Chapter 32
Eamonn – Three MonthsLater
“What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?” Rafe asked as they walked in the park just beneath the Eiffel Tower. Kids and families scurried all around them on this crispday.
“I’m not a fan of ice cream,” Eamonn said. “I prefergelato.”
“Then what’s your favorite gelatoflavor?”
“Coffee.”
“But you don’t drinkcoffee.”
“Coffee by itself is gross.” Eamonn extended his arm, letting Rafe go in front of him as they headed inside the Eiffel Tower. “What’s your favorite ice creamflavor?”
“Vanilla.”
“Are you serious? Out of all the flavors available, you would choosevanilla?”
They climbed inside the crowded elevator that creaked up the tower. They had only been together for eight hours, but to Eamonn, they hadn’t missed a beat. All the emails, texts, calls, FaceTimes, and Skypes really did add up. They even mailed each other a worn T-shirt to see if they could smell each other. Not really, but that didn’t stop Eamonn from wanking it many a time with the shirt balled up in his fist. Rafe said the key was not waiting for big events to contact one another. They had to keep each other abreast of the little, inconsequential events of their day,too.
Although no matter how much Skype sex they had, it couldn’t hold a candle to the real thing. As soon as Rafe landed, Eamonn picked him up from the Charles de Gaulle Airport. They went to the hostel just to drop off Rafe’s suitcase, but within seconds were clawing at each other’s clothes, even though they were in a shared room. Eamonn put his tongue on pretty much every spot of Rafe’s body. It was unstoppable, inevitable. Eamonn was going to take advantage of all their alonetime.
They ascended higher and higher over Paris. Rafe was about to make a point, something he had clearly thought about for awhile.
“When somebody gives me vanilla ice cream, there’s so much I can do with it. I can put it in a sundae under hot fudge. I can smother it in whipped cream. I can plop it on top of a brownie. I can eat it in an ice cream sandwich or Klondike bar. Vanilla enhances the flavors of the food around it. Try having an ice cream sundae with rocky road or butter pecan. It’s weird. Because you want to taste the ice cream, but you’re also trying to taste the toppings. Not so with vanilla. You can taste both without feeling you’re missing out on anything. Vanilla is the ultimate teamplayer.”
It was moments like these when Eamonn wanted to smother Rafe with a kiss. He would forever be curious as to how Rafe’s mindworked.
“How did you come to thisrealization?”
“Years of practice andresearch.”
They stared out the elevator window as they rose above Paris. The scope and size of the city hit Eamonn more than he expected. He hadn’t wanted to do such a touristy activity, but he found himself awed by the Eiffel Tower. He held Rafe’s hand. It was instinctual, like he had to process this with another human being or else he was going to implode in a cloud ofdust.
They stepped out onto the landing. The air felt different up here, like they were in their own privateuniverse.
“This really is a beautiful city,” Rafe said. “I can’t believe I’m here. I am on top of the Eiffel Tower. It’s like next stop worlddomination.”
“With a spot in BISHoP, you’re on yourway.”
“Almost. I only filled out theapplication.”
“Your professors this term said you had a greatshot.”
Rafe nodded modestly. “I’m not going to jinxit.”
“Fair enough.” Eamonn would just silently root for his boyfriendthen.
They looked out at the twinkling lights in the nightsky.
“I’m trying to hold onto this moment as long as I can,” hesaid.
“Me, too,” Rafe said. “But it’s only going to be one ofmany.”
Eamonn didn’t know how long they stood there, watching the City of Love twinkling in the darkness. It wasn’t longenough.
“I can’t believe you don’t like ice cream,” Rafe said on the way backdown.
