the least I could do. Everything was great, by the way.”
“Thanks,” Cole said, leading David back into the living room. They sat down on the sofa next to one another. “And I also want to thank you for being so patient with me.”
“Patient?”
“Regarding Derek and everything. You knew I’d come around eventually. So thank you for not forcing things.”
“Are you two really over?”
“We are,” Cole said, sipping from his beer. “He made that very clear the last time we spoke.”
“But that doesn’t mean you’re over him.”
“I’m tired of being used. Look,” Cole said unbuttoning his shirt and opening it to reveal his chest to David. “No more necklace or ring.”
David leaned forward and put his hand on Cole’s chest. “Mmm, I see that. And I see something else I like, too.” David kissed Cole’s chest. Then he kissed Cole on the mouth. The kiss grew more and more passionate as they embraced each other.
His hand behind David’s head, Cole pulled David even closer to him. David then kissed Cole’s neck and shoulders as his hands took Cole’s shirt almost all the way off. Cole ran his hands down David’s back to his butt. Cole grabbed David’s firm ass while David continued to kiss him.
After a while, David sat up to catch his breath. “I should probably go before things get too hot to handle.”
“Don’t go,” Cole said, kissing David again.
“I don’t want to,” David explained. “But I should. We’ll have our moment, I promise.”
“I look forward to it,” Cole replied as David got up from the couch and re-buttoned his shirt.
“I really had a nice time. I’m wondering...would you like to go to the fundraiser with me?”
Cole smiled. “I’d love to.”
“Are you sure it won’t be uncomfortable for you?”
“Not at all. I’d love to spend the time with you.”
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“Then it’s a date,” David said as kissed Cole again. “See you then.”
“Can’t wait,” Cole added.
Overlooking Millennium Park from their table in the restaurant in Jacqueline’s hotel, Jesse was having dinner with his mother. Neither could remember the last time they had shared a meal alone together.
“Thank you for having dinner with me,” Jacqueline said, adjusting the silverware on the table on front of her.
“Thank you for inviting me. It’s good that we are sitting down to talk.”
“I agree,” she replied. “I want to apologize to you for ignoring all your attempts to reach out to me after New Year’s Eve. I realize now that it was unfair of me.”
“All I was trying to do was protect you. I’m responsible for bringing Ben into your life and I wanted to get him out of it.”
“I know that now.”
Jesse smiled. “There were probably a million better ways to do it, though. I caused you and Logan a great deal of heartache and you two are the last people I wanted to hurt.”
“We both know that,” Jacqueline said. “And I’m glad you two spent some time together earlier today. He’s a good man and he cares a great deal for you.”
“We had a great talk earlier. I think we’re going to be okay.”
“I’m glad,” Jacqueline said as she took a sip of her wine.
“So let’s talk about the elephant in the room then,” Jesse said cautiously. “Is Max really my father?”
Jacqueline nodded. “He is.”
“How could you keep that from me? And how could you ever have slept with that man to begin with?”
“We were both much younger, Jesse. And we thought we were in love.” Jesse rolled his eyes. “We did. But we broke up when we realized that Max was dealing with his own identity issues. By the time I found out I was pregnant, he was happily out of the closet. I didn’t want to ruin his life.”
“So you decided to ruin mine instead.”
“No, of course not. I just made up my mind to raise you alone. And I think I did a good job.”
“You denied me my father. And lied about it for my entire life. How is that a ‘good job’?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Too little, too late for that. While all my other friends were playing ball and camping with their fathers, I was wondering who mine was and why he didn’t want me. And you refused to ever engage in a conversation about him.”
“I did what I thought was best for us.”
“Sounds like you did what you thought was best for Max.” Jesse sipped his vodka. “And what’s worse – just look at us now! We can’t stand each other. He’s just as disgusted by this revelation as I am.”
“I’m hoping you two will be able to work things out.”
“You’d have better luck bringing peace to the Middle East. It’s not going to happen.”
“You have to work at it.”
“The way you worked to forgive me for what happened on New Year’s Eve?”
“I have completely forgiven you.”
Jesse sighed. “Now the question is…. will I ever be able to forgive you?”
While so many other people were preoccupied with their dinner events, Ben Donovan drove a pickup truck down the alley behind Max’s restaurant and stopped just past the back service entrance. His hair dyed blond and wearing a fake beard and glasses, Ben was disguised so that no one would recognize him.
He hopped out of the truck and unscrewed the light bulbs in the fixtures along the back of the restaurant. In the darkness of the alley, Ben unloaded several large kegs from the back of the truck. Then he opened the service entrance to the restaurant and carried the kegs inside one by one.
After carrying all the barrels into the club’s basement, Ben connected them to one another with some tubing. He examined the pipes running across the ceiling above him, following several of them along the ceiling and walls. Determining which pipes connected to the restaurant’s fire sprinkler system, he pulled a wrench from his pocket and opened one of the valves. He connected the first of the kegs to the pipe system, making sure the connection was secure.
Once finished with his work, Ben left the basement, returned to his truck, and drove away from the restaurant, leaving no trace of his ever having been there.
Saturday morning brought with it a spectacular sunrise. Chicagoans from every corner of the city flocked to the river walk for the annual St. Patrick’s Day tradition of dying the river green. Thousands of people lined the bridges over the river as well as Wacker Drive and the sidewalks below it to watch as small boats dumped dye into the water. The river water quickly turned from its normal color to the same bright green as the shirts, scarves, and hats that the onlookers were wearing.
Standing along the Wacker Drive curve, David and Cole smiled as they witnessed the event together. Michael and Keith watched the festivities from the foot of the Michigan Avenue bridge and, further east along the river, Joyelle and Tyler also happily observed the changing of the water’s hue.
“This is so cool,” Tyler said. “Thanks for suggesting it.”
“I thought you’d like it. It’s truly a Chicago tradition. They say we’re the greenest city in the world on this day each year.”
Tyler laughed. “I believe it. Check out all these people.”
“Three quarters of them will be drunk by noon,” Joyelle added.
“I’m sure.”
“Sorry to cut it a bit short, but I have to get to my doctor’s appointment.”
“Come on. I’ll drop you off and then pick up my tux for tonight.”
“Great, thanks,” Joyelle said as the two made their way out of the crowd.
As the day progressed, the city continued to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with house parties, bar crawls, and other ways of enjoying the day. Those attending the fundraiser, however, busily prepared for the special event.
In their hotel room, Marco and Rachel were getting dressed. Rachel was in the bathroom with the door closed and Marco, half dressed, was on his cell phone.
“That’s right. They will both be attending the fundraiser tonight so the apartment will be empty. Get in there and get that painting. Call me when it’s done.” Marco ended the call and continued dressing.
When Rachel emerged from the bathroom, she looked stunning in her gown. Shimmering in the light, the dress immediately caught Marco’s eye.
“Wow,” he said. “You look amazing.”
“Well, thank you,” she replied with a smile. “Amazing enough to finally accept my marriage proposal?”
“Is that what that was? I thought you were just thinking out loud that night at the restaurant.”
“Not at all. I have something that you want. And you know what you need to do to get it.”
“How about we wait until you actually have what I want in your possession? Then we can talk about marriage and whatever else.” Marco kissed Rachel and then went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Rachel’s cell phone rang and she walked across the room to get it from her purse. “Hello.”
“It’s me,” Keith said.
“What do you want?”
“I can’t do this anymore. I won’t do this anymore.”
“You don’t really have a choice.”
Keith sounded anxious. “Have you seen what Emmett looks like lately? He looks horrible and he’s acting weird. Max and Derek are talking about taking him to see doctors. Do you realize what that could mean? They will find out about us. And the poison.”
“Would you relax?” Rachel asked, looking at the bathroom door to make sure it was still closed. “Calm down. Your friend will be fine. The medicine is untraceable doing exactly what it’s supposed to do -- altering his mind and judgment a bit. That’s all.”
“Altering his mind? You’re fucking crazy.”
“No,” Rachel said. “But your friend is...at least temporarily.”
“I can’t do this anymore.”
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nbsp; “I have your boyfriend’s phone number right here...”
“How much longer?”
“Not long, I promise,” Rachel said. “Now I have to go. I’ll see you at the fundraiser.” Rachel disconnected the call as Marco stepped out of the bathroom. “Hello, handsome.”
“A business call at this hour?”
Rachel put her hands on Marco’s chest. “Don’t you worry about it, my handsome fiancé.”
“Fiancé? Don’t you think you’re jumping the gun a bit?”
Rachel kissed Marco. “Not at all. We’ll be married sooner than you think. And then you’ll have the controlling interest in Mancini Global that you have always wanted.”
Later that evening, the fundraising gala that had taken so much time and effort to plan finally commenced. Searchlights in front of The Boys and the Booze crisscrossed the partly cloudy Chicago sky guiding guests from all over the city to the event’s venue. Cars and limousines formed a line outside the club dropping off guests, who stepped out of the cars eager to get inside, shed their overcoats, and show off their evening attire.
As guests arrived and checked their coats, they were greeted with a glass of champagne and the jazzy music of Whiskey and Cherries, the first performers of the evening. Servers worked their way around the room offering guests cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Some guests inspected the layout and décor of the new restaurant while others made their way through the silent auction placing bids on their favorite items.
Max was speaking with Amy Armstrong, the singer scheduled to perform when Whiskey and Cherries concluded.
“You look amazing,” Max told her, admiring her beautiful dress.
“Oh, you’re sweet,” she replied.
“We really appreciate you being here tonight.”
Amy smiled. “My pleasure. How could I say ‘no” to an event like this? And the place looks great, by the way.”
“Thanks,” Max replied. “Once the fundraiser is over and we get through our official opening, I’d love to sit down with you and talk about you performing here regularly.”
“I’d like that very much.”
