Page 64 of Julien (Confessions 2)

“Ugh, you’re such a spoilsport,” Robbie said. “In here, on the plane, but I am thrilled that you think I have a hot little body. That’s practically a declaration of love coming from you.”

As the word love left his lips, Robbie’s eyes widened and he clapped a hand over his mouth in mortification, and Julien started to laugh—loudly.

When Priest joined in and sat back in his seat, Robbie ran a hand through his hair and then blew out a breath. “Okay, you two,” he said. “If you’re both done laughing at me and my loose lips, can we please move along? And since you took my fun away, Joel, tell me—have you ever met anyone famous?”

“Depends,” Priest said. “What level of fame are we talking here? Because if you’ll recall, I’m married to, and you’re involved with, someone quite famous.”

Julien shook his head as he aimed his eyes in the mirror at Priest.

“Oh, I never forget that,” Robbie said, and waggled his eyebrows. “But okay, let’s say movie star. Have you ever met a real-life movie star?”

“I have, actually. One of the biggest in the business.” When Priest didn’t elaborate, Robbie spun on him, his embarrassment from a minute ago clearly a thing of the past.

“Who? Who have you met? You can’t leave it at that. Do I know them? Have I heard of them? Male or female?”

“Are you going to take a breath anytime soon or should I just wait until you run out of steam?”

Robbie clamped his lips shut but glared at Priest to let him know he wasn’t happy about it.

“Ace Locke.”

The name didn’t require any further explanation. Ace Locke was one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars.

Julien cut a quick glance in Robbie’s direction, and saw him looking completely and utterly flummoxed. “Are you okay, princesse?”

Robbie blinked a couple of times, and then managed, “Did he just say Ace Locke?”

“Oui, he did.”

Robbie seemed to regain control over his brain function then, as his eyes flew back to Priest. “Shut your face.”

“Impressed?” Priest said.

“Im…impressed? Ace Locke is, like…” While Robbie sputtered trying to find his words, Priest provided him with a few.

“One of the biggest movie stars of our generation? Not to mention openly gay and married to—”

“Dylan Prescott,” Robbie cut in. “Hello. Smoking-hot male model marries Hollywood superstar. Do you really think I don’t know who these two are? Come on, don’t you know me at all? I followed their wedding plans from the announcement to the ‘I dos.’ Holy fuck. My mind is totally blown right now. Totally. Blown. How do you even know him?” Robbie paused, and then looked between them. “Oh my God, you two didn’t sleep with Ace Locke, did you?” When Priest didn’t immediately answer, Robbie demanded in a much higher octave, “Did you?”

“No,” Priest said, and couldn’t hold back his chuckle. “He’s not exactly our type.”

Robbie seemed to think that over. “Okay, yeah, that makes sense, but…but how, then? This is insanity.”

Priest shrugged, but the smirk on his lips told Julien that he was enjoying this detour from the more serious topics just as much as he was.

“I know him through Logan.”

“Wait…Logan knows Ace fucking Locke and never told me?”

“I have to say,” Priest said drolly, “I’m not overly disappointed about that, considering your reaction right now.”

As Priest’s words penetrated Robbie’s excitement, a mischievous smile slid over his lips and he preened a little. “We-he-ell, would you look at that. If I didn’t know better, I might think you were jealous, Mr. Priestley.”

Julien took the exit they needed and said, “I’d say you know him very well, princesse. He’s jealous.”

“Really?” Robbie said, and ran his eyes over the jeans and black button-up Priest was wearing. “That’s super hot.”

“Why do I feel like that pleases you a little too much?” Priest said.

“Because it does. You’re totally jealous,” Robbie said, then grinned like the devil himself. “Is it the thought of Ace throwing me up against a wall that annoys you, or—”

“Robert,” Priest growled, and Robbie let out a pleased laugh.

“Okay, okay. Sorry, I got a little off track. Where was I? Oh, I remember, how does Logan know Ace Locke? Not that I’m surprised. I swear to God he slept with everyone before he settled down with Tate.”

“Through school, I believe,” Priest said. “Or college? I can’t remember, and right now I really don’t care.”

“Geez, a little testy, aren’t we?” Robbie said, and slumped back in his seat. “Well, either way, I’m officially impressed.”

“Good, because I’m officially ending this conversation. Your excitement is making me feel—”

“Inadequate?” Robbie said.

“‘Irritated’ was more the word I had in mind,” Priest said, as Julien finally turned up his parents’ street and drove past several of the mansions that sat along Bel Air Road. “Now why don’t you turn around and enjoy your current view.”

Robbie rolled his eyes, and then turned just as Julien pulled the SUV into his parents’ driveway.

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