I’m fine. I’m good. I caught myself. I did. I was catching feelings!
Shit.
Time to put that in the back burner. Like let’s be serious. Look at the opportunity, I had. I couldn’t ruin it.
I was seriously in my own fantasy world and I CANNOT believe I was slipping.
Nope, not I baby girl.
I needed to get my shit together.
Let’s do this!
“Mornin'.”
Fuck, and he just always managed to look sexy disheveled. Like who does that? Who wakes up in the morning looking like that. Looking fucked.
Messy hair, bedroom eyes.
No shirt?
Did he not own shirts, like come on.
He wasn’t even fit like Joseph who went to the gym three times a week. Nope, skinny boy abs, just them lil muscles on them arms, uugghhh how annoying.
He annoyed me. He annoyed me so much. With his lil painter ass.
I grabbed my glass and poured the smoothie.
“Eloise.”
“What?” I continued pouring.
“I said mornin'.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t hear you.”
“GOOD MORNING ELOISE!"
“JESUS!” I jumped and dropped the empty blender on the counter. I turned to glare at him.
“Heard that?” He asked calmly, bringing the coffee to his lips.
I sucked my teeth at him and picked up the blender. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I grabbed the cloth and wiped the counter. I moved over to the sink, but he refused to move, knowing he was standing in my way. I elbowed his arm away to give me room, but he just moved his coffee cup out of my reach, his arm pressing into me.
It was a constant subtle shoving going on as I tried to claim enough space to wash the blender and put it up.
Next thing I knew, Marcel had put down his coffee, both arms out, gripping the sink, caging me in. “What’s wrong?” he asked softly against my ear.
“Nothing.” I shrugged.
He dropped his chin on my shoulder, his hair brushing my face. It smelled like a delicious fruit dessert. I stood still as Marcel wrapped his arms around my lower belly and simply hugged me.
Oh fuck… . You see this… . Do you see?
How do I not?
I sighed, the tension in my body releasing.
He moved his head, I turned mine also to find him staring at me. Our noses almost touching. We stared at each other, his eyes shifting to my lips.
“Now be a good girl and go make my money." He ordered. “This botox ain’t gonna pay for itself.”
I couldn’t help it. I smiled.
He smiled back. “There you go. “ he whispered nuzzling our noses together.
I just… . I mean can you blame me? I closed the distance between our lips, expecting a rejection nonetheless. But he kissed me back, moving his lips purposefully, hugging me tighter. Sucking sweetly on my bottom lip.
What the----this was not last night’s reaction.
I pulled away, swallowing hard. “I uh… . Work…" I swallowed again and quickly moved out of his embrace.
Marcel licked his bottom lip and nodded, straightening up.
I grabbed the smoothie, my heart pounding. I turned my back to him and drank as quickly as possible. I needed to get out of here before I did something stupid.
Had I imagined it? No, no, I couldn’t imagine a heartbreak like that. But why now today, why that kind of kiss?
I hiccupped but downed the drink. I wiped my mouth and turned around. His eyes we’re still on me. I know I’d felt them.
“Okay, see ya." I turned quickly, knowing he was till watching me as I rushed out the kitchen.
Shit, what was wrong with me?
Act normal. Come on.
Act fucking normal.
I closed the front door behind me and took a deep breath as I took out my cell phone.
-lunch?
I stared at Marcel's text in surprise. I had just left him, less than a minute ago. Lunch? Like did I have it? Was he offering? Was I going to be home for it?
But then I remembered that he did have lunch with Joseph on occasions. Did that mean he wanted to have lunch with me? Like on a regular workday? Did he expect me to come to the house? He come to the hotel? We meet halfway?
I groaned. Okay, what the fuck was I getting worked up about it. I scratched my eyebrow and continued walking as I texted back.
Something cool, casual, no jumping to conclusions.
-What about it?
Yes. Marcel I’m going to need you to clarify-----
“Ooohh.” I whispered. He’d texted back so fast.
-Let’s have lunch together.
-you busy?
I stopped walking to stare at his two texts. Really?
I didn’t even have time to reply cause he texted again.
-What time are you free? I’ll come to the hotel.
I smiled in shock. These past almost three months, he has never came on my lunch break to have lunch with me.
-12:30
I replied, walking down the sidewalk. What did this mean? What did this mean guys?!?!? I took a deep breath. It meant nothing, cool it Effie. It was just lunch. Lunch from a guy I was casually fucking. Wait so… in that case, had last night just been a one off thing?
I looked down at the new text.
-See you then
**
He was in the lobby staring at the paintings. His head to the side. He wore dirty all white adidas. Skinny ripped black jeans. Short sleeved half tucked teal button-up shirt. He had a brown leather satchel on the side and his all black sunglasses resting on his head.
“Hey.” I walked up behind him.
Marcel turned around. His eyes a startling green. You know sometimes I’m unsure on whether they’re green or hazel but maybe it really has to do with the color he’s wearing. Right now his eyes were the greenest I’d ever seen.
“Hey, ready?" He asked taking his glasses off his head and putting them on as we walked out the lobby.
I nodded. “So where are we going for lunch? I got an hour."
“Any favorites?” He asked as we walked through the revolving doors.
To my surprise he reached his hand out and he held it a couple seconds next to mine, waiting for an answer. I brought my hand up and he held it as we continued walking.
Whoa… . . This was… . This was new. I smiled and shook my head. “Uhm no favorites… But you do know you’re paying right?” I sped up my walking to keep up with him, so it didn’t feel like I was being pulled.
“Eloise, don’t be cheap.” He scolded.
**
This was a lunch date and couldn’t nobody tell me otherwise. We ended up getting poke bowls and bubble tea.
“Tell me about yourself. “ He asked.
I’d been surprised. I told him about my parents, about moving around a lot growing up. I was an only child.
I couldn’t believe I talked so much. I didn’t make it a habit of talking about myself. My life was boring and basic. Nothing much really went on in it.
But I had to hand it to Marcel, he was just a fucking great listener. You know that type of person that held your gaze as you talked. Nodded in encouragement.
Before I knew it, the topic were exes. How many? 4. We weren’t counting hookups and flings. Just relationship.
First was Harry when I was 17. And then he cheated on me with my best friend at the time Carmen. I should have seen that coming. Then there was Grayson for a year and a half. And then Issac, man Issac was not okay. Issac situation was messy, real messy, as in I was 21 and scared of my boyfriend. Too scared to break up with him. It took me 6 months to realize it was emotional abuse. I was stuck. It was bad. Not my better times.
Marcel hadn’t interrupted but he stared at me seriously as I nodded.
“Yeah that was a rough one." I chuckled, remembering the pain. It’s a dull ache, but an ache nonetheless.
“You okay?"
I nodded again. “Yep. After him I kind of swore off relationships. I had like this fling with this other guy for a couple months… Rufus… that was toxic too. Especially on my end. Bad decisions there. And no more boys and then Tyler and yep, you know the rest.” I shrugged.
“You’re too pretty and smart to have such bad taste in guys."
I looked up from sipping my bubble tea in surprise.
Was that a genuine complement from Marcel? Had he… . Has he ever given me a compliment?
“But then again, the prettiest girls make the dumbest decisions.” He continued with a smirk as he ate his food.
I watched him chew.
That was like a backhanded compliment!
I grinned and dug into my bowl. “What about you?”
“What about me what?”
"Story on your exes?” I probed. I knew unlike Joseph, Marcel never really talked unless you were talking to him directly specifically addressing him I had thought it was shyness at first but this guy didn’t know the meaning of that word.
I concluded that was just who he was. Maybe how he’d always been.
His first relationship was 15. His best friend at the time, Louie. It had turned from exploring their sexuality, to feelings to more. Then then next year Louie told him he didn’t want to be gay. That it wasn’t right. It was wrong and they needed to stop. Marcel said it was cause of his dad. He’d always wanted his son to be a manly man with him. But alas he didn’t even know where Louie was now.
“I figured I was gay." Marvel shrugged casually. “But then a couple months later I fell hard for this girl in my art class.”
Jolie Poussaint. He described her as the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. He couldn’t stop drawing her.
Ain’t gonna lie, made me feel some type of way, but whatever. That went on for about a year and half. Going into his senior year, he was just over her. They broke up over the summer.
Then there was Guillermo from the Netherlands. Lasted a couple months. After Guillermo was François. Now François apparently was crazy possessive.
I squealed from the shock. Something this juicy in Marcel's life.
“He was 35.”
I squealed again. “Oh my God Marcel!” I gaped at him as we sat down at the coffee shop for tea. “ You were like 19!"
He chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. “He was crazy. I couldn’t do anything without him knowing and I’ve been fucking independent for most of my life. Couldn’t smile at other people. Couldn’t talk to other people. Couldn’t flirt. Desperate and obsessive." He grinned. “People tend to get obsessed over me. My mom said it’s the hair."
“Wow, so humble!" I purred. “No it’s the eyes, definitely the eyes."
He grinned and opened his mouth as if he was going to say something else but then thought against it. He shrugged. “Well that didn’t last long. Then after François, I just did my own thing. Then on my 20th birthday I met Lulu de la Plume."
“Lulu de la Plume?” I repeated an eye brow arched. “She sounds fancy."
He smiled. “She was a sweet girl… We were together for almost 2years you know… . But…"
“But what?” I whispered.
He shrugged. “It wasn’t her, it was me… . Something was missing… I loved her you know and she really loved me and I was even going to propose----”
“At 22!" I screeched.
He grinned. “Yeah… . But then I saw Joseph at a concert… . And I had to have him."
My mouth dropped. “You seriously have some big balls."
Marcel stared at me for a couple seconds seriously. “She didn’t believe I was capable of loving them… .. Both…" he chewed his bottom lip. “But I can… . That’s something I… . I mean… . I’m able to do that." His voice softened in the end.
“She broke up with you?” I asked.
“Gave an ultimatum." He replied and sighed.
I awwed. “And you chose Joseph!”
He smiled softly. “I can love more than one person.” He stated. “Can you?"
I cocked my head to the side. “I don’t know." I answered honestly. “I mean when you have two people don’t you end up loving one just a little more?”
He shook his head. “You love them equally, for different reasons. And it works… . It… feels... Complete…" he trailed off.
I knew he was trying to tell me something but I couldn’t grasp it. My mind wouldn’t let me.
When you grow up in a monogamous mindset everything else sounds selfish and unrealistic. Of course we can’t love two people equally without placing one above the other.
Marcel states he can, but look where that got him with his past relationships.
“Fuck!” I shot out the seat. “Marcel I need to go back to work!" I groaned. How had I lost track of time? I looked at my watch. “Okay if I walk really really fast, I can clock in just in time. “ I grabbed my purse. “Lunch was awesome, let’s do this again!”
Marcel stood and grabbed my hand quickly pressing soft kisses on my cheeks. “See you at home. “
I grinned and turned around rushing out the coffee shop. Leaving I saw he’d sat back down and brought his coffee to his lips.
I smiled, my heart feeling like butterflies. What a guy.
**
I knocked at his door again. He seriously took forever to respond.
“Come in."
And so I did. Walking slowly into his studio. I don’t know why I did that every time. I just feel like I had to respect the different canvases spread out around the room.
Marcel paused his paint brush mid air and turned his head to look at me. “Quoi?" he asked returning to the canvas he was focusing on.
He said that a lot. I picked up it means what. And honestly ,I liked quoi in French more than I liked the word what in English.
“I uhm… I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed having lunch with you today. “ I beamed. “It made the rest of my day. “
Marcel put his paint brush down and turned to smile at me softly. “Ditto.”
I smiled at him again and slowly lowered my head. Why was I grinning at him like a fool? “okay, that’s it… I’m just gonna head out and let you finish working. “
He nodded and returned to his painting.
I nodded back and turned around.
Why the hell did I always turn things awkward?
“You don’t have to knock." Marcel spoke up.
I stopped and turned to him but he was still focused on his painting.
“It’s distracting.” He continued. “Next time just come in. Door's always open… . Unless it’s closed."
I giggled and nodded. “Got it. No knocking. Door open, come in. Closed stay out."
Marcel dipped his brush in the painting without looking at me. “Good girl Eloise Perry Grady.”
I had no smartass response to that so I simply accepted it with a slight groan. Why had I told him my middle name?
**
We had lunch again two days later. This time down by the pier. There’s a sandwich shop that he has lunch with Joseph sometimes. Apparently Joseph loves this place. He was a sandwich man. Everything sandwich. When in doubt, he’ll settle for a sandwich.
“I think I’m like a noodles person.” I answered him.
He arched an eye brow as he transferred his pickles on my plate. “Noodles huh?”
I nodded and took his pickles. God, I love pickles. “Yeah regular old noodles, ramyeon, Japanese noodles, cold noodle soup, I don’t know I just like… like I like the slurping. You know when you slurp up a nice long noodle-----stop! Stop it not like that you pervert! “ I pushed his shoulder as he laughed.
“I like slurping too." He offered innocently his eyes twinkling.
I pushed him again and laughed. “Anyways! I like noodles a lot.” I finished the pickles he’d given me and dug into my spicy chicken sandwich. “What about you?”
He thought about it for a minute, tilting his head to the side. “Potato.”
“Potatoes?!?”
He nodded, as if to prove his point, he stuffed one of his fries in his mouth. “Potato in any form. Mashed, fried, baked, sauteed… I’ll take it."
I thought for a minute and agreed. “Yeah potatoes are pretty top notch actually. “
“Nothing on slurping though---”
“Shut up! “ I threw my fry in his face as he grinned.
**
I didn’t lose track of time. We’d walked back with a couple minutes to spare, so we people watched over the first Hall balcony.
If there’s anybody on the planet you need to people watch with, it was Marcel Remy Duchamp. See I could also do government names.
Marcel noticed the most absurd miniscule details, that it became sort of a game as to who could spot something out of the ordinary first.
Well game was just four turns cause he put his arm around my shoulders and I did nothing else but tilt my head up.
He smiled but didn’t hesitate in kissing me. No urgency in his kiss as he moved his mouth. Holding me closer as I wrapped my arms around him, slipping my tongue between his lips.
God, this was heaven.
**
I liked our one-on-one lunch dates, more than I cared to admit.
It felt so… .. Good.
And then we’ll meet at home, and Joseph would come later and we’ll eat and relax in the living room (no sex has occurred again) but it was so nice. Cause I would lay on Joseph’s shoulder or I would cuddle with Marcel for a bit as we watched Netflix.
The atmosphere was so chilled.
Even if we weren’t having raging sex everyday, (I mean I wouldn’t mind, because we were barely doing anything in that regards) it was the most comfortable I’d been around other human beings.
My boys.
I really truly like the ring of that.
But I’d gotten too comfortable. Way too comfortable, because on Friday morning, I felt Marcel's absence ten-fold. Joseph had left early, my smoothie was there but nobody else. Just me in the empty house, eating breakfast alone and then going to work.
Friday night, I ordered pizza, which Joseph gave me a big kiss for, saying that was exactly what he needed.
“No way! “ I screamed. “No way do you have five sisters!"
He chuckled. “I’m second to last.” Joseph shook his head. “I prayed soooooooo hard for Lauren to be a boy. I’d waited six long excruciating years and felt like I deserved back-up back-up. Nope.”
I laughed. “I always wanted siblings!"
He grimaced. “You and Marcel have no idea how lucky you are. “ he pointed to himself. “I would have sold them all for free water."
I laughed again and he chuckled.
“it was a war zone in the house but I do love them. “ He put his hand up. “From afar!"
I threw my head back and laughed.
His blue eyes twinkled as he watched me.
My laugh died down and I resumed eating and so did he. The silence was nice. Not at all awkward. It felt… . Warm.
“Got plans for tomorrow?” Josph asked refilling our wine.
I shook my head. “You?"
He shook his head.
I nodded.
“Maybe we could---”
“Do you wanna----”
We both stopped and chuckled.
“Yeah—”
“Yes---”
We paused again.
Joseph covered his face and laughed.
I felt my body warm up at just how freaking cute he was. So ducking adorable. That smile and that simple.
“Okay, what do you want to do?” He asked.
“Uhmmmm… .. “ I shrugged. “I’m up for whatever.”
He shook his head. “Just like Marcel. Okay I’m planning!"
**
I made breakfast. Which wasn’t really much, but he made such a big deal out of it, that I blushed. Feeling like a chef.
“Okay Lee, seriously, can Saturday breakfast be like your new thing?”
We went to the beach. He was a great surfer. I on the other hand had an issue with gravity.
But I loved it. He was a great coach, the problem was me.
But I did get to stand on the board, and that was only because I was on his board with him holding me. We fell after a couple seconds and I swallowed too much sea water from laughing.
We devoured the lunch of fried fish and plantains recounting my up and coming surfing stardom.
After a couple beers, we were laughing stupidly underneath our umbrella to block out the Sunday.
The laughter turned into teasing, which into a mini wrestling much on our beach towels which in turn ended with his lips on mine.
It didn’t go too far, seeing as we were still on a public beach.
But if everybody was accostumed to topless women walking by casually, they were perfectly fine with our tongues down each other’s throats, my hand working inside his swim trunks as he moaned and bit my neck.
We knocked out for nap when we got back home.
I only woke up to him jumping on my bed and slapping my ass.
“I ordered Chinese." Joseph kissed my cheek as I threw my hands up and yawned loudly. “Come on, it’s dinner time, I’m starving."
How we want from Chinese food to country line dance is beyond me. But we were spinning and dancing as he insisted I teach him the git up.
“Marcel is going to be so pissed, I learned this without him. He loves this song!” Joseph laughed as he took my hand and twirled me around.
I laughed. What a perfect day.
**
“You know, so it’s like I’m a sucker for those sweet words." I admitted. As I hugged the pillow. “Even when in my head I’m like, don’t fucking fall for that Lee.”
Joseph chuckled as he stared up at my ceiling. “Aren’t we all." he turned those beautiful blues on me. “I’m glad you got out of that."
I nodded. “I think that’s why, I let Tyler walk all over me you know. Like nobody was worse than Isaac.” I sighed.
Joseph leaned on his side and stared at me.
I put a finger up. “Actually Cory, your Cory might be worse."
“Fucking sadistic he was.” Joseph groaned. “But when we’re young, we’re easily impressionable. “ he sighed.
I smiled softly at him.
“It’s like my mind says one thing and then my emotions say another like… . “ he trailed off.
“Like what?” I asked.
“I really enjoy myself with you. Like a lot. A lot more than I’ve had with most people.” He continued. “You’re so impressionable. “
I snickered. “I’m not that impressionable. “
He nodded. “You are. “ he looked me over with a slow smile. “You’re sexy, funny, genuinely nice."
I saw the hesitation in his eyes.
“But…"
He groaned.
I reached out and ran my finger through his hair. “Come on tell me… “
“I see it. The thing that’s so attractive about you. “ he reached out and softly touched my cheek. His thumb caressing me. “And I want it as well… . Just… . “ his thumb brushed my bottom lip, sending tingles through my body as he gazed at my mouth.
“Just what… . “
“I’m selfish. “ he admitted. “And I want to share him only to a certain extent. “ he spoke honestly. “He’s very special to me."
I nodded, slightly hurt but couldn’ttell you why. “I get it. “ I whispered.
Joseph brought me closer to him. “But… .. “ he whispered. Sliding his hand down my body. “I think Marcel has much better taste than me in women. “
I giggled referring to our conversation from earlier. We smiled as we started at each other. I ran my index finger over his lip. “Hummm… . You like me… “ I teased.
Joseph’s grin grew. “A lot more than I expected. “ he admitted before capturing my lips hungrily.
I closed my eyes and wrapped my arm around his neck, pulling him on top of me.
I kissed him back, indulging in his touch which cause my body to move against him.
He rolled us around so now I was on top of him. He grabbed my ass, helping me grind against his erection.
I tugged on his bottom lip and he groaned, sitting up slightly to deepen the kiss as he arched into me.
I gasped as I pushed him down, reaching for my shirt and lifting it off me.
Joseph licked his lip and sat up slightly to pull off his own shirt. Throwing it on the floor as his arms wrapped against me. Our mouths latching on as we tumbled on the bed. Touching, caressing squeezing. The panting and desperation intensifying as he yanked down my pajama shorts.
It was mere seconds before his shorts were off. I climbed on top of him, sliding my wet lips on his dick, pressing my palms on his chest.
He moaned, running his hands up my stomach, cupping my breasts.
“Feels good… “ He whispered grabbing my hips and moving me down his length.
I nodded and moaned, biting down on my bottom lip. He was rock hard, his appendage teasingly brushing my clit.
Joseph sat up and grabbed the back of my neck. “You’re so sexy.. “ He panted.
I crashed my lips desperately against him. I felt him reach urgently between our bodies, his tip poking me several times before he found the entrance.
I moaned at the way he filled me up, having me sit on him. I knew he liked it cause he grunted as he continued. “I’ll go slow. “ he whispered.
I sucked on his bottom lip and pushed him down on the bed. Lifting my ass to adjust to his girth.
“You don’t have to. “ I rotated my hips. “Good thing about a pussy is that it accommodates very well. “ I don’t think I’d ever seen that type of lust behind those blue eyes as he gripped my waist and shoved himself in with a gasp of pleasure.
Oh he was a big boy. I leaned forward and proceeded to move up and down his length. But I didn’t mind the ride.
“Fuck Lee…"
**
I gasped and jumped on Joseph. “A couples spa! “
He laughed and held me. “Unlike Marcel, I do believe you’ll enjoy some pampering with me."
I fluttered my eye lashes at him. “The perfect Sunday."
Perfect Sunday indeed.
You know what I liked about Joseph?
He filled the silence so well. He had so many stories. He was entertaining. That’s what he was. On and off stage. There was never a dull moment with him. We got wrapped on conversations on so many things that he just became more and more interesting to me.
No wonder Marcel loved this guy. Joseph was amazing. My golden angel.
It was a two hours session, and by the end, I felt like royalty.
They had us finish in what they call a calming room.
We left laughing because we’d both fallen asleep.
**
“How about the sandwich shop… “
“Fuck yes! Lee God you’re a genius. “ I smiled as he grabbed my hand and led me across the street.
Marcel wasn’t joking. Joseph knew his sandwiches and he had no problem recommending me one.
Recommendation. On point.
“Holy shit! Is that Isaac?"
I nodded as we huddled over my phone.
“Fuck… “ Joseph whispered appreciatively.
I nodded again. “See why it was so hard to leave that… fucking Portuguese hottie."
We’d been instagraming our exes. And flings.
Joseph had quite a bit, I had to do some serious catching up.
“Wanna see Marcel's?" he asked mischievously.
“You follow them?” I whispered.
“They’re public. Though I do follow Lulu de la Plume."
Lulu de la Plume… the almost fiancee, the one before Joseph. I remember.
“Oh this is Louie. This was his first boyfriend. “ Joseph moved his phone to the center.
My jaw dropped. What a fucking hottie… and he was… .
“I know right. Gorgeous. He’s in politics with his dad, got a fiancee. Says he’s… . “ Joseph smirked. "Straight. "
No, that not what I was going to say. Black, I was going to say Louie was black. Why was I so caught off guard that Louie was black? I had expected him to be white straight up, but no, no this handsome chocolate fine specimen of a man was my complexion, if not a shade or two darker.
“Oh François… . “ Joseph showed another picture of what looked like a fucking Saudi Arabian Prince. My lil oil money man had nothing on this older gentleman. He screamed wild nights and dominance. “I thought I was possessive…" Joseph whispered to himself shaking his head as he started at the picture.
Wait… what? I shifted my eyes to Joseph. I don’t think he meant to say that out loud.
“You should have Marcel tell you about François, man was crazy." He laughed. “I swear Marcel has this thing about him, you just want to possess… “
I blinked several times at Joseph. Well… . Golden angel, that doesn't sound.... Healthy.
“Oh and this is Lulu… Lulu la Plume… “
Jesus fucking Christ, did Marcel only date gods and goddesses. I looked on with envy at the gorgeous, clearly biracial girl. I leaned over and clicked go see her page.
“Gorgeous right?” Joseph nodded appreciatively.
Jealousy, jealousy, jealousy do not fucking come creeping at my door. I scrolled through her pictures.
Happy father’s day Papa!
There was a young kid picture of her in the arms of a tall man in African attire.
Joseph scrolled through more of her pictures. “It’s funny, you remind me sometimes of her now that I think of it."
“I do?" I asked in disbelief. No way did I remind him of this fucking gorgeous ass… . Why was my heart beating so fast? That was the girl Marcel almost proposed to.
“Yeah…" He stared at the Instagram profile for a bit before lifting those blue eyes of his to me.
“What?” I asked at the seriousness behind his look.
He quickly grinned and shook his head. “Nothing… Marcel has a type. He likes them gorgeous and sweet." He looked back down at his phone and continued scrolling.
“I’m not that gorgeous…" I stated. Now y’all already know I’m vain. I was just fishing for a couple you know… compliments… especially after seeing Lulu de la Plume's Instagram.
Joseph chuckled, although I wasn’t sure if it was amusement or dry. “That’s the first thing he said when you left after looking at the room. You’re fucking gorgeous."
My heart tripled in beat. Marcel had said that?
“Oh look, that was three years ago." He turned his phone to me. He was still on Lulu de la Plume's insta.
I smiled, they looked so young. They were in a bar. Marcel was in the middle grinning adorably, his eyes closed. Lulu was kissing Marcel’s cheek. Joseph looked so cute, blowing a kiss at the camera
She’d captioned it… . My boys.
No! No! No! Lulu Flu-Flu! My boys.
“Awww you guys look so young…"
Joseph looked back at the picture and nodded slowly.
“She was Marcel’s ex?”
He swiped out and put his phone down. “Yeah…uhm…yeah…hey…hey do you want a refill?”
“uhmm yeah… thanks. “ I smiled to cover up my confusion at the abrupt switch. He obviously didn’t want to talk about that.
He grinned and grabbed my cup and went to the machine.
I sat for a couple seconds, my mind blank. Well… okay… . Feeling eyes on me, I looked up to catch Joseph’s eyes as he poured the green tea papaya.
I smiled and he smiled back.
But…
“So I was thinking." Joseph said coming back to the table, his mood seemingly transformed. “Since Marcel’s coming back tomorrow… why don’t we surprise him?”
And just like that the awkwardness, I thought I’d sensed was gone. “Ooohhh, like what…"
He grinned his blue eyes sparkling. “Well… I do know he would really like seeing you in… lingerie.."