Dylan

We have to take Bryce’s car because mine is still at the sushi restaurant. I’ve already called Richard to let him know I will pick it up this afternoon. Bryce reaches for my hand while he drives, and I intertwine our fingers. I hide my blushing face with my free hand as I stare out the window. Have I ever felt this giddy before?

 

All too soon we arrive at our destination. Bryce parks the car, and we just sit for a few seconds. He brings my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles. I immediately check the parking lot to see if we were spotted.

 

“Are you crazy? What if someone sees us?!”

 

“Relax, my love. Tinted windows.”

 

Bryce taps the windshield for emphasis. I let out a sigh of relief. We are in enough trouble as it is. I follow Bryce into the building, and we greet the usual security guards, secretaries and staff that are milling around, getting set up for the day. The office isn’t even officially open yet. That is why it's strange that Amelie wanted to meet so early.

 

We take an elevator up to Amelie’s office and since no one would likely be around at this hour, we hold hands all the way up to the door. Why does this feel like we are marching to the guillotine? I take a gulp as Bryce raises his hand to knock.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

“Come in.”

 

Amelie is sitting in a throne-like leather chair behind a heavy cherry wood desk. Her office has a cozy, overstuffed feel, with bookshelves covering the wall behind her and several potted plants. With her blunt bob and bangs and winged eyeliner, Amelie looks like an old Hollywood depiction of Cleopatra.

 

To our surprise, she isn’t alone. Gale is sitting in one of the chairs to the left and Oly stands behind him, absently massaging his shoulders. There is a perfectly good chair beside Gale, but Oly has opted to stand. To the right Evan is leaning up against the wall with his arms folded, pouting like a petulant child. Miles stands next to him with his hands clasped behind his back and a stern expression. Bryce and I quietly greet the room.

 

“Good morning, boys. My apologies for calling you in so early. As you can see, I called you all here at a time that fits everyone’s schedules. Miles and Evan have to be on set in 45 minutes, and Gale and Oly have a personal obligation. Please have a seat and we will get started.”

 

Bryce and I take the two empty seats in the center, directly in front of Amelie. No wonder the other two groups had not chosen these chairs. We immediately feel like we are in the hot seat with Amelie staring into our souls.

“Would anyone like coffee?”

 

Amelie gestures towards the coffee setup behind her. Bryce and I decline. It is too early for him to drink coffee, and I don’t drink the stuff. Makes me uncomfortably jittery. I catch Oly and Gale locking eyes, and then Oly gets up without speaking to make a cup. Evan and Miles don’t respond, a very different type of eye contact passing between them.

 

“Now, boys, you are all here so we can talk about how to manage your relationships in the public eye.”

 

“Miles and I are not in a relationship! I don’t see why we have to be here.”

 

Evan almost yells these words and Amelie simply stares at him until he simmers down a bit. Miles places his hand on Evan’s shoulder and Evan shrugs it off immediately. He glares at Miles, and Miles doesn’t try to touch him again.

 

“Mind your manners, Evan or I’ll let your mom know you spoke to Amelie that way.”

 

“We’re not kids anymore, Miles.”

 

Despite his words, he mumbles an apology to Amelie. By this time, Oly has finished making coffee and he carefully carries a steaming white cup to Gale. Gale takes the cup and thanks him. While he’s blowing on the hot beverage, Oly watches as if waiting for approval. Gale’s eyebrows knit in concern, and he pats the chair beside him.

 

“Babe, please sit down.”

 

Oly obediently sit next to Gale and rests his hand on the back of Gale’s chair.

 

“If you and Miles are not in a romantic relationship, you need this meeting more than you think. The public is always watching, and you and Miles have been giving them quite a show lately. Because you are public figures, people’s opinions affect your work lives and could make your private lives more difficult as well. It really doesn’t matter what the truth is.”

 

I am listening to Amelie, but my attention is caught by Gale reaching down to try to pull Oly’s chair closer. It’s kind of adorably ridiculous that he thinks he can move a chair occupied by a man three times his size. After two tries, the chair doesn’t move, so he gives up. Oly’s eyes stay on Amelie, but he takes Gale’s coffee cup, and places it on a nearby table. He then pulls Gale’s chair easily to his side. The smaller man visibly relaxes as Oly’s arm resettles on the chair behind him. Oly returns Gale’s coffee cup and Gale sighs with contentment.

 

“There are ways to handle personal relationships discreetly. There is no guarantee that you won’t have to deal with public scrutiny if you follow my advice, but I must let you know that if you are reckless, the company may drop your contracts.”

 

There is an immediate tension in the air. I look at Bryce and he gives me a reassuring smile. He takes my hand and gently squeezes. Feeling a little bit of the weight lifted from my chest, I smile back and I once again intertwine our fingers. 

“Actually, Gale and Oly are here to show you one example.”

 

“I knew it! Gale never admits it, but you have admit it now. Oly is totally your boyfriend.”

 

Evan loudly proclaims what I have been thinking for a while.  He has a triumphant look on his face, but Oly and Gale seem unphased.

 

“Actually, Oly isn’t my boyfriend.”

 

“He’s not?”

 

I hear myself ask this as I notice that Oly’s arm has moved from the back of the chair and is now draped around Gale’s shoulders. Gale smiles serenely and Oly looks smug.

 

“Gale and I are very close, but we're not boyfriends. I can see how one would assume though.”

 

At this, Oly and Gale share one of their suspicious gazes. Gale giggles and the tips of his ears turn red. Is that what Bryce and I look like when we do our telepathy thing?

 

“If I may ask, since we are to take them as an example, what is their relationship?”

 

I know better than to ask Gale and Oly directly as they usually ignore the question or laugh along with the jokes.

 

“Oly, Gale. How would you answer this question if the press were asking?

 

Oly sits up and removes his arm from Gale.

 

“I’d say he’s my best friend,”

 

Gale elbows him in the ribs.

 

“Don’t let Tanan hear you say that.”

 

“Well yeah. Tanan is my best friend too, and I love him dearly, but what Gale and I have is unique.”

 

Oly then looks directly into Gale’s eyes and Gale seems extremely interested in what Oly will say.

 

“We are best friends, but we are also partners. When we work together, I know I can rely on him. That there is an energy that is always flowing between us, an understanding like no other. I trust him completely”

 

“Gale. Would you agree?”

 

Amelie speaks, but Gale seems completely touched by these words and for a moment he just stares at Oly with a look of admiration. He pulls himself together and addresses Amelie while it seems to be  Oly's turn to  look at him fondly.

 

“Yes. I’d say I feel happiest when I get to work with Oly because I feel like I have a safe place to express myself. He and I can complement each other very well, and I don’t even have to pretend to feel the emotions. With him it's always genuine.”

 

Oly ruffles Gale’s hair and Gale swats his hands away. He glares playfully at the taller man.

 

“Misdirection. You can learn to answer questions without giving too much information. Notice how they turned the conversation back to their work relationship without seeming defensive. Honestly, not even I know what’s going on with these two.”

 

Both Oly and Gale laugh at this, and I glance at Bryce. Does he know? He is much closer to the older men than me. Bryce shrugs his shoulders, but the humor in his eyes tells me he may know more than he’s communicating.

 

“If you choose to go this route, Gale and Oly have agreed to coach you. For the sake of privacy, you can get in touch with them personally.”

 

Gale and Oly nod at her words and then Oly looks at his phone. Oly abruptly stands and then he caresses Gale hair in a way that makes Gale look up at him.

 

“I think we have to go now, Gale. Tanan is saying he’s going to steal your girl away if you keep leaving her with him.”

 

Gale chuckles.

 

“She’s as much his as she is ours. Tell him I don’t mind sharing.”

 

Gale says this, but he stands to collect his bag anyway.

 

“Amelie, apparently I have to get to Twyla before she leaves me for Tanan. Can we do lunch soon?”

 

Gale goes over to our scary agent and hugs her. Even Amelie has a soft spot for the tiny human. They often seem like mother and son.

 

“Thank you, gentleman.”

I realize I've heard Oly and Gale talk about Gale's "girl" before. Girl? As in girlfriend? They are really good at this misdirection thing if that's the case. 

 

“Wait!”

 

Evan shouts as if he has finally understood something.

 

“Isn’t Twyla your sister?”

 

“His daughter.”

 

Oly corrects Evan and Gale smiles softly at him before addressing the question himself.

 

“She’s just as much Oly’s daughter as she is mine. She'd fight you if you said differently. That little girl has us both wrapped around her finger.”

 

“And Tanan too.”

 

Gale looks at Oly with something his eyes that we all  see but none of us understand.

 

“And Tanan too.”

 

Gale repeats Oly's words and Oly seems to get whatever he meant. The tall man is suddenly serious…maybe sad?  I don’t know.

 

“Okay, okay. Enough misdirection for the day. I’m dizzy.”

 

This was Miles saying what we all had been thinking.  We laugh as Gale and Oly say goodbye and leave us with Amelie. She turns her sharp eyes back to the remaining people. 

'Now, let's talk about discretion."