Crossroads

Chapter 1-2

Sebastian poured the pancake mix in the pan, then sipped his coffee. Caleb’s text appeared as he drank; Caleb was boarding soon, and Sebastian couldn’t resist and texted back several heart emojis, partly because he wanted to remind Caleb he loved him, partly to annoy Caleb who had grown to despise the use of emojis.

I miss you already, Sebastian texted. You should’ve waked me up.

It took a while for the response to light up his cell: You’re beautiful when you sleep so I didn’t want to wake you.

Sebastian smiled. He wanted to respond. Something cheeky? Something dirty? But before he had a chance to, their roommates walked into the kitchen. Tristan had bedhead, and was dressed in a white T-shirt, blue pajama bottoms, and a red plaid robe, his eyes struggled to remain open while Olivia, his twin, was already dressed for work in black silk blouse, a tan jacket that showed her wasp-like figure, and sensible khaki slacks.

“Caleb leave for the airport?” Olivia asked, as she pulled her hair back and placed a scrunchie for her ponytail.

“Yup. He’s boarding now.”

“What’d he think of the adoption idea?” Tristan asked as he sauntered over to the coffee pot and poured himself some java before getting a mug for Olivia.

“He’s mulling it over, I think he is anyway. He was kind of surprised I showed him the brochures yesterday so I think he was in shock that I talked about it.” Sebastian replied as he flipped the hotcakes. “Want some?”

“Sure, if you have enough, I’ll have some.” Olivia opened the cupboard and grabbed some maple syrup as she took the offered plate of pancakes. “Does he know you talked about this with us before you brought it up?”

“No. I didn’t.” Sebastian paused before he continued. “I made plenty of mix by the way, Tristan.” Sebastian poured more batter onto the hot griddle.

“I’ll pass. I don’t need the carbs. I might be doing some go-sees later today and I don’t want to look bloated…So he was totally shocked, huh?”

“You don’t look bloated. You look anorexic, if you ask me. Is that the new look? And, yeah. He mumbled that we just got married and Caleb said the timing on having kids wasn’t right. Then I kinda flew off the handle.”

“Why? We practiced what you would say, and how to say it?” Olivia chimed in. “What did you say?” Olivia asked.

“I told him that if we used timing as the basis for having kids and having a family, we’d never have one and it was selfish to think that way.”

“s**t,” Tristan whispered. “What an asshole thing to say.”

“I know,” Sebastian said. “I regretted what I was saying as soon as the words spilled from my mouth.”

“Well, I told you not every man wants to have kids. And you guys never really talked about it before getting married, right?” Tristan asked.

Sebastian stared at his phone. Tristan was right. Caleb and he never talked about starting a family. Sebastian had never brought it up before they got married. “I have to text Caleb.” Sebastian texted Caleb more heart emojis. “So, these go-sees, anyone in particular?”

Tristan shook his head. “Couple of commercials. There might be some calls for the fall—online catalogs—I’m not exactly sure…now. And stop changing the subject.”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I’m still processing Caleb’s reaction. I appreciate you guys helping me—get my thoughts together on the issue of kids.” Sebastian sighed.

“No worries,” Olivia said. “What are old high school friends for? Besides being roommates in the city that never sleeps?” She laughed. “Seriously though, maybe you want to take baby steps on the adoption issue. No pun intended.” Olivia hugged Sebastian.

Sebastian squeezed Olivia’s arms as she stepped away from him, and then Sebastian took the spoon Tristan used for his coffee and put it in the sink. “Fall clothing? But it’s only May,” Sebastian said.

“Hmmm, Tristan. Sebastian doesn’t want to talk about making us favorite babysitters for any family they will start.” Olivia scrunched her face. “Okay, I guess we can drop it for now. By the way, who does Caleb have a shoot with? If you told me, I forgot. Considering my mind has been focused on another issue that we cannot talk out.” Olivia stood and placed her now empty plate in the sink as she sipped her cup of joe.

“He’s got the watch company flying him out for another series of print ads tied to Formula One racing. I’m pretty sure I told you.”

“It’d be nice if he could hook me up with a job,” Tristan sighed.

“Honey, you’re haute couture. He’s fitness and sport.” Olivia laughed. “You’re in different lines of modeling.”

“There’s not a big difference these days.” Tristan pouted. “A lot of the fitness models are doing the runways with us. Maybe not Caleb, since he’s a niche model, but it’s not out of the question.”

“If I hear anything, or Caleb hears anything, we’ll let you know.” Sebastian placed a pancake in front of Tristan who promptly shook his head.

Tristan’s long blond locks covered part of his face, as he mouthed a “no” to the buttermilk flapjacks when Sebastian pushed the plate toward him. Tristan raised his right arm and snaked his long feminine fingers over his head as he brushed the hair out of his face. He lowered his blue grey eyes to his own cup of coffee. “You guys are trying to fatten me.”

“No, we’re not. You need to eat. Right now, I think my waist is bigger than yours and that’s not right,” Olivia said. She approached Sebastian and air kissed his cheek and did the same for Tristan. “I’ll see you guys later. Let me know if we’re grabbing drinks or dinner with your friend that’s coming to visit. Just text me, okay? Especially if we’re meeting mid-town.”

“Okay. Have a great day. Try not to rip your boss’s head off,” Tristan said.

“I’ll try not to,” Olivia quipped. “You try to get a better paying job and help pay the rent, Tristan.”

“b***h,” Tristan whispered into his cup.

“I heard that,” Olivia yelled as she grabbed her purse.

Sebastian chuckled as he scarfed down a pancake doused with maple syrup. “I’ll text you later.”

They were both quiet for a few seconds after the front door closed then Tristan spoke. “So this friend of yours and Caleb’s, is he famous?”

“Only in NASCAR.”

“Would I know him? I mean, would I recognize him?”

Sebastian shook his head. He wiped maple syrup from the corner of his mouth before he sipped his coffee. “Doubt it unless you’re a racing fan.”

“Is he hot?”

Sebastian laughed. “First of all, he’s straight. He’s about six one, and has red hair. He’s built like a linebacker, almost.”

“Ooh. I love gingers.”

“Yes, he played football in high school, and I think college. I’m not sure, but trust me you are barking up the wrong tree if you think he plays for our team.”

Tristan sipped his coffee. “That sounds like a challenge to me. Do you know how many supposedly straight guys aren’t straight?”

Sebastian sighed. “Oh my God. If you get him to sleep with you, I’ll be very impressed.”

“Impressing you doesn’t help me. How about we bet on it?”

“Bet?”

“If I get him to sleep with me, or anything s****l, you’ll pay my part of rent for the month.”

“And what’s in it for me?” Sebastian asked.

“Same thing. But you have to give me a wide berth and not interfere. Let me use my model charm on him.”

“I think you’re going to lose this bet very easily. If he leaves New York City and he hasn’t even let you whack him off, you lose.”

Tristan narrowed his eyes and offered his hand. “Deal.” When Sebastian accepted the bet and they shook on it, Tristan added, “I hope you put my rent money in an envelope pretty soon because your friend will be putty in my hands.”

“We’ll see,” Sebastian chirped. “You know Jerry’s nickname is Cujo, and he’s just like a mad dog.”

Tristan tsk-tsked. “No interference, remember?”

“I’m just saying. Good luck, you’re going to need it.”