Diplomacy

back. “I guess I could use some breakfast.” Lucas placed one of the paper bags he was holding on Jack’s stomach and walked over to the large doors that led to the terrace.
    Balancing the coffee and the other bag of pastries, he opened the floor-to-ceiling window and walked out, letting the sunshine stream into the room.
    Jack could feel that the pastries in the bag were still warm and smelled the sweetness of cinnamon and honey. He got up quickly and slipped into a D i p l o m a c y | 79

    pair of jeans, following his young lover onto the terrace. Lucas sat on one of the benches eating.
    “Come over here. I have sweet rolls, cinnamon, raisin…”
    “You went out for those?” Jack walked over to Lucas and kissed the top of his head.
    “Well, it’s not like I could call room service, and I was starving.
    Besides there’s a bakery right across from the hotel.” Lucas leaned his head back to kiss Jack on the mouth.
    “You taste like almonds.”
    Lucas held up the bun he was eating. “You want some? It’s called
    ‘Frangipane’ and it’s very sweet, but very good.” Jack took a bite of the offered food and wrinkled his nose at the sweetness before moving around Lucas and settling down on the terrace floor in front of him cross-legged. He took the cup of coffee and drank a large gulp, then picked out a croissant and took a bite of that.
    “So what do you want to do this morning?” Lucas asked, his eyes squinting against the bright sunlight.
    Jack looked up at the sky. “I think we missed out on ‘this morning’, but why don’t we take a walk around town this afternoon? You know this place, right? So show me all the non-tourist bits.” Lucas smiled. “I don’t suppose you’ll hold my hand when we walk around?”
    Jack raised one eyebrow. “What are you? A little girl?” Lucas stuck his tongue out at Jack, feeling very juvenile, but it made them both laugh. “Well, it will be the first non-professional thing we do together, and we will be out in the open, among the people.”
    “Yeah,” Jack mused. “We might bump into an American or two, who might recognize me or a Brit who might recognize you. Don’t get me wrong, Lucas, but I can’t exactly explain why we’re this intimate with each other, can I?” He hoped Lucas wouldn’t take it the wrong way, but he needed to be honest with his lover.
    “I know,” Lucas answered softly. “I know I can’t touch you in public, but I still want to go out with you today.” Jack gave him a lopsided look. “What are you suggesting?” He saw mischief creep into the young man’s face.

    80 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    “I’m asking you out on a date,” Lucas answered smugly, “We’ve never actually done that. So maybe we should start at the beginning. I’ll take you out to dinner, my treat, so don’t expect anything fancy.” Jack looked at him, trying to work out if he was serious. “Fine, but let’s not make it too late tonight.”
    Lucas chuckled. “Oh, don’t worry! If I have to keep my hands off you all day, it will be a quick dinner!”

    THEY both walked out of the five star hotel dressed in jeans, shirts, baseball caps, and sunglasses. The weather was sunny and warm enough to wander around the city in shirt sleeves.
    Lucas assured Jack that they had everything they could possibly want within walking distance of the hotel, so they made their way across the square to the fashion district and ended up stealing kisses and touches in the dressing rooms of Dries Van Noten’s boutique, while picking out designer business suits for one another. They arranged for their suits to be delivered to their home addresses and continued on, strolling into used bookshops and eclectic music stores.
    In one of the bookstores, Jack and Lucas were discussing buying an old book on the history of Antwerp when Jack heard a vaguely familiar voice behind him, “George, I told you it was him!” and then felt a hand on his arm. “Mr. Ambassador, so nice of you to come to our fair city. You should have called us, so we could have extended a proper welcome, invite you to our home!”
    Jack turned around and smiled shyly, extending his hand.
    “Reverend and Mrs. Wallace. Nice to see you again!” He could see Mrs.
    Wallace eyeing Lucas, clearly expecting to be introduced. Jack hesitated for only a moment before he recovered. “May I introduce Mr. Carlton, representative of the British Embassy?”
    Mrs. Wallace shook Lucas’s hand with much fervor, her eyes