20
The following evening,Art and Wes headed to the Heathrow Estates Fall Dance. They grabbed some wine at the refreshments table while they waited for the rest of the Fabulous Five toarrive.
Starry Night was the theme, as depicted in the various star symbols displayed on banners and statues around the place. A web of small, white Christmas lights decorated the ceiling of the common area, making it look like a night sky. However, Wes had a hard time enjoying the decor when he found the most enthralling part of the room was his Art, dressed in a black tux, looking as sexy as ever. He was always the sort to count his blessings, among which most recently was ArtCromley.
Wes caught something out of his periphery, and he turned to see Frances heading in from the main entrance, wearing a bright-violet dress. Gabe and Tony flanked her on either side, looking like her two dates, perhaps a rumor that would spread by the end of the night. As they approached, Wes said, “Frances, that is not the dress you were talking about wearing to your funeral, isit?”
Frances twirled and stretched out her arms, her right raised, her left lowered to the floor, modeling the dress as she said, “What’s the point if I just wear it when I’mdead?”
She earned some laughs and a few disturbed glares from those who had heard the exchange outside their company, which only made them laugh more. They conversed among one another, Wes unable to get the image of Tony and Frances from the night before out of his thoughts, particularly as neither acted interested in the other as they prattled likeusual.
“I think it’s about time for us to hit the dance floor,” Art finally said, to Wes’sdelight.
They took to the area set aside for dancing, where others were already dancing to the music. Wes eyed a table not far from the dance floor, which Kenneth’s crew encircled. Tonight, it seemed Joseph had gravitated tothem.
Gabe must’ve noticed where his attention was directed, because he said, “I see it just took Joseph some time to find his people. And by the expressions they’re making, they’re bound and determined to have a badtime.”
“That’s probably the Botox,” Francesjoked.
“Hey now!” Tony snapped. “Botox has been real good to my face, thank you verymuch.”
“Yes, it has, Tony theTiger.”
Gabe eyed her peculiarly, surely not knowing anything about their secret affair, but Frances returned to the topic at hand. “They can keep their sour expressions, since they have a surprise waiting for them under theirtable.”
“Frances!” Art exclaimed, apparently drawing the conclusion Frances had intended about her and Gabe potentially crafting anotherbomb.
“Kidding! Relax. Can’t anyone take ajoke?”
Tony took delight in her teasing. They’d made enough jokes about it since they’d nearly followed through with theirplans.
“But in all seriousness,” Art said to Gabe, “that glitter bomb wouldn’t have hurt Joseph,right?”
“No, no. But it is a bomb. A goodone.”
“And it would have looked about as fabulous as me in this dress when it went off,” Frances said as she worked a few impressive moves. “Now come on, Art. I know you’re waiting to showoff.”
Art beamed, and he did just that, Wes enjoying the expression on his face as Art closed his eyes and followed along with the beat, the way he had when he and Wes had gone on their first officialdate.
The more they felt their way into the rhythm of the music, the closer he and Art moved toward one another. Wes sneaked a glance back at Joseph to see if he could catch him disapproving of their pleasure. Sure enough, he was eyeing them with even more contempt than Kenneth Moore ever showed them, or at least, that was how Wes tookit.
However, Wes let his concern about that bastard slip away as he immersed himself in the moment he was spending with Art and hisfriends.
A few songs played before a slow melody filled the air. As Frances eyed Gabe and Tony, as though waiting to see who would take her hand for the dance, Gabe grabbed Tony’s hands and began slow dancing with him. “Sorry, Fran. Maybe the nextone.”
She burst into that familiar laugh, right from her gut. Tony stepped aside and let Gabe and Frances take the dance while he partnered off with another resident. Meanwhile, Wes and Art moved closer to one another, Artchuckling.
“Still feeling self-conscious?”
“A little. I figure it’s harder for me to shake it here than it was that night when we went to that bar. I just need to get into it and let your charm distractme.”
Wes studied Art’s face before adding, “You look beautiful tonight.” Art’s cheeks turned beet red. “You’re blushing. It’scute.”
“You aretoo.”
“And I hope I look as good in it as youdo.”
“I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to stop charming me, WesBrenner.”
