Coda 05 -Paris a to Z

melted. He put his hand on top of Coles and smiled at him. He leaned over to kiss him, although Cole turned away at the last moment, and Jons kiss landed on his temple. Jon didnt seem to mind a bit.
I told myself the twinge I felt had nothing to do with jealousy.
Once we finished eating, Cole took us to the Eiffel Tower. We spent a couple of hours wandering through the displays and shops on the second floor before heading to the top. Down on the ground, it was easy for me to remember where we were, especially when we were in the older part of the city, but from the height of the tower, the spell was broken. Especially when we looked south, where smog hovered and modern-day skyscrapers rose up out of the trees.
“Isnt it amazing?” Angelo asked.
“It looks like any other city to me,” I said.

    “Come on, Zach! Are you kiddin me? Think about how long some of those buildings have been around. Longer than anything in America. Think about where were standin right now. This tower was built more than a hundred years ago. Think about how many other people have stood here. Parents and kids, and other couples who were in love.” He took my hand and looked up at me, excitement shining in his eyes. “Doesnt it make you feel like youre part of somethin? Somethin big and magical that stretches all the way back through time? Like youre part of history?”
“It makes me feel like just another tourist.”
It was the truth, but I regretted saying it immediately because it made his smile a little less brilliant. He shook his head at me. “You have no sense of romanticism.”
After nearly an hour at the top, we went back down and stood in the Champ-de-Mars to see the tower fully illuminated. It was kind of pretty. But in my mind, even the Eiffel Tower couldnt compare to the beauty and awe on Angelos face when he saw it.
    C OLE arrived at our room early the next morning to take Angelo to Sainte-Chapelle, after which they planned to tour several of the smaller art museums (smaller meaning only that they werent the Louvre). I was invited, too, of course, but I chose to sleep late instead.
    I arrived downstairs to find George just sitting down in the dining room. “Zach!” he said, waving me over. “Join me. Dont make me eat alone.”
    Although I had initially been nervous about seeing George again, Id discovered the previous day how easy he was to get along with, and I was happy to have somebody to sit with.
    “I didnt realize you and Jon stayed in touch all these years,” he said, after wed ordered.
“We didnt,” I said. “But two years ago, Angelo and I were in Vegas with Matt and Jared, and we ran into him there. Thats when Jared met him and gave him Coles number.” Or maybe he gave Cole Jons number. It didnt matter.

    George thought for a second, his eyes shifting away from me as he thought back, and then a slow smile spread across his face. “I remember that trip,” he said. “Who punched him?”
“Angelo.”
He nodded, chuckling a little. “I should have known.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
“Im betting Jon tried to win you back.”
That didnt seem to require an answer. I had no desire to talk about that trip with him. Instead I said, “Are you pleased theyre getting married?”
“Extremely. Im happy for Jon.”
“You like Cole?”
“Im glad Jon found him,” he said. “Dont get me wrong—that boys a fruitcake—but Im actually pretty fond of him.” He grinned at me. “Dont you dare tell him I said that though. Ill deny it.”
“I wont,” I said, laughing. “Your secrets safe with me.”
“The thing is, Zach, hes good for Jonny. And he makes him happy.” And I thought it was funny that George apparently called him Jonny now too. “If hes happy, Im happy.” He glanced at me warily. “Im sorry I couldnt think like that when it was you.”
I shrugged, trying to ignore that weight in my chest, trying not to think about the fact that if his father had been more accepting all those years ago, Jon might not have felt the need to prove himself. He might not have felt the need to push me to do more with my life, and we might have gone on being happy together forever. “It doesnt matter now,” I said to myself as much as to George. Luckily, our food came then, which saved me from having to say more.
“You know, Zach, Jon had a couple of serious relationships between you and Cole.”
What the hell was I supposed to say to that? “I didnt know that,” I said, although I certainly would have