Page 121 of In at the Deep End

Within half an hour the garden had begun to fill. Music drifted from hidden speakers. The smell of burgers and marinated chicken floated across the lawn.

Some guests gravitated towards the pool, feet dangling in the water while they nursed beers. Others gathered beneath the shade of the pergola, debating everything from football to politics to whether the latest Jurassic Park film should ever have been made.

Matt couldn’t stop smiling.

This isn’t what I’d imagined at all.

Then again, he wasn’t sure what he’d expected. Something louder, maybe, or more provocative. More… He searched for the word.

Purposeful.

Instead, it felt familiar. If anything, it reminded him of Zach and Beth’s barbecue last summer.

Just… gayer.

A lot gayer. He’d counted three rainbow shirts before giving up.

“Matt!”

He turned to find Owen beckoning him over.

“There are some people I’d like you to meet.” Next to him stood four men, drinks already in hand. Owen gestured to two of them, burly guys, one darker skinned and bald, the other fair, with blond and silver hair, both about Owen’s age. “You’ve heard me mention Adam and Gray.”

Matt smiled immediately. “So you’re the Adam and Gray.”

Adam, the bald guy, laughed. “Should I be worried?”

“Owen speaks very highly of you.”

Gray shot Owen a smug look. “Well, that’s going on my Christmas card.”

Owen ignored him. He indicated the other two. “And these are Sebastian and Felix.”

Sebastian appeared to be in his early forties, broad-shouldered, and relaxed. Felix was younger—around Matt’s age—with dark curly hair and an infectious smile.

Felix offered his hand, and they shook.

Matt discovered Adam and Gray were exactly as Owen had described them—funny, self-deprecating and incapable of leaving each other alone for more than thirty seconds without making some sarcastic remark.

It wasn’t long before Matt’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Owen mentioned your… line of work.”

Adam grinned. “I did wonder.”

Gray waved his phone. “But this was the only camera I brought along with me.”

Sebastian snorted. “That’s all you need. You once shot a whole scene with me like that.”

Matt blinked. “Do you… model for them?” It seemed more polite than act in their porn videos.

“We do.”

“Seb films with a lot of models.” Felix smiled. “I only film with Seb.”

Matt couldn’t hide his surprise. “By choice?”

Felix nodded, and Sebastian rested a hand against Felix’s back.