Colin smiled and leaned closer. “You look incredibly handsome in your suit. Did I tell you that?”
“You see me in a suit every day.”
“And every day, you look incredibly handsome.”
Joshua leaned closer, and his lips brushed against Colin’s. “Thank you, my love.”
Colin breathed out a husky sigh and glanced around. “Damn! I wish we were back at the hotel.”
“With Trent and Jeff in the next room?”
Colin’s mouth twitched. “Yeah, well,thatfuckingsucks!”
“We’ll be home tomorrow.”
“I want to make love to younow.”
Joshua pressed his forehead against Colin’s shoulder, shaking with laughter. “Same here. But circumstances dictate that we—”
“Stay frustrated and pissy?”
“Until tomorrow.”
“Mmmm,” Colin rumbled.
“Just think how good it’ll bethen!”
Colin reared back, his face twisted in a dubious grimace.
“That’s some look!” Joshua exclaimed.
“You’ve seen it before.”
Joshua was about to reply when he saw David appear at the end of their row and beckon to them. “C’mere for a minute. Nate wants the press to get an image of the ‘Evol Gang of Six’ before we leave.”
Colin moaned and got to his feet, taking Joshua’s arm as he stood. “Does this mean we’re almost ready to go? I’m starved.”
David nodded and waved them forward. “Yeah. They’re about done back there. Then we head to the hotel.”
“Oh, Christ on a crutch,” Colin grumbled as he and his friends moved to the stage door. “I hate this kind of bullshit.”
“You’ll make the New Yorkpapers!” Jeff teased, poking him with a knuckle as they entered the crowded backstage area.
“Besides,” David added. “It’ll mean a lot to Nate.”
Colin grimaced and nodded. “OK, Professor. Lead on.”
They followed David to a dais where Nate stood with Ursula Rugby, Ross Tanner, and Kory Holder. The group was surrounded by the press and illuminated by the flash of many cameras. When Nate saw them, he pulled away and greeted his friends. “Come up here,” he begged, pulling on Colin’s arm. “I want pictures with all of you.”
Colin laughed and embraced him. “Fine by me, rabble-rouser,” he murmured. “But don’t complain when I steal your thunder because…” He bent closer and whispered into Nate’s ear, “Once the camera seesmyface….” He leaned back and winked, leaving the sentence unfinished.
“Oh, just get up here, you conceited Irish blowhard!” Nate said, giggling as the six friends gathered on the dais.
After the photos, Colin wrapped an arm around Nate. “I said you were a champion,” he said. “See how right I was?”
“What happens now?” Trent asked.
“There’s a party at the hotel,” Nate told them. “We’re guests of honor!”
