Page 23 of Throuple Next Door

Then ushers opened the theater doors, and people slowly moved forward, funneling into the theater along the left side. “You may sit wherever you like, but not behind the ropes.” They quietly repeated the instructions as patrons made their way inside.

There was a certain excitement in the air, like this was a big show in New York or Paris. People talked among themselves, and the theater buzzed with low tones that only added to the evening.

“Let’s sit on the aisle,” Weaver suggested. “Austin mentioned for us to sit about here. He’s going to have to give a short talk before the start, and I think he’s nervous and wants to see us.” He went in first and let Randy and his mother sit together.

“Remember Paris last year?” Randy whispered.

Weaver chuckled as his cheeks heated. “Yeah. You and I at those fancy fashion shows with all those important people.” Austin had booked a couple shows during Fashion Week, and they had gone along with him. It had been an amazing trip, but during the shows, they’d felt like fish out of water. Neither he nor Randy were particularly interested in fashion or what was stylish. But they made damned sure that they saw Austin walk those runways. If Weaver hadn’t already loved him, he sure as hell would have after Austin glided down the runway in flowing pants and shirt that made him look like an angel. Weaver hadn’t been able to take his eyes off him, and it seemed Randy hadn’t either. The clothes really didn’t matter—neither of them knew anything about that sort of thing—but it was the man wearing them that entranced both of them.

“Yeah….” Randy’s voice was soft and ocean-deep. “And stripping him down once we got him back to the hotel….” His throat rumbled. “Seeing all those people watching him….”

“Yeah,” Weaver agreed. It awakened something in both of them, and they’d had to take Austin so he felt like he was theirs again. It had made for a number of very intensely passionate nights. He grew warmer just thinking about it. “I wonder if tonight is going to feel like that.” Weaver sat back and closed his eyes.

“Now I am happy I’m staying at a hotel,” Louise said. “You boys need to settle down. Jesus, it’s getting testosterony in here.” She waved her hand in front of her face.

“Austin is ours and we’re his. It’s…,” Randy began, his words very deliberate and slow.

“He’s doing something he loves,” Louise supplied.

Weaver leaned forward. “We know, and we’d move heaven and earth to be here for him.” He was grateful Austin wasn’t in the show itself, if only because the situation was already stressful enough.

“I know. I saw,” Louise said.

Weaver met Randy’s quizzical gaze as the lights in the theater lowered, and music began to fill the space. He had expected something new and bright with a strong beat, but he recognized the Charleston instead.

“Good evening, and welcome to the Carlisle Theater Benefit Fashion Show,” Austin said as he stepped out onto the center of the stage in black pants and a white jacket over his tuxedo shirt and black tie. He looked stunning, and Weaver swallowed hard as Randy shifted in the seat next to him. Because, well… damn! “Tonight, we are celebrating the glamour and sophistication of simplicity. We’re going to harken back to the roaring twenties, when almost everything, it seems, including the movies, were in black and white. The elegance and sophistication of simplicity. So, please, enjoy the show.”

The lights came back up in their portion of the theater, leaving the unoccupied section dark. The music volume rose, and the first model began coming down the main aisle. Austin stood at the side of the stage, and once the first model reached the edge, he began explaining the clothes the young woman was wearing and that, like all of today’s looks, they could be purchased in the lobby after the show, with a portion of the proceeds going to the theater.

“I like that,” Randy told him as one of the male models passed their row in all white. He looked almost ethereal. “I think it would look good on you.”

“Me?” Weaver said. “Can you imagine me in white?”

“Yeah, I can. With your hair and eyes, you would be stunning.” Randy nudged him, and Weaver began to consider the notion as other looks slowly passed by and across the stage, until all of the twenty models had shown each of their two looks.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to present to you our final collection for today, as well as the amazing volunteer models who made this day possible.”

The doors opened once more, and all the models paraded in before climbing on stage so all the looks could be seen at one time. Weaver and Randy stood, with Louise, as did the rest of the audience, clapping. But it was Austin’s smile as he stood off to the side that warmed his heart. Randy nudged his shoulder, having seen just how happy Austin was as well.

Chris slowly climbed onstage, taking the microphone from Austin. “And I’d especially like to thank the director of this production. He took over the job just two weeks ago, and as you can see, he made it a success. Austin Reynolds.” She motioned to him, and Austin made a slight bow. “Who I am thrilled to report has just accepted a position here at the Carlisle Theater as the director of events and fundraising.”

Weaver snapped his head around to Randy, who did the same.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Randy said, grinning.

Weaver couldn’t help be happy as well. He had a new job that he thought he was going to enjoy, and with Austin’s new position, it looked like all of them were beginning to get settled in their new town.

“Did you know?” Louise asked.

“No. But it’s great. She must have offered him the job after we sat down,” Weaver said, clapping along with the rest of the audience.

Chris handed Austin back the microphone, and he moved center stage, smiling brightly. “We have drinks and snacks out front, and be sure to stop by the vendor tables on your way out. Thank you all for coming, and enjoy the rest of your evening.” Austin set the mic aside and slowly descended the stage steps.

Weaver and Randy met him, engulfing him in a three-way hug. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Me too,” Randy added. “I think you’re going to do some amazing things.”

Austin grinned at both of them, and once they broke apart, Weaver stepped back as Louise gave Austin a hug as well. “Thanks, all of you. She asked me backstage.”

---