41. Cole
Forty One
Cole
All the calm I had in the limo shrivels and dies like an unwatered plant as we step out from the limo. Sal takes my hand but holds the door and closes it after everyone’s left.
Rumi, Tony and Kahlid all lead the way; I don’t miss how Tony looks back at me in a mischievous way. He narrows his eyes playfully at me and I’m relieved that he’s not mad I kept this secret, though I get the sense he’s gonna ask me a million questions later about my secret relationship with the boss.
Paparazzi line each side of the carpet and like seagulls begging for fries, they ask us who we are and our attention.
Like it was planned, a vehicle tears into the parking lot and a young woman with a perky blond ponytail and shoulders squared back like she’s on a mission marches right up to us.
Sal grabs my hand and pulls me in so he’s got his arm around me.
“You were asking me about my father and why we’ve been estranged?”
Without missing a beat her inquisitive expression flips to a friendlier one. “Is this your date?”
“Yes,” he answers. His answer is curt.
Do they know each other?
“Who is this?” I whisper.
She holds out her hand to me and I take it, despite my reluctance. “Samantha Stoneswell.”
The name rings familiar but I can’t pin it to anything specific.
“Ask your questions,” Sal orders her.
It’d be sexy if it wasn’t directed at someone so beautiful and professional looking.
Blue eyes fire up with what I’d assume is trouble.
“Why haven’t you and your father spoken in ten years?”
Holy shit. Did she just ask the most invasive question?
I find myself speaking in his place. “How the hell is that any of your business?”
She smiles. SMILES!
Sal holds out his hand to me, as if I’m the one who’s said something wrong.
“My father couldn’t accept that I’m gay.”
She holds the microphone out to him and I notice someone recording us behind her. I try to stand tall and look like the supportive partner I am. Though I’d rather be pushing her away and fleeing inside with him.
“Doesn’t that seem odd when he is with a man as well. Maybe his anger toward me was hatred for something he’s repressed in himself for so long.” Sal offers as an explanation. It’s profound.
Yet I sense a contingency in what he’s offering as his father’s excuse.
“Whatever the case may be, it’s going to take time and effort to repair what’s been damaged.”
Samantha nods, as if she understands.
Pulling the microphone back to herself, she launches into another inappropriate question. “How long have you and this young gentleman been together?”
It doesn’t matter! I want to yell.
Tugging at the collar of my suit, I reprimand myself for being so stupidly squirrely.
“Our relationship is new, and there is an age gap between us.”
“How much of an age gap?”
“Ten years,” he says with a regretful smile.
Does our age difference bother him?
Cole squeezes my arm and leans down to look at me. He starts speaking and I look up at him, but he’s not really talking to me, per se. “He’s younger but he’s taught me so much in the short time we’ve been together. Like how it’s okay to be gay. I was scared to be proud because of what I went through. Cole is anything but shy.”
Now his gaze is locked on mine. More cameras start flashing like crazy in our direction.
Then he snaps out of it and to Samantha directly, he says, “Now, if you don’t mind, we’re going to enjoy the party we planned.”
In the timing of a heartbeat, she bows her head. “Cole, do you work with Sal?”
My throat and mouth are suddenly painfully dry. “Yes,” I croak.
Sal cuts her off. “It’s really an incredible LGBTQ+ event. You should join us.”
Samantha’s smile falters a little. The air between them almost seems to shift to a turbulent wind before the air is sucked from the room.
“Thanks for the offer, and thank you for your time.”
Sal bobs his head then directs me down the red carpet.
“I know this is a lot, but you’re doing great. Just keep smiling and being handsome as you always are.”
A blush creeps to my cheeks and we walk down the red carpet hand in hand, thankfully all the way past the paparazzi and we pass amazing pieces of art, no longer in the spotlight.
We enter the massive room and join Tony, Bella, Kahlid and his girl and Rumi.
Kahlid introduces me to his girl, her name is Amelia since they gravitate to other people easily. Which is fine by me because there’s so much going on.
Trays of drinks are brought around and I don’t hesitate to grab the bubbling drink. Anything to get rid of the headache of earlier.
Tony shuffles over to me, hand tight around Bella’s.
“This is insanity!” he says.
Bella’s eyes are bugged out and all she does is nod.
I hate to admit that I can relate to her expression. The smile on my face is definitely forced.
There are too many people here, my tuxedo is suffocating me and Sal is like a different person. He’s so… calm. Isn’t he the one who’s supposed to be freaking out?
Chugging my drink, Tony giggles as a little escapes down my face.
“Same,” Bella says, following suit.
There’s a tapping on my shoulder and I’m grateful thinking it’s Sal telling me we can leave.
Instead, it’s Oliver and Ace. Ace and Sal are chatting like old buddies.
“How are you?” He asks, wrapping me in a hug.
There are a few flashes and it makes me drop my glass.
“Shit,” I mutter, bending down to try and pick up the broken pieces.
Oliver hoists me to my feet. “Don’t worry about it. Someone will come sweep it up.”
Within a minute, someone is sweeping it up. What is this place?
“I know it’s overwhelming,” he says. Then to Tony and Bella he holds out his hand. “Hi, I’m Oliver.”
“OH MY GOD!” Tony says, taking his hand and shaking it really hard. “I cannot believe I finally get to meet you!”
I’d be embarrassed, but the alcohol is hitting really nicely.
Oliver pulls his hand away and offers it to Bella.
In one floppy maneuver she shakes his hand and pulls it close to her.
“I don’t know how you do this all the time,” I admit, my head swimming.
I reach out to another tray and they stop to hand me a second drink.
“I mean, I spent a lot of time hiding in the bathroom,” he says, grabbing a drink for himself.
We both slam our drinks, which makes me hiccup.
“Dancing helps too. Wanna go to the dancefloor together?”
“Sure!”
Normally, dancing isn’t my thing. Tonight isn’t normal though. I’ve been thrown to the wolves. My nerves calm as we weave onto the crowded dance floor where there’s guests with multicolored hair, some with buzzed hair and people with piercings and a few men in dresses.
One word springs to mind. Inclusion.
This isn’t the usual elite; this is a mix of individuals my team found. My team has such a nice ring to it. I should have dragged them to the dance floor with me.
“Who is this?” Someone shouts to Oliver.
He pauses dancing to introduce me to someone named Val. He tries to explain who she is, but it’s too loud.
“Nice to meet you!” I shout to her and offer my hand.
Rejecting my hand, she pulls me in for a hug. “Anyone who loves Oliver is a friend of mine!”
All I can do is smile at the tall, beautiful girl.
Until we all start dancing together in a circle. There’s glitter on the floor and bubbles floating above the crowd. I don’t know the song playing, but it’s thrumming through my entire body, along with the drinks I’ve had.
Everything is wonderful.
Except when it ends. The dance is dispersed after several songs and we’re directed to our tables.
Plopping down in my seat, I try to take in everyone still moving to where they need to go. The variety of people, now no longer an ocean surrounding me, is even cooler to witness.
“Are you okay?” Sal’s question is asked with a chuckle as he gently runs a finger along my suit arm.
I jump at the touch.
“Goodness, they’re not tearing you apart, are they?”
I laugh, then lean into his touch. I hadn’t even registered that he was next to me.
Seated, he scoots his chair closer so he can sling an arm around me. Quickly, food is served to us and we begin eating.
Sal plants a kiss to the top of my head before we dig into our food. He’s extra affectionate tonight, and it’s magnificent but strange.
“I was dancing with Oliver,” I say between bites of salmon.
“I saw that, it looked fun.”
I quirk an eyebrow up at him. “You’re an amazing dancer, why weren’t you out there with me?”
In a low voice he says, “I prefer dancing with a partner.”
I’m not sure if he meant to be sexy, but it gets my head dizzy again.
Sipping the iced water in a fancy glass helps.
The plates are cleared away quickly and at the center of the room, a spotlight is cast on a young woman, Hannah. She’s Ace’s sister which I wouldn’t have known except Oliver told me so. The longer I look at her, the similarities I notice are the nose and an air of confidence. While Sal can conduct himself as a businessman and has a suave confidence, it seems Hannah and Ace were born for the spotlight.
My gaze jumps to Ace and Oliver who are stoically watching her.
She wears a gown that’s golden with silver stripes that match their sparkling suits.
Slowly she lifts the microphone to her red painted lips. The room is silent, minus the few flashes from the photographers intermittently, as if they need to catch every movement she makes.
My eyes trace her long, curled brown hair until she finally speaks.
“Tonight is about one thing. Love.” A few people whoop around the room, and it splits her face into a magnificent smile. “Sometimes, we have to fight for that love.”
Her gaze moves to a different spotlight, I recognize the girl from the dance floor. It’s Val.
“Sometimes we have to fight ourselves, our own fear to accept who we are.”
Sal reaches for my hand and holds it firmly but our attention remains on the speaker.
“There are many people struggling to make who they are normal. It shouldn’t be that way, yet here we are to rally each other, to remind each other that there’s nothing wrong with us, despite how others have treated us. We are amazing, we are power, we are love.”
Everyone is cheering and Sal yanks our hands into the air together, which makes others do the same and soon there are people photographing us. It’s a glorious moment.
Once the cheers die down and the photos stop, Hannah starts speaking again.
“Now, I want to add that there is a ton of art to purchase tonight, which most of the proceeds will go to The Trevor Project, and the Religious Trauma Recovery Foundation, as well as the disabled artists who have contributed to fund their medical expenses.” She gestures to the walls where there’s more art. I hadn’t even seen those. “My time up here is over and I’m going to pass it on to the most wonderful person I have ever met.. They are non-binary BIPOC.”
The next few speeches given bring tears and sniffles to the audiences. One trans man in a wheelchair gives a speech and explains his struggles and their gratitude for life. I glance over to see Sal wiping his eyes and it almost makes me start crying! I decide to find a piece of his work as soon as the speeches are over.
At the very end, Sal’s dad is speaking. I tune out most of what he says, as it feels like a bit of solidarity for him.
Sal remains still as can be, he doesn’t even flinch. I consider downing another campaign as there’s two bubbling right in front of me.
“I love my son, but it took me a while to stop being a bigot. When I started to catch feelings for my now partner, Jeff, I hated myself.” His words reach me, and I swear the room is collectively holding their breath. “How could I cut off my own son for nearly a decade, and have an experience where I’m falling for the man I’m working with?”
Now Sal twitches. I’m too nervous to examine his face to see how he’s taking it.
“It eats me away every day. Even so, he was kind and loving enough to speak to me again. Isn’t that true, unselfish love?”
The room booms in loud cheers and clapping of approval.
“I’m not here to give a riveting speech, only to say that with time and hard work, I hope to help change the future alongside all you lovely folks. Gone are the days of old. We need men and women of all backgrounds to lead the future, to run the show. And as Hannah mentioned, we need love. It’s what nourishes us. That’s why, Mr. Maverick and myself are retiring and hoping that Hannah Maverick alongside some of her peers will take over running the gala.”
The room is quiet for a long moment.
A spotlight lands on Hannah. She doesn’t look shocked, but proud.
Loud whoops of approval sound the approval and she smiles widely.
“Thank you all!” She says, breaking her pose.
The rest is a blur as tables are moved away, and the dance floor bursts to more parts of the large room.
Loud music pulsates through the room. Thankfully, Sal hangs on to me and I cling to him for dear life.
“Are you okay?” He whispers in my ear.
I nod, though I’m not sure that’s true.
Art. My head clears for a moment and I tear from Sal’s embrace to walk along the circle and search for the artist’s work. I try to recall his name. Was it Ben? Bentely?
Then I see one and instantly recall his name. Bennett.
Someone slams into the back of me but their strong grip pulls me back. Warmth embraces me and I look up as Sal towers over me from behind.
“I’d ask what the hurry is, but now I understand.”
“Yeah,” I say in a dopey voice.
My heart drops when I see the price. Four thousand dollars. It’s worth every dollar, but I don’t happen to have that kind of money that isn’t stashed away for other purposes.
“Can I buy it for you?” Sal asks so casually.
No way, I want to say.
He doesn’t wait for my answer though. Instead, he steps forward and signs the form of purchase beside the painting.
Tears spring to my eyes for the first time tonight and I try to wipe them away before Sal is by my side again.
“Thank you,” I say, throat tight with emotion.
Gently, he grabs my hand. “Of course. Anything for you Cole.”
“I just want you,” I find myself telling him. “Well, and the painting.”
We both laugh and he leans down and places the most delicate kiss to my lips, as if I’m a flower with petals that could fall away at any moment.
Gripping both of his biceps through his tux and him grabbing my waist, I deepen the kiss.
Tonight has been perfect, despite the flash of the camera to my right, capturing this moment.
Fatigue digs into my bones and sets up for the night.
Once we break away, I let out a contented sigh.
“I don’t want to be the lame one,” I find myself saying.
“You’re ready to go?” He finishes.
“Yes!”
His chuckle lights up my heart but is quickly drowned out by the loud music and cheering.
We should stay and dance and party the night away with my friends. The new ones and the ones I’ve had around me all along. However, the exhaustion threatens to knock my legs out from under me.
“Let’s go!” I finally yell, tugging him by the arm.
It’s still another half hour of saying goodbye to those we can find, hugging, Tony begging us to grind together on the dance floor, and fleeing with paparazzi capturing us as we run on the red carpet.
We jump into the limo and I feel like a kid again as we pull ourselves off each other as we’re laughing.
Sal fastens his seat belt and I do the same. Then, he pulls out his phone.
“I’m going to text my dad a thank you message,” he announces, searching my eyes for something.
Is it approval? Or is he waiting for me to stop him?
“Where to?” The limo driver asks, interrupting us.
“My place?” I offer.
“Sure, we can get a ride to our cars tomorrow. If you’re able to walk.”
Sal says it so casually, and perhaps I’ve had too much alcohol because it takes a minute for my brain to register what he’s said.
“Wait… from drinking too much?”
“What’s the address?” The driver asks.
He’s an older gentleman and not offering any pleasantries.
I give him the address then close the partition.
“No, because I’m going to get you as close as I can to saying Waffles tonight,” Sal says, again so casually that when my brain finally catches up, he adds, “Okay it’s sent.”
He flashes me his phone. He’s literally typed “Thank you for tonight.”
“That’s it?” I ask.
“Yup.”
“That works.”
My brain is hung up on his other statement. “So you’re gonna torture me?”
The smile that strikes his face makes my body jolt in excitement. We both laugh and I fall into his lap.
The seat belt cuts into my chest and I swing it under my arm.
“Cole, that’s not safe,” Sal says, though he’s smiling and starts rubbing his thumb across my Adam’s apple.
My lips are dry and I slowly moisten them by licking them slowly. Sal shifts underneath me and his semi shifts and twitches against my ear.
“So impatient,” I scold, tsking him.
The way he hangs his head makes me break my mock scorn and giggle along with him.
As entertained as I am, I know I’m not grasping how tonight is going to play out in the slightest.