Page 22 of Collin: Episodes 4-6
Damian giggled, nipped at Mr. Reevesworth’s fingers, and then sucked one into his mouth.
Breakfast was leftovers on the coffee table in the living room. Damian and Collin sat on the floor, splitting the coffee table between them, but Mr. Reevesworth and Mr. Moreau shared one of the couches, wrapped around each other with the cat in their combined laps. As a group, they shared the last of the profiteroles. Damian licked cream from his fingers and lay back on the floor.
Collin dropped down on his stomach beside him. “You really like that.”
“Damian appreciates food,” Mr. Moreau murmured.
Damian grunted in affirmation. “How could I not? Someday, little brother, I will take you to Tokyo.”
“Oh?” Collin balanced his chin on his hands. “Why Tokyo?”
“Because no one is as serious about their food as the Japanese.”
“Not even the French?” Collin glanced back at Mr. Moreau.
The man’s dark face creased with barely suppressed humor.
Damian, however, was not looking. “I don’t know. Perhaps just about French food. But in Tokyo, there’s a general elevation of the palate. It’s the only place on earth I will eat at a certain fast food burger place.”
“That place serves decent food in countries other than Japan.” Mr. Reevesworth poured himself a little more coffee from the pot in the middle of the low table.
Damian sniffed. “Nothing compares to Tokyo even if I prefer Seoul.”
Collin giggled. Damian looked so miffed with himself. “Why do you prefer Seoul?”
Damian shrugged. “Don’t know.”
But there was something. Collin saw it even if he couldn’t name it. A certain distance and a longing. As if a piece of Damian were missing and somewhere else. He wanted to reach out and hug the man.
So he did.
Damian laughed and grabbed him, rolling him across the carpet.
Collin landed underneath him. “Uh, too full. I was just hugging you!”
Damian slid off him, smirking. “Do you want to go out?”
Collin cut his eyes at him. He poked his stomach. “I’m pregnant. You see this? This is the finest of food babies.”
“Walking helps dissipate food babies.”
Collin shook his head. It finally didn’t hurt when he did that. “I am not aborting this food baby! Do you know how often in my life I’ve even had one? This one is going to digest naturally.”
Damian’s eyes softened. He reached out and laid a hand on Collin’s belly. “True, I apologize. Food babies should be appreciated. What about after?”
Collin turned so he could see Mr. Reevesworth. “Sir?”
Mr. Reevesworth inclined his head. “Émeric and I will be taking some time together in the later afternoon and evening. If you boys want to go out, I would encourage shopping. Collin needs a couple outfits and a haircut though that’s scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.”
Collin’s hand went to his hair. “Cut?”
“A trim and conditioning. Nothing major. I suspect you’ve been cutting your own hair.”
Collin grimaced. “Are you sending me for a manicure next?”
Mr. Moreau laughed. “Just wait for the pout he gives you, Richard, when you abandon him in a spa.”
Collin’s eyes widened. “No, please!”
