Page 127 of Billion Dollar Love: Manlove Edition

Chapter Two

That evening, Carson strolled into the Litchfield Supper Club. The building was a throwback to the 1950s, but it had housed a speakeasy in the twenties, a brothel and a ballroom in the thirties, then was abandoned until it ended up as a supper club. The owners had kept some of the features from each era. The privacy booths from the brothel, the nondescript entrance from its time as a speakeasy, and the thick brocades and velvets from the ballroom era.

Carson loved the building, and if he had his druthers, he’d buy it. Did he want to own a supper club? Maybe. He marched into the foyer and stopped at the table full of balloons.

Nikki Bigelow, the class president, sat with Marlon Nolan, the vice president. “Welcome to the reunion,” Nikki said. Her eyes lit up. “Oh my God. Carson. We didn’t think you’d attend.” She left her seat, hurried around the table and hugged him. “This is a treat.”

“It’s our class reunion. I’m part of the class.” He waved to Marlon. “How are you? Still throwing around the pigskin?” He’d never been friends with Marlon, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t make small talk.

“I quit playing after college,” Marlon said. “Busted up my knees and took one too many hits to the head.” He grinned. “That and Nikki said if I didn’t stop, she’d make me.”

“We got married right after high school.” Nikki swept her gaze over Carson. “It’s been rocky, but we made it. Weren’t you with Luke Benjamin? I saw you’d RSVPed separately.”

“We’re not together.” He wrote his name on one of the tags. “Is he arriving soon?”

“Luke?” She swatted Carson. “Honey, you won’t need a tag. Everyone knows who you are.”

“Everyone else is wearing one.” He attached the sticker to the lapel of his jacket.

“Luke isn’t here yet,” Marlon said. “I doubt he shows. He only leaves the library to go to the high school and run their library. He’s just as quiet as he was in school.”

“He loves his books.” Luke’s nature was what he loved the most about the man. “He’s a happy, but quiet guy. That’s not bad.”

“I guess not.” Nikki resumed her spot behind the table. “He’s bringing Duncan White, his boyfriend. I heard they’re getting married. He might pop the question tonight or tomorrow at the football game.”

Carson hoped not. He didn’t want to be too late.

“We have a table for you. You’re at table eight. It’s really a booth, but they’ve taken out the privacy curtains for us,” Marlon said. “The cost was prohibitive, but the owners decked the place out in orange and blue.”

“Very nice.” He nodded to them, then ventured into the main room. The privacy curtains were indeed down. A few other couples milled about. He located table eight, then debated where he wanted to sit at the table. He needed to keep an eye out for Luke. Music played—tunes from the year they’d graduated. A thought occurred to him when he spotted the empty bandstand. No live music? Only a stereo? Blah. Live music would’ve given better ambiance. Maybe he’d donate the cash to hire a real band for the twentieth reunion.

A couple approached. Beth and Chris. He remembered them from Biology II. Neither spoke to him in school because he, like Luke, had come out. Back then, being gay had been a social faux pas.

“Hi.” Beth sat beside him. “How are you?”

“Hi.” He could be cordial. Maybe. Were they tablemates? Most likely. “I’m good. You?”

“Good.” She smiled. “I just can’t believe you’re here.”

“You’re famous,” Chris said. “And you come back to piddly little Litchfield.”

“I did graduate from LHS.” He shifted in his seat. Beth blocked his view of the door. “How have you been?” He hated talking about himself. Everyone wanted to know about his money. There was more to him than his bank account.

“You don’t even need a name tag,” Beth said. “Everyone knows you.”

“That’s what Nikki said.” He wondered if Luke had arrived yet.

Chris clapped his hands together. “Would you be interested in donating to the alumni fund and a scholarship? We’re so thrilled to call you our classmate.”

They’d be even more thrilled if he forked over cash. Everything made sense. “I’ll consider it.” He’d planned on donating, but hated such blatant requests. Chris hadn’t even smoothed his request into the conversation. Just bluntly asked.

“Have you seen Luke?” Beth asked. “I heard he won’t be attending. You’d think he would. He practically lives at the library and the school.”

“He’s dedicated to his job.” Come on, Luke. You have to be here. I need you.

“Well, he’s with Duncan.” Chris rolled his eyes. “They’re joined at the hip.”

“Duncan.” According to Nikki, Duncan and Luke were getting married. Now they were joined at the hip. If Luke wanted Duncan, then fine, but he deserved a choice.

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