Escort || manxman

Part 10

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Pulling into the parking lot, Adam found a free spot to park his car in surprisingly fast considering that it was turning out to be a nice Saturday, with the sun peaking high in the sky, signaling that noon had come. He flipped down the visor, opening the little mirror to check his hair one last time and adjust his sunglasses.

It was a clear, cloud-free day, on the brink of summer, and the air that greeted him when he eventually stepped out of the car was almost vibrating in anticipation for the approaching heat of the coming months. L.A. wasn't such a bad place to spend summers, even if the temperatures got a bit overwhelming sometimes. It hadn't reached that stage quite yet, though, with the sun providing comforting warmth and the air still fresh with the remains of spring.

But despite the nice weather, there was a lingering hesitance in his step as Adam began walking towards the area of the park where Caspar had said they were to meet. It was bound to be awkward when he showed up, with the way things had ended the night before. What was supposed to have been a pleasant surprise and encouragement for Alex to reclaim his dream, had turned bad quicker than Adam had time to register.

He could have never expected that Alex would react the way he did. The sudden closed-off look in Alex's eyes when he'd stared at him from across their table had made Adam's stomach fill with dread and left him wondering what he'd done wrong.

What Alex said after that had hurt. Adam knew he was right - they didn't know much about each other than the most superficial things, but Adam refused to think that was all there was. If there was something he knew from experience, it was that a person consists of more than what they tell him to his face. Their personality, the way they move and behave, their instinctual actions and responses, were just as telling. And Alex had unknowingly given Adam just as much knowledge about who he was through their physical encounters, as he would have if they had sat down and talked about themselves, only in a different way.

Adam knew that Alex was someone who liked to hear things said out loud rather than having to read hints, for example. He knew that Alex didn't say anything unless he thought it was worth saying, yet couldn't seem to hold back from letting out little clues about his innermost thoughts when he lost a bit of control over himself. Adam also knew that he was someone who was able to make Alex's control slip and it made his chest swell in pride.

Or, at least Adam thought he knew these things. Maybe he was wrong.

The mistake Adam had made in arranging the music set only made him determined to make sure he wouldn't repeat it. Adam was nothing if not a quick study and he wanted to learn from his mistakes. Never again did he want to see Alex look at him like he had the night before and that was the sole reason he'd gone to the park. Alex wouldn't get of rid of him that easily.

Rounding the corner of a grove of trees on the little walkway he was following, Adam spotted a group of about seven people by one of the communal barbeque and picnic areas set up on the edge of a bigger grass plain. He immediately picked out Alex and Caspar in their midst and Adam's pulse increased with sudden nervousness. He hoped he hadn't screwed up again by showing up.

Caspar was the one who spotted him first as he drew nearer and Adam smiled slightly while lifting his hand in acknowledgement when Caspar's arm looked like it was about to fall off from his rigorous waving. His step faltered a bit when he saw Alex look up and lock eyes with him across the distance. Alex didn't smile or in any other way show that he'd seen him; only broke their short stare and grabbed Caspar's arm, turning the other man towards him while bending his head and whispering something. Adam's stomach flipped. Was he telling Caspar that he didn't want Adam there?

Adam continued to walk at a slower pace than before, hanging back a bit to give them time to sort it out, whatever 'it' was. It wasn't long before he saw Caspar roll his eyes at Alex and turn towards Adam with a smile again, dismissing Alex by turning him his shoulder.