Theory of Attachment [18+] [mxm]

40. Lennon's Kitchen Remodel Housewarming Renovation Dinner Party Soirée

Lennon's home sat within view of Central Park and a rooftop bar on the neighboring building. Micah stared up at the building in awe before glancing at Rory for his assessment.

The man's jaw had fallen, though he closed it when he caught Micah looking. He swallowed hard. "He, um. A lot of the work he bought from my mom was in the several hundred thousands."

"Of dollars?" Micah whispered.

Rory nodded.

"Shit. I see why you wanted to see his place, then," Micah said, and Rory agreed.

They were still across the street, Central Park to their backs. Micah, for one, was nervous to approach the doorman, lest he be accused of loitering and attempting to steal something.

"Did you not know he was this wealthy?" Rory asked.

"I knew he was a director. I thought, like, CEOs lived this close to the park."

"He could have inherited it."

"Curiosity is killing me. Let's go," Micah said, taking him by the wrist to cross the street.

The doorman, luckily, did not turn them away. Rory asked him for directions to Lennon's flat number, and he led them to the receptionist, who led them to the elevator after Lennon confirmed they were, in fact, wanted visitors.

Micah licked his lips as the elevator brought them up. He glanced at Rory and said, "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"Yeah. I think it'd be awkward to explain we aren't together," Rory said. They'd decided to go on the way Lennon had last seen them: as a couple.

"Right," Micah said, throat tight. He swallowed back the knot.

At Lennon's floor, there was only one door at the very end of the hall. Rory and Micah stared at it in kind until the elevator doors nearly shut. Micah caught them with his foot and gestured for Rory to exit first.

The carpeted hall led down pure white wainscoting and faux candle sconces. Micah bit his lip as Rory knocked on the door. They side-eyed one another before looking away. The lock came undone on the door.

Micah looked up from the floor as the door opened to reveal someone that was definitely not the host of the party.

This has to be a nightmare, Micah thought, because it had to be illegal for Alistair to not only look that devilishly handsome in a blood-red shirt and also be answering Lennon's door.

Alistair's smile dropped, staring at Micah.

"What the fuck are you doing here," Alistair said, scrambling out the door and shutting it behind him. He kept his hands on the handle, glanced down at Rory, and did a double-take. "Who the Hell is this guy?"

"Oh my God," Micah breathed.

Rory glanced between them before putting a tentative hand out. "Rory Nguyen. My mother was a friend of Lennon's."

"Okay, cool. Explain yourself, maybe?" Alistair said, eyeing Micah purposefully.

When Micah said nothing, Alistair's eyebrows went to his hair line as if to say, "Answer. Now!" The door opened behind him, though, and he staggered slightly under the pull.

Lennon leaned out beside him. Alistair stepped away, clearing his throat. "Oh, glad you two could make it," Lennon said, reaching for Rory first.

And then, to Micah, Lennon passed a hand over his hair and kissed either cheek. "Lovely to see you again, Micah," he said. He gestured to Alistair, who was staring at Micah like he wanted to commit murder quietly and without witnesses.