Page 28 of Curtain Call
Jax spins Riley around in a pirouette and is now facing him.
“You’re simply the best,” Jax whispers.
“I know, Tina.”
Jax pulls Riley into an embrace. Cheek to cheek. Two friends.
Colin continues walking up to the stage and before he can make it all the way up, he is stopped in the center of the hall by Jax who spotted him.
“Sorry, closed rehearsal space. Kid pickup is on the south side stage exit.”
His sarcastic tone lets Colin know that he is not in the customer service industry. Unless it’s at a collection’s call center. No frills. Just business.
“No, I’m here for-“
“Me,” Riley interjectswith an involuntary smile.
“Ah, you must bethefamous Colin I’ve heard so much about,” Jax changes his tone to someone a little more charming. Turning to Riley with a wink, “You’re right. He is hot.”
Blush splotching his cheeks, Colin responds, “And you must bethefamous Jax,” mimicking his tone with a grin.
“More likeinfamous,” Riley interjects and nudges Jax in the shoulder with his own.
“Slut,” Jax retorts.
“Don’t sex shame me,” Riley says with a laugh and hugs Jax around the neck. “Love ya like a sister.”
Riley lets go of Jax and jumps down to the orchestra level so he is now face to face with Colin.
“Do I get one of those too?” Colin says with a smile.
“In fact you do. I was giving them aw-“
But Riley couldn’t finish his sentence before Colin’s hand was around his waist pulling him into a kiss. It was breathtaking. Riley fell into Colin like a wet noodle over a fork. Colin put his hand on the back of Riley’s neck, encased his bottom lip between his own, and then pulled back gently when Jax cleared his throat.
“I’m all for PDA, but there are still children around and this is getting kind of steamy,” Jax mentions.
“Sorry,” Colin takes a step back. “I’ve just been thinking about that all day and couldn’t wait to see you.”
“You know what, I’ve got this covered,” Jax says while motioning around the stage. “Why don’t you take Colin on a tour while I make sure all the kids are safely retrieved by their parentals.”
“You sure?” Riley questions.
“Knock yourselves out. Just don’t touch anything, and by anything, I mean each other,” Jax smirks while looking Colin up and down.
“You know I’m trying on at least one of those wigs in the prop room,” Riley points to a door leading to the back of the theater.
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
Jax turns on his heel and walks backstage to ensure all the kids are picked up.
While on the tour of the iconic theater, Riley starts with some of the dressing rooms that are decorated with watercolor paintings, some of the mechanics of backstage life, and then finally the prop room where, as promised, he does indeed try on at least one of the forty Victorian wigs - white updo with curls that are adorned with white and pink feathers. Laughter erupts from Colin before he pulls out his phone and takes a selfie with him. Once the wig is back on the mannequin’s head, Colin pulls him in for another kiss.
“Sorry about lunch the other day, I hope you and Mac had fun catching up,” Colin looks at his feet when he says this.
“We had a nice chat,” Riley begins before lifting Colin’s chin between his thumb and finger, “and you never have to apologize for working. I know you have a business to run, and I’m freeloading it for the rest of the month.”
“What I witnessed today was not freeloading, that looked like hard work.”
