Page 41 of Curtain Call
Baby, it’s cold outside.
Riley and Jax end the performance with Riley holding tight to Jax and the green scarf covering their heads as if they are being intimate in front of the crowd.
The crowd is eating it up, and when they finish, everyone is on their feet.
Colin stands with the crowd, except there’s a knot in his stomach. He doesn’t like the idea of Riley kissing anyone, even if itisfake and part of the show.
Following the performance, Colin excuses himself from Mac and exits out the side door. Colin almost instantly runs into Riley. In the background, Colin can faintly hear Jax introducing the kids. He takes Riley by the hand, spins him around, and wraps his arms around Riley’s waist before pressing him against the wall. Their bodies become one and Colin’s hot mouth is on Riley’s. He doesn’t care who is watching. He doesn’t care about anything except being with Riley. Right now. Right here.
Colin pulls away long enough to say, “You were wonderful.”
“Thanks,” Riley whispers.
“I can’t believe you did that for the little theater, and me.”
Riley leans in and kisses him again.
Jax interrupts with a clearing of their throat.
Colin adjusts himself while stepping back from Riley. “Sorry.”
“Don’t stop on my account,” Jax comments while trying not to stare at the adjustment.
“We should get back inside,” Colin suggests.
“Yeah, I don’t want to miss the kids’ performance, they worked so hard on their three numbers,” Riley smiles. “Can we pick this back up later?”
“You bet,” Colin holds his hand while they make their way back to Mac.
Following tonight’s performances, Riley escorts Colin to the lobby to check out some of the silent auction items. Colin thinks he may bid on a few pieces to showcase in his own theater. Would that be wrong since these items are to savehistheater? But, when he sees them, he knows that he needs to add them to his collection. He can picture them framed and hanging on the wall for all to see. There, in the display case, lie the drumsticks the actor who played Angel, Wilson Heredia, used in RENT, along with a signed autographed 8x10 photo.
Colin has already moved down the aisle to view other items when Riley pulls up the QR code to check the bidding when a familiar voice calls out to him through the crowd.
“Riley!”
Riley turns toward the tall woman, in a red pant suit embellished with a Christmas wreath broach, heading his way.
“Jules? This is a surprise. What are you doing here?”
She gives him a big squeeze.
“Jax invited me to see the show and I am so glad he did. Everything was spectacular,” she is glowing like a proud parent. “I love seeing you on stage.”
“Well, you better since you represent me.”
Colin rejoins Riley interrupting their conversation.
“Did you see the tiara from Cinderella? That thing must have a thousand rhinestones on it,” Colin tells Riley putting his arm around his waist and pulling him into his side.
“It’s actually two thousand,” Jules smiles at him.
“Jules, this is my, um, friend, Colin,” he wasn’t sure what label to put on them so he thought it was better to play it safe.
“Well from where I’m standing,” she looks down at Colin’s arm around Riley’s waist, “looks like more than a friend to me.” She holds out her hand to shake Colin’s.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he lets go of Riley’s waist to shake her hand adding, “and I hope we are more than just friends.”
“Jules is my agent in New York,” Riley mentions.
