That caught Luis’s attention. “Oh, he’s gay…? Wasn’t this like the 1940s?”
Julien nodded. “Mm, yes. Openly gay. Very bold for the time. Very lovely men, we had drinks once,” Julien said softly, as if remembering.
“Oh, wow.” He loved Julien’s stories, loved hearing firsthand accounts of things that had happened before Luis had even been born. Julien had been alive for almost a hundred years, even if he looked not a day over forty. “What’d they drink?”
“Cognac was Cocteau’s favorite, but I believe we had martinis.” He dropped his gaze, long fingers tracing the edge of one of the coasters.
“Martinis with famous actors, wow.”
That got the twitch of a smile to Julien’s lips. “You’re picturing something much more romantic than it was. But meeting him in person did give me a soft spot for his work, he was very skilled.”
“I did enjoy it, it was a good rec,” Luis said.
“I miss that sort of rough filmmaking,” Julien said with a sigh. “It gives me such nostalgia, the early decades of cinema. The closest you can get now is experimental or indie films, but even they have decades of precedent to stand on. I miss seeing something completely new, you know?”
Something clicked in the back of Luis’s head. “Oh! That reminds me, I saw the theater on Waters is showing some foreign indie films in June. There were a couple I thought you might like?”
Julien’s eyes brightened. “Oh?”
“Yeah, ‘Tarnish the Night’ is playing, I remember you mentioning wanting to see that,” Luis said.
Julien smiled, “Yes, it sounded interesting. Shall we go together?”
That–that hadn’t been what Luis had meant. He’d only wanted to tell Julien in case he didn’t know. In case he wanted to take Karim.
“Oh, um. I mean–” Luis stuttered. Their eyes met, and Luis was afraid the way his heart leapt was obvious across his face. Cassie always said he was shit at hiding his feelings.
“It would be nice to see a movie with someone who enjoys film,” Julien said, voice softer. “The last time I took Karim he complained the whole way through, could barely focus on a thing.” Julien laughed, affectionate, and it made Luis’s stomach clench.
“But he’s usually so reserved,” Luis joked.
Julien inclined his head, “Oh yes, so quiet and demure,” he huffed a breath of amusement. “So shall I look at our calendar and text you?”
Luis felt a dangerous rush of pleasure at the offer. “I guess we could go together? If Karim doesn’t mind?”
“He won’t,” Julien said with a smile. “He’d never mind me sharing my time with you. We’ll make a date of it.”
Luis blinked at him. What? Julien did not meandate, date. And that comment about Karim? Luis didn’t know how to take that. Karim mindedeverythingabout him.
“Okay,” Luis said, more casually than he felt.
“Anyway,” Julien said with a thoughtful look back toward the curtain, “Karim sometimes enjoys having alone time. He never outright says so, but my being out of the house a little more gives him some alone time.”
The desire to ask swelled, but Luis didn’t let the words get out. “Okay,” he said. “Then we’ll plan something.”
“Wonderful,” Julien said with a smile. He looked like he even meant it. Luis tried not to read anything into it.
When Karim finally returned to the table ten minutes later, he and Julien were deep in discussion about the unique qualities of French film.
Karim sauntered to the table with a grin, fangs on full display.
“Hey,” he said with a slur, sliding into the seat beside Julien and throwing a possessive arm around his neck. Julien allowed Karim a few indiscreet neck kisses before easing him back.
“Welcome back, mon cœur,” Julien said, taking his hand from wherever it was beneath the table and setting it on the wood top. Karim mumbled something, but didn’t try to pull it away.
Luis, meanwhile, pretended to be very interested in the perspiration of his glass. He never got used to the way Karim’s prickly exterior crumbled after just one drink. It always felt illicit, like he was seeing something he wasn’t supposed to. It made him nervous in a way he couldn’t account for. Nervous and too warm.
Julien returned his attention to Luis, picking up the threads of their conversation as Karim lazed against his side. Luis was grateful they’d started this pseudo movie club so he had something to talk about week after week. Something to distract him from the way Karim nuzzled Julien’s ear, whispering just loud enough that Luis could sometimes pick out words likefuckand his own name.
