Upside Down(68)

He nodded but hardly looked convinced. I pressed the doorbell anyway, and Michael answered. He wore jeans and a white button-down shirt, looking handsome and casual and very, very happy. “Hey, come on in,” he said, opening the door wide. He didn’t even wait for introductions. He just stuck out his hand and said, “You have to be Jordan. The guy I hear about all the time, from Hennessy, from Angus.”

“Oh,” Jordan said, shaking his hand. “Yes, the one and the same. It’s nice to meet you.”

“And this is Merry,” I said, making introductions.

Once that was done, Michael waved his hand inside. “Come on in and let’s see if we can find my beautiful wife.”

Their apartment was very nice. Not only had Michael made his own fortune, but Vee had too, and it showed in their style of tall ceilings, white tiled floors, dark furniture, and floor-to-ceiling glass that showed off one of the best views in Sydney. Vee was in the kitchen, wearing dark tights and an off-the-shoulder, oversized sweater, looking glamorously casual, her dark hair in waves to her shoulders, her smile wide.

And there was Angus, looking just as at home in his jeans with the knees out of them and an old T-shirt, no shoes. His whole face lit up and he walked over and collected Jordan in a crushing hug, and I gave Vee a kiss on the cheek. “You look… Well, jeez, you look ridiculously happy.”

She beamed. “I am.”

Michael walked behind her and kissed her bare shoulder. “We are.”

“You do too,” she said quietly. “Introduce me to the man who puts that spark in your eye.”

We all made small talk and had a glass of wine and few canapés, but Jordan was still quiet, and the stiffness of his shoulders told me he was incredibly nervous.

“Oh, Vee,” I said. “You have to show Jordan your Miyazaki set.”

He perked up at that. “Hayao Miyazaki?”

“Oh, you know his work?”

He put his hand to his mouth. “I love it.”

“I have The Art of Howl’s Moving Castle. Leather-bound, first edition. Signed.”

Jordan gaped. “You do not!”

Vee laughed. “And that’s not all.”

“Noooo,” Jordan breathed.

Vee nodded.

Jordan gasped. “Shut. Up.”

She laughed and took him by the arm and they disappeared down the hall with Angus in tow. Merry and I helped Michael serve the main meal, and when Jordan reappeared with Vee and Angus, he was so much more relaxed. And chatty. And smiling.

We ate dinner, drank some wine, laughed, and chatted until our plates were empty and our bellies were full. It was actually amazing to watch Michael, Vee, and Angus all interact. There were soft glances, the brushing of hands, lingering looks. It was clear to see they were all happy.

“Thank you,” Jordan whispered to me later. “Vee’s library is amazing. I want one.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I like your friends,” he murmured. “They treat him well.”

I spared a glance at Angus and he was laughing at something Merry had said, and he had his arm around Vee’s chair and Michael had his hand on Angus’ thigh. “Yeah. I knew they would. He’s happy.”

Jordan let out a sigh and smiled, leaning into me a little. “So am I.”

I leaned in and kissed him. “Glad to hear that.”

There was silence, which made me and Jordan look around the table. All eyes were on us, and I couldn’t even be embarrassed. “Yes, I’m so ridiculously in love,” I said. “It’s actually gross.”

Vee laughed. “I think we need music!” She picked up her phone, and a few screen-taps later, music began to play out of the ceiling speakers. Then she offered her hand to Angus, which he took with a grin, and they danced over to the living room, sliding the coffee table out of the way. Michael shot up and offered his hand to Merry, which she happily took, and I stood up and held out my hand to Jordan. “Mr O’Neill, if I could have the privilege of this dance.”

He blushed and made a face but we danced, and it was fun and crazy and we all laughed as we danced, but a few songs later, Jordan and I were slow dancing, lost in each other’s eyes. I hadn’t even noticed Merry leave, but Jordan looked around suddenly. “Where’s Merry?”

Vee answered. “She thought it was time to go. I ordered and paid for her Uber. She said to say goodbye and you owe her coffee on Sunday. Something about lunch with a velociraptor.” She shrugged, and Jordan and I chuckled and went back to slow dancing.

“I like dancing with you,” he whispered below my ear.

“We should do it more often.”

Half a song later, I tapped Jordan’s arm and pointed with my chin. “Look.”

And there, near the wall of glass stood Angus, Vee at his front with her hands on his hips, and Michael behind him with his arms around Angus’ chest. They were slow dancing, three bodies moving as one. Angus had one hand on Vee’s hip, grinding against her while grinding Michael’s crotch. His head was lolled back on Michael’s shoulder, his eyes closed to the pleasure, and Vee kissed down his neck.

“I think we should leave them,” I whispered.

Smiling, Jordan nodded. “Probably a good idea.”

We grabbed our coats and waved goodbye to Michael, who now had Angus turned around. His smile was his only farewell, and we laughed out into the hallway.