“Hey, Elliot,” Adam says and tosses his six-pack of meal replacement drinks on the bar for me to put away. He’s terribly messy and can’t seem to conform to my organizational standards no matter how much instruction I give him, so I handle this sort of thing for him, like so many other tasks related to his survival that the beautiful and talented can’t possibly be bothered with remembering. Adam kisses Elliot’s cheek in greeting and Elliot practically levitates. “Did you guys get everything sorted?” Adam asks, giving me one of his charming boy-next-door smiles, blissfully ignorant as always.
I look to Elliot for his answer.
“Cassius says you’d like to pose for me again,” Elliot says in a sniveling way, as if wanting Adam to persuade him.
“Yeah, I thought it sounded like fun, and I’ve got a few weeks yet before I start shooting. It’ll help keep me from obsessing about stupid shit.”
And likely feed his ravenous ego, but I’m fine with that too. A man like Adam needs more than just my attentions. He’s a flame that must be tended constantly and generously fed. Like my mother, he needs legions of fans to worship at his feet. And I can give him that, so long as he behaves.
“So, what do you say, buddy?” Adam asks, laying a friendly hand on Elliot’s shoulder.
“Well, I’ll have to check my schedule, of course,” Elliot says.
“Of course,” I echo sardonically, and he shoots me a glare. I know when my presence is not wanted. “I’ll freshen up the pool house. You can begin any time you like. I know you two have some catching up to do, so if you’ll excuse me.”
I bow my head slightly and retreat to my office where I place an online order for a few fun toys, along with a shit-ton of film for my Polaroid camera. I have the feeling there is going to be a lot for us to commemorate in the coming weeks.
* * *
Elliot movesin the next morning. So much for playing hard to get. Together, he and Adam haul his things into the pool house which I’ve prepared with fresh linens for Elliot’s arrival. Easels, canvases, and boxes of what I can only assume are painting supplies are carried in caravan style while I watch from afar. It looks as if he means to stay awhile. I’ve set up a tent outdoors where the lighting is ideal for Adam to pose, and once Elliot is finally settled, I spot the two of them with their heads together on the patio. Conspiring or catching up, who’s to know?
“I’m running an errand,” I tell them with my keys in hand.
“Where are you going?” Adam asks with the look of a dog who’s been left outside. He’s wearing a sleeveless midriff and gym shorts that he probably outgrew in the eighth grade. The stretchy fabric lays snug against his meaty thighs and outlines his package spectacularly. I catch Elliot’s eyes darting toward that particular focal point more than once.
“I’m going to Betty’s with Lucia,” I tell him. “She needs a new jacket for the colder weather.”
“What about me?” he says with a pout.
“What about you?”
“Will you get something for me too?” He bats his eyes, even though it’s largely unnecessary. I get him gifts whenever I go somewhere. He’s like my own personal Barbie doll, and unlike my mother’s collection, I’m allowed to dress him up and play with him.
“Sure, darling, what do you want?”
“I don’t know. Pick something out for me. Something cute.”
He puckers his lips for a kiss, so I take hold of the back of his neck and kiss him savagely on the mouth, ignoring Elliot’s surly glare, then head over to Lucia’s for a drink. While there, I tell her that Elliot has taken up residence in my pool house.
“What are you playing at, Cassius?” she asks with a knowing look.
“Just helping out a friend in need.”
“Pimping out your boyfriend is more like it.”
“Pimping? Definitely not. Elliot better not lay a hand on him. Adam likes the attention. He practically burns incandescent when praised. You should have seen him the other night…” I trail off, not wanting to divulge the details of our spontaneous orgy to Lucia. “Anyway, Adam is quite the sexual libertine, considering where he grew up.”
“You’re taking real pleasure in corrupting him, but are you still going to like him when all of this is through?”
“Truthfully, I don’t know.” I’ve wondered the same thing myself. But he is the first man I’ve allowed in my bed, the first man I’ve wanted to take care of on a more permanent basis, the first man I’ve said love-adjacent things to and maybe even meant it. He’s been living with me since July, four months in total, which is two months longer than any of my other lovers. He still surprises and excites me, and there are so many things I want to do with him, places I want to take him—we haven’t even explored all of L.A. yet.
“Adam has real husband potential,” I tell her.
“Are you serious?” she says, astounded by this rare proclamation. “I always pictured you with someone more… worldly.”
I’m not offended in the slightest, and I doubt Adam would be either. “The beautiful thing about Adam is that he hasn’t yet become the man he’s meant to be. He’s still in a stage of metamorphosis, but I’m excited to see what will emerge.”
Lucia squints like I’ve given her an equation to solve, but there are more pressing matters we must attend to. We go to Betty’s, then Five, Six, Seven, Eight as well as a few other boutiques, some vintage and all high-end. While on our odyssey to find Lucia the perfect L.A. fall weather jacket, I pick up a few items for Adam as well—a red bandage dress to match his pumps and a sexy lace thong along with some other slutty lingerie. Lucia raises her eyebrows at my choices but doesn’t offer any comment, and I recall what she said about him a few weeks ago. “What did you mean when you said he reminds you of my mother?”
