Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

T he entrance to the Point Seymour Yacht Club wasn't something as common as a car park. That was farther down the winding street. There was a valet service to drop cars off after their owners had cruised up the curving semi-circular drive where everyone standing on the balcony inside could see exactly how expensive their ride of choice was. The balcony, Leo knew from experience, wrapped around the entire building. On one side it overlooked the entrance and the city lights, and on the other, the harbour. It was a gorgeous old building, and Scarlett O'Hara wouldn't have seemed out of place had she come sweeping dramatically down the wide marble staircase.

Leo arrived in an Uber and lurked at the entrance, trying to act casual. He checked his phone again. Tristan was late for…some reason? Some wardrobe emergency or something. He hadn't been exactly forthcoming with the details. But the upshot was he was running late, and he'd meet Leo there instead of coming back to the flat first. So now Leo was here, and Tristan was—his phone buzzed with a new message—ten minutes away, apparently .

Leo exchanged an apologetic smile with the doorman for cluttering up the fancy entrance, then went and stood next to a potted palm tree to watch some other people arrive.

The men wore tuxedos, and the women wore gowns of various jewel tones. Leo hated black tie events. He hadn't been to enough to ever feel comfortable dressed up like a penguin, and he was sure it showed, which made everything twice as awkward as it had to be. Story of his life, really. He envied Tris and the way he was so damned unapologetic about being himself. He didn't just envy him, though. He was inspired by him.

Still, he reflected, at least he knew his hair looked good. Once he and Tristan had recovered from their sex session enough to function, Tris had fussed over Leo's curls, primping and styling and applying a myriad of product, tutting under his breath until finally he'd stepped back, satisfied. When Leo had glanced in the mirror, it had been to find that his curls sat almost exactly like they had when he'd left Valli's salon that morning. He'd been careful not to disturb his hair for the rest of the afternoon, aware that he'd never looked this good in his life. It was just another way Tristan was opening up Leo's horizons.

Leo cast another glance at the man on the door, and wondered what Tristan was wearing and if it would make the doorman's head explode or not.

A familiar silver Audi crunched to a stop on the gravel driveway and the valets darted forward to open the doors.

Mum emerged first, one hand hovering around her hair as though she was putting it in place using the power of telekinesis. "Leo!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing out here? Did you forget your tickets?"

"No." He patted his breast pocket. "I'm waiting for my boyfriend. He's running late. "

Mum's disapproval was obvious, and Leo was glad that Tristan wasn't trying to make a good impression. "Oh, Leo, is that?—?"

"It hasn't even started yet," he said.

Dad rounded the car, casting a worried glance at the valet climbing into the driver's seat. "Ah, Leo. Good to see you. Where's your boyfriend?"

"He's late ," Mum said, and they exchanged a pointed look.

Leo's phone buzzed again, and he checked his messages. "He said he's almost here now."

"Well, you can wait for him inside. It's unseemly lingering on the footpath. It leaves a bad impression," his mother said firmly. "Leave his ticket with the doorman."

Leo opened his mouth to argue but then thought better of it.

The valet drove off in Dad's Audi, and a white sedan slid smoothly into its place. At first Leo didn't take any notice of the woman stepping out of the front seat, then he heard her say in a decidedly masculine tone, "Thanks, mate!"

Tristan .

Leo's breath caught in his throat.

He was—he was in a satin dress and heels, and he was beautiful . It wasn't drag, not exactly, though Leo couldn't claim to be an expert. All he knew was that Tristan didn't have Miss O'Jenny's fake boobs and towering beehive hair. He didn't have the theatrics. He was, quite simply, a man in a dress. The dress was scarlet, with thin spaghetti straps that showed off the very masculine width of his shoulders, and a gaping scoop neck that had no boobs to rest on but displayed his chest hair nicely. It was split up one side to the thigh, and Leo lost the ability to think when he saw a flash of garter keeping Tristan's fishnet stockings in place.

Tris' hair was styled in an updo, with artful strands framing his face, and he was wearing winged eyeliner that made him look like an Egyptian god—or possibly Amy Winehouse, or Amy Winehouse if she were an Egyptian goddess.

And, just in case anybody missed it from his flat, hairy chest, he hadn't shaved. He had unmistakable stubble.

He was glorious .

"Who is that? What is that?" his mother hissed.

Leo struggled to keep from laughing at the sound of horror in her voice that clearly suggested she already suspected the worst. "Mum, Dad," he said, and stepped forward to hold out his arm to Tristan, "this is Tristan, my boyfriend."

"It's so nice to meet you," Tristan said with a brilliant smile.

Mum and Dad just…stared. For a second Leo thought they'd broken them, but then Mum whirred into action again.

"Leo," she said. "No, I'm sorry— Tristan , was it? Tristan. My husband and I are very progressive, but I'm afraid you simply cannot—you cannot —we give to charities , you know! For gays. And dogs, too."

"Oh, how lovely," Tristan said. His eyes sparkled as he linked his arm through Leo's. "Perhaps you can send me a collar?"

"Shall we go in?" Leo said brightly. "It's unseemly to linger on the footpath— or so I've been told."

This was already the best night of his life.

The doorman cleared his throat as he took Leo's tickets and looked Tristan up and down. For a moment Leo thought he'd be a problem, but Tristan winked at him, and the guy fought down an obvious smile and opened the door for them.

"Leo!" Mum called, sounding desperate. " Leo !"

But they were already inside.

People stopped and stared in the foyer as they made their way up the wide staircase, but Leo barely even noticed. Well, that was a lie. He noticed, but he simply didn't care. What did it matter if they stared? Let them look. Tristan was amazing and beautiful, and he was on Leo's arm.

"Doing okay there, babe?" Tristan asked him as they ascended.

"You look beautiful ."

"Aw." Tristan planted a kiss on his cheek. "And you look super-hot in that suit. Ravish me in the toilets later?"

A man coming down the stairs almost stumbled.

"I would love to," Leo said. His cheeks ached from how widely he was grinning, and he wondered if this was how Uncle Jimmy had felt when he'd broken all the rules of what was supposedly right and proper. If it was, Leo suddenly understood why he'd done it his whole life, because this was amazing. He was right at the top of a roller coaster—roller coasters didn't scare the crap out of him for the purposes of this analogy, not like in real life—and the ride was only going to get better.

Huh. Maybe he should actually try a real-life roller coaster at some point. He might hate it, but at least he would have tried it. And he might even surprise himself and have the time of his life.

Maybe Tristan was his roller coaster. He was certainly something special, anyway.

They reached the top of the stairs. Leo hesitated, not sure which way to go, but Tristan breezed forward, saying, "The function room's to the left, babe," and Leo allowed himself to be led.

They found their table and settled in. There was an older man already seated. He raised his eyebrows at Tristan, then gave him a broad smile and extended a hand to Leo. "Steve," he said. "Pleased to meet you. "

"Leo. And this is my boyfriend, Tristan," Leo added pointedly. Just because Tristan was acting like a Bad Boyfriend didn't mean it gave this guy a free pass to ignore him.

Tristan waggled his fingers in a tiny wave.

"Tristan and I have met before," Steve said, and Leo could have sworn the look he gave Tristan was fond. Which—fuck, were they sitting with one of Tristan's past hook-ups? Not that it mattered, he reminded himself. Statistically, it was bound to happen sooner or later. It was just that this guy didn't seem like Tristan's type, despite his silver-fox vibe.

Mum bustled over to the table, Dad in tow. "Leo!" she exclaimed, clutching Leo's wrist. "I insist that your friend leave!"

"Mum," he said firmly, "don't make a scene." It felt good to throw that back in her face. He'd been hearing it for years. "And Tristan isn't my friend. He's my boyfriend ."

"But-but—" She paused for a second, then said triumphantly, "He can't stay! He's breaching the dress code!"

Leo's mouth dropped open. Really? She was resorting to the dress code?

"Technically," Steve said—and since when did he have a stake in this?—"he's not. He's in formal wear." He nodded at Tristan. "And by the way, you look bloody fantastic."

Mum blinked rapidly at Steve.

"I, ah, why don't we sit down?" Dad asked awkwardly.

Mum sounded almost tearful. "But people are going to see !"

Dad sat down and gestured for a waiter with a tray of champagne glasses. "Line them up here, thanks."

Mum, a hand over her mouth, sank into her seat. She didn't look at Tristan or at Leo.

A moment later, another man came and sat at their table. He was middle-aged and looked vaguely familiar, but Leo couldn't place him.

"Hello," he said. "How is everyone?"

Mum let out a strangled sound, and their table fell into awkward silence.

Then, maybe because it was too quiet, Tristan lobbed a bomb. He leaned back in his seat and crossed his legs, the split in his dress falling open to reveal his toned, muscular thighs, encased in fishnet. "Mrs. Fisher, did Leo mention we've moved in together?"

"What?" Mum and Dad asked as one.

"What?" Steve asked, and Leo shot him a look. The fuck was it any of his business?

"Aw!" said the latecomer. "Isn't that nice?"

Well, he seemed to be the only one who thought so.

Leo grabbed a glass of champagne and handed one to Tristan, who promptly did that silly thing where they linked arms before they drank. It was cute and awkward all at once.

"Yeah," Tristan said with a smile. "We had sex in his shower earlier today. It's so big ."

Leo almost choked on his champagne.

"The shower, too," Tristan said with a wink.

Leo forced down his embarrassment. This was what he wanted Tristan to do. Just…did he have to be so good at it? He was incredible, but Leo would have liked an out-of-body experience right now, thanks.

Steve threw back his head and laughed, and so did the other guy, which made Leo feel a little better. Then, because Steve and the other guy were clearly both arseholes, they shook hands across the table and introduced themselves.

"Steve," Steve said.

"Kev," said the other guy.

And now everyone was friends. Yay .

Leo drank some more.

His mother was giving him a death glare, but instead of crumbling under her disapproval like he usually would, Leo straightened up in his chair and ignored her.

"A little bird tells me that you're considering running for pre-selection, Mr. Fisher," Kev said. "That's very admirable. Tell me, what are your thoughts on how to encourage small businesses in the current economic climate?"

Leo tuned out Dad's response about tax cuts and other incentives.

"We've been talking to Lillian," Mum said. "Lillian Kingsbury ." As though nobody would know otherwise. "She's been so encouraging."

"Ah," said Kev with a polite nod.

"Ah," echoed Steve. "Lovely woman, Lillian. Got a lot of time for her."

"Anyway." Tristan gave a tinkling laugh. "God, it's all so boring , isn't it?" He leaned closer to Steve, his elbows on the table. If he'd had tits, they would have been spilling out of his neckline. "What is it that you do, Steve?"

"I'm an oral and maxillofacial surgeon."

"Oooh," Tristan said, walking his fingers along the tablecloth. "Sounds like haaaard work."

Steve raised his eyebrows. "It's a very serious profession."

"Oh, I'm sure," Tristan said, and drained the rest of his champagne. He winked. "You had me at ‘oral.'"

Mum made a high-pitched sound like air escaping from a balloon. "Leo…"

"Doctor Steve," Tristan said, leaning towards him like a cat looking for affection. "I can call you Doctor Steve, can't I? Or maybe you'd prefer—?" And suddenly he was out of his chair and perched on a startled Steve's lap. " Daddy ?"

"Oh, my God," Mum said .

"Oh my God," Dad said.

Steve laughed. "You little shit."

Leo was not jealous. He was not . It was just that Steve was attractive, he wasn't making any move to unseat Tristan, and Leo was finding it harder by the second not to take it personally. It's all an act , he reminded himself.

It didn't help much.

The waiter came over with the first course, which consisted of oysters on a half shell, garnished with lemon and displayed on a bed of rock salt. "Oooh, oysters! The food of love, or so they say. Shall I feed you yours, Daddy? " Tristan asked, trailing a fingertip down Steve's arm.

Leo's mum choked on her champagne.

"Don't you think you'd better save that for your date…baby boy?" Steve said with a twinkle in his eye. He gave Tristan a gentle shove off his lap back into his own seat, then, catching Leo's eye, he winked . Leo had never been so confused in his life. He wasn't sure what the hell was going on, but it seemed like Steve was somehow in on the whole Bad Boyfriend thing? Which, now he thought about it, was entirely possible. Tristan had all sorts of weird connections. That he'd called in a favour from a daddy-type who was also a dentist wasn't that much of a stretch. Hell, maybe the guy was his actual dentist. Tristan did have an exceptionally perfect smile.

Tristan slid into Leo's lap, straddling him, and whispered, "You didn't tell me it was a Lillian Kingsbury event."

"Should I have?" Leo murmured, distracted by the way Tristan was squirming against his dick. "Does it matter?"

"Not exactly, but it's fucking hilarious," Tristan breathed against the shell of his ear. "I'll fill you in later." Then he cupped Leo's face and gave him a truly filthy kiss, which for some reason earned a smattering of applause from Kev. Tristan grinned and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "Maybe Daddy Steve's right. Maybe you're the boy I want to share my oysters with," he proclaimed loudly. "After all, he's getting on. He won't have half the stamina you do." He rocked in Leo's lap, and Leo tried, and failed, not to groan.

"Did you need to get a room, Tristan?" Kev asked with a smirk as Leo's cheeks burned.

"Oh no, I'm fine here, thanks," Tris said, blowing him a kiss.

"I don't know what you were thinking, bringing this…this person here!" Leo's mother burst out, obviously unable to hold back any longer. "He's a disgrace! How could you possibly imagine we'd approve?"

"He's my boyfriend," Leo shot back. "And I wasn't asking for your approval. After all, you've never given it to me before, so why would you start now?" The words were out before he could stop them, and Leo hadn't meant to shout, but the sudden silence from the surrounding tables made him suspect he'd been louder than he'd intended. He waited for the usual sinking feeling in his gut he got when he'd overstepped with his parents. Instead, a lightness bubbled up in his chest, something like euphoria, and as his mother stared at him open-mouthed, Leo realised that it didn't just feel good to stand his ground and say what he was thinking. It felt fan-fucking-tastic .

He only wished he'd found out earlier.