When Adam woke, he was alone in the bed. The scent of coffee and bacon wafted up from the kitchen area beneath the mezzanine. He smiled as he stared up at the ceiling, remembering how amazing the previous night had been. But fuck was he sore. He'd asked for it, but he was certain he'd be walking bow legged for a short while at least. No doubt Luc would find that ridiculously amusing. He rolled out of the bed and grabbed the boxers he'd been wearing the night before. The clean clothes he'd brought with him were in his rucksack, which he remembered dumping by the front door. Clambering down the steep steps from the mezzanine took him longer than it should have done and he was indeed walking like he had a rod stuck up his arse. As he'd anticipated, Luc took one look at him and burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
"Yeah, yeah, very funny," Adam said, scowling.
Luc gestured towards the small, pull-down table. "Sit down, I'll bring breakfast over."
Adam was very glad to sit down on one of the fold-up chairs, even though it wasn't massively comfortable. Seconds later, Luc carried over mugs of coffee for them both, before going to fetch plates with bacon sandwiches on them. He also had a glossy brochure tucked under his arm, which he handed to Adam along with his breakfast.
"What's this?" Adam asked.
"The other half of my surprise. You weren't interested in looking at it last night. Something about being desperate to have my cock up your arse." Luc waggled his eyebrows suggestively as he spoke.
Adam swallowed and opened up the brochure. It was for the ballet company that they'd been to see the night before. Within seconds, he realised the brochure was information about joining the company, including an application form.
"They're holding auditions next month," Luc said, his voice teetering on the edge of excitement. "I know dancing professionally is your dream. If you got in, you could move in with me. It would be perfect."
Adam stared at him, his head swimming. "Move in with you? You've only got one bedroom." If you could even call the mezzanine a bedroom.
"And that's a problem because...?"
"Because Mum and Dad have been here. Theyknowyou only have one bedroom."
Luc stared at the table, the smile dissipating from his lips. "Yeah, you're right. It was a stupid idea, I'm sorry."
Adam leaned across the table and put his hand over Luc's. "It's not. It might be a bit soon, but it's not a stupid idea."
Luc stared into his eyes. "You'd be interested in applying for the company?"
"If the dance school wasn't in trouble? Yeah, I would. But it is. Besides, I wouldn't get in. I don't have the experience."
"But you do have the talent."
Adam shook his head. "According to who? You? No offence, but you're not an expert."
"No," Luc agreed. "But I know how beautiful you look when you dance and how graceful and powerful your body is. You have so much talent and it deserves to be on display."
Adam wasn't sure about that, but it felt good that Luc had so much confidence in him.
"The dance school is picking up, isn't it?" Luc asked, before taking a bite of his sandwich.
"If you mean the toddler classes, yes. But it'll take more than one extra lesson a week to get it out of trouble completely." Adam picked at the crust of his sandwich. "They don't pay me a full wage. If I leave, they wouldn't be able to afford to replace me." He sighed. "I can't do that to them, Luc."
"You're amazing, you know that?"
Adam felt his cheeks heat up. "I'm really not."
"You are," Luc insisted. "Come on, Adam. You put your dream of preforming on stage aside to help Mum and Dad. You're still putting them first. Not many people would do that."
"You're helping them out."
"Not to the same extent you are. I haven't had to sacrifice anything." He stared at Adam, biting his lower lip.
"Yet?" Adam asked.
"I'm hoping I don't have to give you up."
Adam leaned back in his chair, suddenly feeling very heavy. He wanted to be with Luc, more than he could put into words, but the situation was just so messy. If he could apply to the ballet company and move in with Luc, he probably would. Even admitting that to himself felt monumental. Hedidwant to dance and hedidwant to be with Luc.
But he couldn't have either dream, not only because their parents needed him, but because he didn't want to see the looks on their faces if—when—they found out he and Luc wanted to be together. But the longer they left it, the more the truth would hurt.
