stars.
"Newlyweds and new inductees first." Lazer led us to the front of the line where servers waited with an assortment of food that made my mouth water, prepared by one of Seattle's finest chefs.
Lazer followed us through the line. The three of us settled at a table on the patio overlooking the pool, which was now lit only by starlight from above. It was a black pool, a dark, dizzying reflected sky filled with more stars than I remembered seeing since a childhood camping trip. A string quartet played softly at the edge of the terrace.
Lazer and Jus joked and ribbed each other like old friends, competitive friends, while I sat quietly listening and studying them both. Thinking traitorous thoughts about how hot Lazer was. And funny. And charming. And how Jus was…sweet.
The conversation turned to movies and pop culture.
"What do you think, Kay?" Jus said, putting me on the spot. "Does Lazer remind you of anyone?"
His tone was teasing and light, but there was an edge to it, too. It was as if he'd read my cheating mind and seen me watching Lazer too closely. I thanked my good luck that the lighting was dim and mostly filtered from candles and the light streaming out the doors and windows from the lodge. It hid my guilty expression.
I played along and studied Lazer openly, enjoying the chance to memorize his face. "James Bond?"
Jus laughed and grabbed another cocktail from a tray a waiter brought around. The booze flowed like water. Everyone was drinking heavily. It was Jus' fourth one. But who was counting?
"Fictional character. Close." The edge grew sharper in Jus' voice, masked by a twinkle of a joke. "He thinks Christian Grey was based on him."
Lazer laughed. "Jealous? Can I help it if women from across the country write me and ask if I was the inspiration? I've had girls show up at the gates of my house begging to meet me. Girls who've flown in, just to get a glimpse of me, Seattle's real-life young billionaire."
"Yeah," Jus said. "He's as popular as Forks since Twilight . You should put up a booth and make an appearance at the gates once in a while to charge them for autographs."
Lazer turned to me. "See what I have to put up with?"
I didn't reply. I was too busy trying not to laugh.
"Can I help it if women make the connection? Grey and Grayson. Same age. Both Seattle's Best Man. Youngest billionaires in Seattle's history."
"Until now," Justin said.
"We're both suave and handsome." Lazer laughed again.
"And humble," Justin said.
I laughed with them. "And the red room of pain? Is that based on you, too?"
"That's where the comparison ends." His grin was infectious and seductive.
And I thought, Maybe he isn't into that, but I bet he's a good lover.
Lazer winked. "I have the red room of game."
I took another sip of my cocktail, letting the alcohol take the edge off my nerves as the boys tried to one-up each other.
"Gaming nerd," Jus said, playfully. "That doesn't count. You put that in after."
"Do you have the red room here?" I asked. "Or is at another one of your homes?"
Justin stared at me in surprise, as in why would I be interested in a gaming room?
"I have a mini one here," Lazer said. "I'll show it to you later if you'd like to see it."
Jus shook his head. "Keep my wife the hell out of your red room of game, Grayson. She doesn't like video games."
Lazer laughed and gave me a conspiratorial look, mouthing, Later .
As the drinks continued to flow, the noise level increased. As dessert approached, Lazer seemed excited about something, as if he was keeping a secret or had planned a surprise.
"Look at this group of power players," I said to Jus and Lazer. "It's a wonder no one's come up with a conspiracy theory about you guys and your secret Jet City Billionaires."
"You mean like we plan to control the world markets and take over the world? We choose the next world leaders over poker and a cigar? We're busily planning the one-world government?" Jus put his arm around me. "Don't we?"
Lazer