Coda 05 -Paris a to Z

at the Four Seasons, but it was terribly ostentatious—”
“And you know its bad if even he thinks so,” Jon said to Jared, and Jared laughed.
“If it were up to Jonny, wed be at the Motel 6 back in Phoenix.”
“I suggested the Marriot ,” Jon said. “Its not the same as a Motel 6.” I could tell theyd had this conversation several times already, and yet, they werent snapping at each other. They seemed to be having great fun.
Cole gave Jon a wide-eyed look that seemed to be innocent and mocking all at once. “Ill just have to take your word for it, love.” His entire demeanor was carefree, his over-the-top behavior done as much for our entertainment as anything. He was fun, and I could see how Jon, who barely knew the meaning of the word, could have been drawn to him. Cole turned quickly back to Jared. “Do you remember that room in Mazatlan?”
“How could I forget?” Jared asked, grinning.
“Honey, Im quite sure repairs at the Vendôme would cost considerably more than they did in Mexico, so try not to break any more countertops.”
“Ill do my best,” Jared said. He glanced at Matt, and a slow blush started to creep up his cheeks.
Angelo either didnt notice or didnt care because he asked, “What the hell did you do?”
I could tell by the look on Jareds face that he had no desire for the conversation to go any further. It was Cole who answered. “Well, it wasnt his fault really,” he said, grinning wickedly over at Ang. “Or, not only his fault, but it was a bit embarrassing trying to explain it to the management. I guess those bathroom counters just arent meant to hold people. Certainly not two people. Still, Im sure it must have been unstable before

    we even—”
He was interrupted by a loud scraping noise as Matt abruptly pushed his chair back from the table. “Oh my God!” he said, looking over at Jared. “I have no idea how to handle this.”
“Handle what?” Cole asked innocently.
“You!” Matt said in exasperation.
Cole turned to Jared, looking genuinely confused. Jared looked slightly amused, but he turned away from Cole. He reached over and put his hand on Matts arm. He looked into his eyes for a second, and what exactly was in that look I didnt know, but I saw Matt relax. His cheeks actually turned a bit red, and he grinned wickedly at Jared.
They definitely hadnt been fighting back at the hotel.
“Sweets,” Cole said to Jared, “are we supposed to pretend like we haven’t known each other for almost fifteen years?”
“No,” Jared said, turning back to him. “But it might be best if we dont talk about Mazatlan.”
“Its not like thats the only time we—” Jon shifted suddenly in his chair, and Cole jumped. He turned to Jon, who had obviously kicked him, but he quit talking. For a second he just glared at Jon, but then he turned back to Matt, and his face shifted in the blink of an eye from annoyance to obvious concern. “Buttercup, tell me how I should act.”
Matt pulled his chair back up to the table. Whatever had passed between him and Jared had changed things. He wasnt mad anymore. Frustrated, maybe, and embarrassed. But not mad. “I dont know,” he said. “I honestly dont. Everybody at this table has slept with way too many other people at this table, and yet, I seem to be the only one who cant stand the thought of it.”
“You think its strange that we could have sex and still be friends?”
“Yes, I think its strange. In my experience, once you stop sleeping with someone, you stop seeing them. You dont….” He gestured around the table, as if words had escaped him. “Do this !”
Angelo looked confused. Jared looked amused. Jon looked vindicated. I had a feeling hed tried to warn Cole ahead of time that this might happen.
“You make it sound like every one of us has slept with everybody else,” Angelo said.
“Close enough,” Matt said, raising one eyebrow pointedly in Jareds direction.
“Youre exaggerating,” Jared said. “Ive only slept with two: you and Cole.”
“Yeah,” Angelo said. “And only two for me.” He looked at me. “And two for Zach.”
“And two for me,” Jon said. He turned to Cole. “And two for you?”
Jared made a coughing sound. Cole let his hair fall in front of his eyes and batted his lashes at Jon. “Two. Three. Whats the difference really? The good news is,” he said, looking over at Matt, “since Matts at one, we still average two apiece. Doesnt that work out just perfectly?”
Jon looked a bit stunned at