Kasper's Prince Charming

Chapter 12 - Last Picnic

When I woke up, I went out to find Amir sitting on the couch in a pair of shorts and tank top. He had the TV on so he didn't hear me quietly open the door from the master bedroom.

He looked tired and sad. He was playing on his phone and deep in thought. My presence didn't register. I sneaked up behind him to see he was putting different filters on a picture of me. He looked at the picture and traced a finger over my face.

I didn't want to disturb his private moment so I quietly backed up a few steps and then yawned a loud "Good morning." He jumped and clicked his phone off. He turned to look at me. I yawned again only that time for real.

"Kasper, you're up!" Amir came over and slid his arms around my waist. He hugged me tightly and lifted me off the carpet. I put my arms around his shoulders and inhaled the slight sweat smell of his warm night. His body pulsed heat and was a welcome touch in the cold room.

"You're leaving today," I mumbled against the soft skin of his neck.

"I am... but let's enjoy the morning. I'm mostly ready so... I had an idea! Let me take you for breakfast. They can make us a picnic! There is a perfect bluff over the water where no one goes." Amir said excitedly.

He sent me to get dressed while he ordered the basket for us. I sneaked back into the bedroom and found Emerson sitting up and reading something on his tablet. I pointed excitedly towards my shirt and then the bathroom. He looked confused. He swiped back to the communication app on his tablet and I typed about the picnic and needing to get dressed. He said he thought it was a great idea and he'd help.

Emerson showed me a small section of the expansive closet with items just for me. I wondered why a hotel suite would have this much storage, but this was a pretty nice place. He grabbed a pair of grey shorts, a thin white tank top, and a grey hoodie for the cool morning. He worked on my hair next and it gave us a chance to talk using his tablet app.

He braided my hair loosely like he'd observed when I came back from the french stylist guy. He told me the one thing he regretted about only having boys was that he couldn't do as much with their hair and Mr. Hamad (He called him "Ali") would never let him grow their hair out much. 

I wanted so much to spend hours talking to Emerson. I had so many questions about how he fit in the Arab world and how he even got there. I wanted to know what it was like to give up everything in California and adopt a new family and culture. But Amir was waiting for me.

We went back out through the bedroom and Mr. Hamad was awake. He stopped me and gave me a nose rub and kiss on the cheek like he did to his own boys. He asked why I was already dressed, but Emerson stopped him and waved me forward. He would handle his husband. Mr. Hamad followed us out to the living room and saw Amir dressed and holding a picnic basket. He understood.

"One hour," Mr. Hamad said as he greeted Amir. "Then we have to get ready for your flight."

Amir thanked him and pulled me out of the suite. He had on a crisp blue button-up shirt with dark blue preppy shorts and brown leather loafers. He looked like a private school athlete heading off to the family's yacht.

We raced to the elevator and then down to the lobby. He pulled me through and to a side exit of the resort that led to an area where the staff took their smoke breaks.

To the left was a little earthen trail that wound up and around a steep rise. It was a good five minute hike, but it would be our last one here... together. He held my hand the whole way up until we got to the secluded spot just beyond a thick covering of trees. He held back a branch for me and we were rewarded with a small outcropping surrounded by dense vegetation with a view of the water.