"I didn't cash your cheques because I don't need your money," Stephen explains to Calum over dinner at the Diner.
"But I need to give it to you!"
Stephen sighs, explaining gently, "Calum, you know of course that half the monthly expenses aren't really $300?"
"Of course I know! And I'm sure that whatever it is I couldn't afford it but that's not the point! I want to contribute as much as I can!"
"And you do!" Stephen assures him, "You give me something much more valuable than just money. You give me your sweetness, your charm, your humour and your hot little bod. What's paying the gas and electricity compared to that?"
Calum's face falls and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat, "I'm not some boy toy you're keeping."
"I've never thought of you as my boy toy, don't insult me."
"I'll take that!" Calum grabs the bill from the waitress as she brigs it to the table and gets his wallet out.
"Okay, okay whatever will make you happy..." Stephen says, after studying Calum's face and seeing how annoyed he really is. "Whatever you want."
"What will make me happy is if you take my money and you stop paying for everything," CAlum says, slamming down the notes for their dinner on the table between them.
"Fine, from now on we'll only do things that we can both afford to do, together," offers Stephen, watching Calum gather up the notes before heading off towards the till. "There's only one thing..."
"What's that?" Calum asks, turning around from paying.
"Don't get mad, it's supposed to be a surprise but you know that week you have off from work? I cleared it for me too and I bought tickets for a trip to Paris. First class, a suite at the George V and reservations at the finest restaurants..."
Calum looks stunned, wide eyed he gulps as he searches for his voice, "Wow, that sounds fantastic."
"I know, no, I know..." Stephen says, putting his hand up to stop Calum talking. "It was the wrong thing to do. I'll cancel it all tomorrow, and we'll just stay home, watch a movie...or two. Eat in. It can still be fun."
~~~
"Hi Geordie!" Michael beams falsly as she looks out to find a step full of people at her front door. "Hope you don't mind us all dropping by like this."
Geordie looks from Michael to Corey, Sam and finally to Maddie, "Actually you could have called."
"We did. And got your message," Maddie tells her as they all spill over the threshold. Geordie shuts the door behind them with a groan.
"This is Henri, you've met Maddie..." Geordie starts the introductions.
"Oui."
"And this is Michael, Gus's biological father..." Michael walks over and takes Gus out of Henri's arms.
"Be assured there is no need to worry about Gus now that I am here," Henri reassures Michael.
"I wasn't worried when you weren't, mon ami," Michael reassures him back in a cold tone.
Geordie hurries on, "And this is Sam and Corey."
"Bonjour," Corey says haughtily.
"It's bonsoir," Sam points out quietly to him.
"Enchante" Henri replies.
"We were just in the middle of dinner, so if you don't mind..?" Geordie says carefully, her intention for them to all leave perfectly clear to everyone there.
YOU ARE READING
Queer as Muke
Fanfiction"The thing you need to know is, it's all about sex. It's true. In fact they say men think about sex every twenty-eight seconds. Of course that's straight men. With gay men it's every nine." Twenty nine year old advertising executive Michael Cliffor...
