Chapter 4
Four Days Later: Friday
Pulling on his suit jacket, Giovanni checked the mirror to make sure his shirt was sitting correctly and hadn't bunched at the back. He had to look presentable. This was his first night as an 'official' member of D&G Publishing within the local community of businessmen. The first time he had to appear as the head of a successful business and really have the chance to network with the right people in the industry.
A productive week of spending time with friends and family had passed, and he and Darren had put a little more effort into their cartoon related 'snuggle time'. Through dancing, long hugs and Giovanni holding him tight most nights, his little firecracker was starting to relax and feel less fear when faced with a tight space or the old cartoons from his childhood.
“I love seeing you in a suit. There is nothing hotter,” Darren said, coming up behind him to touch both hands to his shoulders.
Giovanni smiled and took in the gorgeous view of his boyfriend through the mirror; the black suit hugged his frame perfectly, his hair was a little brighter with some gel in it and the smile on his lips was priceless. “I can think of something better,” he admitted, watching a flush rise up Darren's cheeks. “You.”
His boyfriend chuffed a laugh, as though embarrassed but unwilling to show it. Then he stole a quick kiss and turned away to grab his coat. “I'm kind of dreading this, are you? I mean, I love dancing, but a four piece orchestra isn't really my style,” he complained, with a long sigh and a faint, guilty smile.
“It's not mine either, but, if we skip out early enough, we could head to a club? Make the most of the night?” Giovanni suggested, tucking his scarf into his jacket to keep the ends out of the wind.
“Nope. I'd rather come back and reward you, if you were good,” he refused, with a beaming smile. “Or punish you, if you were bad,” he whispered, while stretching up on his tip toes.
Giovanni met him halfway and enjoyed the lingering contact. It took some effort to back away, grab his keys and lead the way to the door.
Darren held his hand out. “Where to, captain?” he asked teasingly, acting all prim and proper.
“Captain, is it? I like the sound of that. If I'm the captain, what does that make you? The naughty little steward?” Giovanni teased. He ushered Darren out the door, towards the parking lot at the back of the house.
Darren grinned and let out a deep breath of contentment. “Are Jaime and Jean still coming?” he asked hopefully.
“Yes. Jaime wanted to see your decorations before the crowds arrived,” he admitted, thinking back to the fact that they'd spent at least four hours today at the Harcourt Hotel, checking on the details. Victor had done a great job with the catering, his mother would handle the media when the event officially kicked off and Stanford's novel might get a little pre-publication shout out in the media.
Overall, Giovanni expected it to be a good night. The charity had sent teenage representatives, who had either been kicked out for being gay or who had been homeless before the charity found them, hoping that a night out would give them a little taste of their good life to come. They'd already been set up with schools and foster homes, until their individual situations could be settled.
The Bayley's had jumped at Victor's plan for them to use the Hotel, as their event was drawing ever closer with no location.
It was all working out for the best.
***
Almost an hour later, the party was in full swing and all the clients and writers, past and present, enjoyed the night that Darren had so successfully put together for them, on half the budget he'd been given.
Giovanni was so proud of him and how well he and his mother were getting on. It made him happy to see Jaime cutting in on Darren's dance with Rhett. The both talked and laughed freely, even as Rhett grabbed Eddy from the side of the room to drag onto the floor. The sweet kid blushed, but didn't refuse the dance.
He knew, in that moment, that Darren had made the perfect match by bringing those two together. Rhett was serious enough to give Eddy a nudge in the right direction for his career and Eddy free-living enough to get Rhett to loosen up once in a while.
Giovanni couldn't take his eyes off Darren; he was beautiful in a way that no other man had ever been to him. He was too damned irresistible. There was no real way of explaining just what he did to Giovanni, on a daily basis. There was a feisty Darren, always lying just beneath the surface and a sexy Darren who only came out for Giovanni; with anyone else, he was the shy, retiring guy.
He was blown away by how he looked in a suit and would have done something about it if they weren't surrounded by people. He crossed to where Darren and Jaime danced to a fun, happy jive. “Right, boys, Jean is starting to look a little jealous,” Giovanni warned, placing his hand on the small of Darren's back as he stood between them. “Tonight is about fun, dancing and getting away from it all. So how about you steal Jean for a drink?” he suggested.
“That sounds like a plan,” Jaime agreed, flushing and looking rather pleased as he let go of Darren and walked towards the bar, where Jean lingered.
When Darren moved to follow, Giovanni wrapped an arm around his waist. “Not you. You're coming to dance with me,” he insisted, holding his hand out for Darren's.
His boyfriend smiled and placed his hand on Giovanni's, letting him lead him onto the floor. He pulled Darren into his arms, to dance to a slow song. Dancing so close to the man he loved, in front of a room full of people, wasn't something he thought he'd be doing two years ago, or even three years ago. Even when he was dating Tam, who he'd thought he was capable of learning to love, he would never have been brave enough to open himself up to this kind of scrutiny. He would never have risked being seen as vulnerable or sensitive, especially in front of his co-workers or his father's rich friends.
His life had changed so much since meeting Darren, and Giovanni couldn't have been happier.
He lay his head against Darren's slicked back, red hair and closed his eyes as he felt the music. That was something else Darren had taught him; to live in the moment and not to let the small, important things pass him by. “You've done an amazing job tonight. I don't know how you do it all,” he approved, with a smile. He twirled Darren, as the slow song turned into a fast paced salsa, just the kind of music his boyfriend loved. “The orchestra is doing a great job, too. I didn't expect this range of music.”
“Neither did I.” Darren laughed, catching his arm with his free hand, as the other tightened in his grip. “But I love it. It sounds amazing,” he confessed.
Giovanni agreed; he'd never thought hearing salsa music on a cello would appeal to him. He had to remember to look it up, to see if there were bands that played this kind of thing for a living.
As great as it was, none of it could take away the concern he had that Darren was keeping a secret. Or just trying to avoid admitting that he was worried about something. Leaving one life to start another was always sad and full of regret for things never achieved, but unlike his descent into schizophrenia, he thought their move to Italy had been good for Darren. Good for both of them.
But was coming back too often the real problem?
“How are you feeling about the cabin?” he asked, unable to help himself.
“I know you talked to Lachlan,” his boyfriend replied knowingly, his wry smile giving away his amusement, “but that's okay. You did it because you love me. AndI'llgo to the cabin because I loveyou. Because you deserve this chance to reconnect and introduce me to the people who mean a lot to you. I want us to share that.”
He could only smile in approval. That was what he wanted too. To share two different aspects of his life, to see them merge and accept each other the way he accepted them both in return.
It would be an adventure, but, as Darren said, one that was well worth it.
