Why the Straight One? - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

I was just about to open the door leading out of our rooms and into the hallway, when I heard voices. It sounded like an argument, so I figured I'd stay in my room a few seconds longer and let them pass by.
For some reason, it sounded like they had stopped walking, and I could hear their voices much louder. I could tell now that one of them was Raymond's.
"Look, I know I said I would, but things came up—"
"So what am I supposed to do? Go introduce myself to the whole palace?" I didn't recognize the voice, but whoever it was sounded angry.
"It wouldn't kill you to just wait in your room until I'm back. It should only be an hour or so."
"And it wouldn't kill you to stop being such an asshole."
"You are not understanding on purpose. I have to go to this meeting."
"That you knew about before and decided to remember just now. Fuck you, Raymond."
"Stop making this into such a big thing. Don't you know how to handle yourself for one hour?"
"Oh I can handle myself just fine and you know it. It's not about that." It sounded like something hit the wall, and I really hoped they would move on soon. I wanted to go down to breakfast.
"This is about you trying to ditch me. Was I that boring last night?"
"No. Nothing like that."
"Then it seems like you shouldn't be in such a hurry to get rid of me."
I didn't hear their voices after that point. Assuming they were moving on, I waited ten more seconds to make sure they had enough time to walk away before opening my door.
Now I really wished I had gone out while they were arguing. Or maybe waited until I was completely sure that they were gone.
Because now I had uncomfortable experience of seeing some unknown person pressing Raymond against the wall, not two feet from my door, and making out like crazy. Raymond pushed him away as soon as he heard the door close, and whoever the man was, let go of him and looked over at me.
The thing was that he seemed completely unfazed. Raymond was staring to mutter some explanation, I'm sure my cheeks were burning, and he just stood there, an almost imperceptible smile on his face.
And in that awkward split second, I couldn't help but stare at him. He was probably one of the best looking men I had ever seen, and he looked like he knew it.
"Umm, Cole, this is my brother-in-law Alex. Alex this is Cole." When he heard who I was, understanding seemed to dawn on him, and his smile became more prominent. He was finding out awkwardness amusing.
"It's nice to meet you, Alex." He held out his hand, and I took it rather stiffly. Alright, maybe I was being a little rude, but they were right outside my room making out, and I was a little annoyed. Raymond should have known better.
"Nice to meet you. Are you staying long?" He looked between Raymond and I, probably noticing the glare I was shooting at my now red faced brother-in-law. Come to think of it, I'd never seen Raymond blush.
"A little while. And sorry about this, but don't be mad at Raymond. I started that." He too looked at Raymond, but much differently than me, and I really wished this awkward encounter could just end.
"Well, I need to go get breakfast." I took a step backwards, trying to get away without seeming rude.
"Oh wait, Alex!" I was just about to turn around when Raymond spoke again.
"Yes?"
"Would you mind showing Cole around? Or at least the where you are going? I have a meeting I can't miss."
I wanted to say no. To tell Raymond to figure out his how to deal with his own one night stands, but I couldn't think of any way to say it without coming off as a complete asshole.
"Sure." I said, after some hesitation, and Raymond smiled.
"Okay good. See, I'm not just ditching you." Cole gave him a withering look, that knocked out some of Raymond's care free attitude.
"Sure. Go attend your meeting. I wouldn't want you to be late for something that important."
"I'll be back really soon. Oh, and Alex, introduce him as my friend." Cole didn't seem to be bothered about the last part, which surprised me. Maybe they were actually friends, just you know, with benefits or something.
"Where did you guys meet?" That faint smirk came back to Cole's face, and he turned to Raymond.
"Where did we meet? We should make sure our stories match."
"Just say that we met at a party at a mutual friend's place a few months ago, and have been friends since. Good enough?"
"Yeah, and close enough too." Raymond nodded, and walked away quickly. Cole watched him go, then turned towards me.
"Guess you're stuck with me."
"It's fine. C'mon let's go. I'm starving." I started walking and he fell in step next to me.
He was a good four inches taller than me, about the same height as Raymond actually, and incredibly fit.
"You don't like me, do you?" The bluntness of his question caught me off guard.
"I just met you. I don't have any problem with you."
"Well, I can see that you weren't too happy to see us outside your door."
"It wasn't what I was expecting to see when I first walked out into the hallway." He nodded.
"Understandable. Maybe when I know the castle a little better, I'll choose my stopping points more carefully."
"Good." I personally would be fine if I never saw that again. Cole ran a hand through his brown hair, and glanced over at me.
"So, you married a prince?" I realized now that this was the first person I was talking to who didn't know the whole story. To him we were in love and married almost as soon as we could, after gay marriage was made legal.
"Yes, I married Thomas." My smile wasn't the forced smile I had been preparing. I honestly just smiled when I said that.
"And things seem to be going well." I frowned on confusion until I realized that he was looking at my neck. Instantly I felt the blood rush to my face, and I clapped a hand over my neck. Try as I could, I couldn't find any shirt that would cover it.
"Dude, relax. You just caught me making out with my 'friend'. You honestly think I care?" I relaxed slightly, but didn't feel quite at my ease with Cole.
"If it really worries you, you should get a turtleneck or something."
"I don't own one. I didn't really expect—"
"You should always come prepared, Alex." I couldn't help but smile at what was probably one of the oddest conversations I'd ever had.
"I'll try and remember that. So you guys met at a party?" I asked, turning the conversation back on him.
"Well, a bar to be exact, but some people were having a party, so...I think that counts. Where's this Thomas of yours?"
"Oh he left for breakfast a little before me, and I sort of got held up. He should be right in there with anyone else of friends or family who want to have breakfast down here. Breakfasts are much more causal than dinners around here."
He nodded, and opened the door that I had pointed to, boldly walking in to a place filled with strangers. I followed quickly after him to introduce him to the others.
Cameron glanced at me once and wouldn't stop wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. I shook my head at him, but that didn't seem to quench his enthusiasm.
Thomas stood and greeting Cole very cordially, and Alan, Jay and Cameron took his example and greeted him in the same way. No one else seemed to be in the dining room at that moment in time, and so it was just our little group.
I sat next to Thomas who leaned closer under the pretext of passing me one of the dishes.
"Raymond's friend?" Apparently he didn't need to see them making out to see right though it.
"Something like that."
"Looks like he walked right out of a magazine."
"Shut up. He'll hear you." Thomas just smiled, and went back to talking to Jay. I was surprised to see them getting along, but Jay had the ability to talk to almost anyone, and Thomas wasn't that hard to talk to if you got right done to it.
I looked up at Cameron who seemed to find Cole much more interesting than my neck had been. What surprised me the most was the fact that Alan seemed to have struck up a conversation with Cole. I hadn't heard Alan say more than a sentence since he got here.
"I bet you anything he tops." I leaned over and whispered in Thomas's ear. He whipped his head around quickly, and looked at me with eyebrows raised.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes I am. I'll bet you ten dollars he tops." Thomas glanced over at Cole, then back at me.
"You are weird."
"I'm not. Ask Jay, I bet he'll agree with me."
"I'm not going to ask Jay." We we're leaning close together so as not to be overheard, and I distinctly felt Camerons's eyes on us.
"What are you guys talking about anyways."
"Well, we were talking about motorcycles until you interrupted. Yes, I know a thing or two about them." He added when he saw my raised eyebrows.
"Interesting. But what do you say? Is it a bet?"
He looked one more time at Cole, then thought for a minute.
"I can't believe I'm saying this. Fine, it's a bet."