Page 89 of Julien (Confessions 2)

He shoved that thought from his mind, just as Robbie came around the corner with an armful of groceries, Julien following behind. Priest got up from his chair at the kitchen table and came around the island to help them out.

As he took a couple of the reusable bags, he looked inside and then over to Robbie, who’d just walked around to the main counter. “You two were gone a while. What did you do, buy the entire grocery store?”

“No,” Robbie said as he hefted his remaining bags up onto the counter. Julien did the same, and then brushed off his hands. “We were trying to decide what to make for Jacquelyn and your royal highness.”

Priest walked over to where Julien was now unpacking one of the bags. “I believe you are the one in this trio with the title, princess,” he said, but then took Julien’s chin in hand, turned his face to meet his, and looked him dead in the eye. “Comment vas-tu?”

Julien looked better than he had in days. His eyes had lost most of the sadness that had been plaguing him, and when he smiled back at Priest, it actually reached his eyes.

“Je vais bien, mon amour.” Priest eyed him until Julien chuckled and put a hand on his chest. “Je promets.”

“Ooh, I understood that,” Robbie said, a grin curving his shiny lips, and when both of them turned in his direction, he pouted and added, “I think.”

Happy to be diverted, Julien said, “Oui?”

Robbie nodded. “Mhmm. You answered Priest, ‘I’m good, my love. I promise.’ Which can only mean he asked how you were.”

Robbie’s quick study shouldn’t have surprised Priest, but it did, and when Julien nodded, Robbie gave a little whoop and repeated to Priest, “Comment vas-tu?”

Priest chuckled. “C’est bon de savoir que mes hommes sont à la maison, sains et saufs.”

Robbie frowned at him and said, “What did that mean?”

Julien kissed Priest on the cheek, then looked at Robbie and said, “He’s good now that his men are home safe and sound.”

“Aww,” Robbie said, as Julien wrapped an arm around Priest’s waist and burrowed into his side. “You’re kind of a softie, you know that?”

“Am I?” Priest said, his lips twitching as Robbie resumed his unpacking.

“Yep. You act all tough, but deep down you’re all soft and— Oh! I totally forgot we got these.” Robbie’s excitement and Julien’s laughter instantly worried Priest, and when Robbie rustled around at the bottom of one of his bags and pulled out some colored fabric, Priest frowned.

“And what exactly are those?”

Robbie looked at him as though he were a total moron, and then held the hot-pink number up against his chest. “Aprons. Hello, we can’t spend the day in the kitchen without aprons.”

Priest walked over to Robbie to see a black crown on the neck of the apron he was holding up, and under it in fancy script it read, Queen of the Kitchen.

Priest raised his eyes to the rascal. “Do they all say that?”

“No way. This one’s mine. Yours is…” Robbie moved around him to look in his bag, and then pursed his lips. “I don’t see the other two. Jules, are they in yours?”

Julien looked in the bag he’d yet to unpack and nodded, reaching inside. “Oui, I have them.”

Priest would never admit it, but when a black and white apron emerged, he was a little disappointed. He’d thought Robbie would’ve been more comfortable joking and playing with him now, but—

Julien held up the black apron and turned it around to face Priest, and as the words came into view, he squashed his disappointment like a bug.

“That one’s yours,” Robbie said from beside him. Across the top of the apron in white script was: While I have this apron on. And directly under it: I AM THE BOSS. That was followed by one of Priest’s favorite things to ask: Do you understand?

“Appropriate, wouldn’t you say?” Robbie teased.

He would indeed, Priest thought, as he took it from Julien, who was smirking.

As Priest put it on and tied it at his back, Robbie did the same with his, and then he took either side of it and executed a flirty twirl, laughing. “Ah ha ha. I love it.”

Robbie’s enthusiasm was infectious, and had Priest grinning as he looked at Julien and said, “And where is yours, Mr. Thornton?”

Julien picked up the other apron, and when he slipped it on over his head, Priest read what was printed across his chest and laughed.

“Suits him, don’t you think?” Robbie said as they both looked at Julien, and Priest nodded.

Julien’s apron read, How do you think you can help me? GET THE HELL OUT OF MY KITCHEN!

“I’m not that bad,” Julien said, and proving just how far he’d come since yesterday, he joked, “Anymore.”

“Mhmm. Whatever, Mr. Prick. We’ll see,” Robbie said, and winked at Julien before he looked at all the ingredients on the counter and clapped his hands together. “Right, where to start.”

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