Salubrious part 32

Allan was ready beyond all doubt that he looked absolutely stunning. Stunning for himself and stunning for Charlie.

Dressed to the nines, he drove to the restaurant to meet his boyfriend for their reservation at 6:30.

He did one last check in the afternoon overhead mirror, fixing a bit of lipstick and adding a touch more blush. It was about 6:24 in the evening when Allan arrived, checking in with the hostess in front.

“What’s the reservation under?” She asked, eyeing the very brightly dressed, flashy patron with some interest. “Beautiful dress, by the way.”

Allan grinned. “Thank you. It’s under Dompler,” he said. The voice was unmistakably masculine, which made her blink in surprise.

“Your other party hasn’t checked in yet. Would you like to wait until they’re here or be seated?”

“I’ll just sit down now, if that’s okay with you,” Allan answered after thinking for a moment, and checking his phone. There was no call or message from Charlie so he assumed that all was well.

She nodded, getting the menus as they sat down. She gave him a curious look then said, “Excuse me, but I was just thinking… isn’t that the dress from that movie? Hah, the one with Julia Robert’s? I don’t remember the name. Sorry if I’m being rude.”

Allan chuckled, sitting down elegantly, fixing his curly brown wig (that looked natural).

“It’s a surprise for my boyfriend, actually. The movie is Pretty Woman,” Allan replied.

She made a soft squeak, “Oh I knew it! That dress is as iconic as Lady Diana’s black revenge dress.”

Allan gave her an interested smile. “That’s what I want to do one day. Get revenge on some asshole by looking so damn good, that nothing or no one could touch me.”

She laughed. “You’re too much, sis!”

“Why thank you,” he replied and she smiled.

“So, your boyfriend coming for something special? You are looking great.”

“Anniversary. I appreciate that.”

She nodded. “Great. I’ll be on the lookout for him. What’s he look like?”

“Yellow, grumpy and cute,” Allan answered with a soft look.

“He must look cozy like a minion from Despicable Me,” she said and they both laughed.

“That’s my Charlie,” Allan said as she went back to the hostess stand.

Allan checked his phone. It was 6:32 and he was getting a tad worried but it still wasn’t too late to be concerned.

It was 6:35. 6:37.

Allan relented to text but he impulsively sent one:

You almost here?

6:39.

Allan started getting grumpy.

He was about to call Charlie when he saw a familiar yellow man with a face that said, “Please don’t be mad! Don’t kill me for being late!”

“It’s under Dompler.”

Allan heard Charlie out of breath as he talked to the hostess. Suddenly, she pointed out the table and Charlie gave the unfamiliar looking personage in the red dress a look that shouted, “Who in the heck was that? Did I fuck up? Did Allan think I wasn’t showing up?”

He went back to the hostess stand.

“Uh, I’m so sorry… are you sure that is our table? I.. I’m meeting my bo-boyfriend,” he stuttered, blushing and looking concerned and confused. “He usually has.. he might be wearing a button up with a tie.”

Allan sighed, looking at his water glass like an eye glass, trying to sort out the fuzzy image of Charlie through the watery window.

“Sir, that’s your table,” she just said, waving to Allan. “Sis, this is your boo?” She said in a funny whisper.

Allan waved back. “Unfortunately!”

Instantly, Charlie’s eyes widened as he took in the full picture of his boyfriend with new eyes. He finally saw his boyfriend through the noise, and his heart felt like broken up, hardened play-dough pieces that had be put back together with warm hands and water.

The red dress, the curly brown hair, the sparkling collar necklace. The… makeup.

“Oh God, he did full makeup,” Charlie thought as he felt like his heart was on fire now, unable to move.

The hostess was kind enough to start pushing him toward the table, which looked comical to Allan but he kept a straight face.

She whispered, “Get your head back in the game, baby, this is your chance to make it happen!” She rooted Charlie in a hushed whisper.

“I don’t know you,” Charlie said blankly.

“I don’t know you either. Have a good night!” She said. “Here’s your seat sir, your server will be here shortly. Have a great meal.”

Charlie held onto the top of the chair, gripping it tightly.

“Thank you, Clara,” Allan said to her.

Then it happened, they locked eyes. Charlie felt like a cherry bomb blew up in the room. The crime scene of the century that made Charlie want to faint, laugh, and maybe cry.

“Uh, Allan?”

Allan leaned in, looking at Charlie with a wink. “Yeah? You’re late, bro.”

Charlie laughed nervously. “I’m so… dude, I’m sorry.” He sat down, pulling in the chair closely.

“Don’t worry right now but you’ll have to make it up later,” Allan said teasingly, making Charlie blanch lightly, blushing a dark red.

“So…” Charlie took in all the details of Allan’s outfit. “Is this… something I should know about?”

“Mmmhmm,” Allan responded, tapping his finger against the glass impatiently.

“Your make-makeup looks really.. did you get it done professionally?”

“Compliments are for the birds, sunshine,” Allan whispered.

Charlie sorted the terror of being late, the whole mix up where he almost didn’t recognize Allan for a second, to now, trying to balance his boyfriend’s not so joyful mood.

Suddenly, it clicked. Like the most precise moment of clicking. A puzzle piece that suddenly appeared like a map to his very heart.

“Oh my…” Charlie let out a shaky laugh. “Fuck. Holy smokes. You did it. You did that for me? You did… you just made me the movie. What? Oh my… Allan, Jesus. This is,” he bit his lip, giving Allan a half-lidded look. “You actually remembered that stupid conversation we all had at work? What I said about that one scene?”

“Pretty Woman,” Allan nodded.

Charlie shook his head. “You’re fucking out of this world.”

“I know.”

Charlie laughed as their waiter came over and got their drink orders.

“It’s our anniversary. We need a bottle of champagne please,” Charlie said, trying to keep his cool.

Allan said with a straight face, “Oh, wow, Someone’s trying to get laid.”

Charlie looked away, coughing nervously, chuckling as the waiter gave them a funny look, walking away.

“Oh, my God. Allan, what the hell?” He covered his face.

“That’s for making it to our anniversary dinner late.”

“We’re even now, Allan, seriously.”

“You like that I test you,” Allan said, grinning.

“Not this many tests, dearest,” he said through his teeth.

“I forgive you. Let’s have a good time tonight. I spent all day killing myself to look like peak Julia Roberts.”

Charlie frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. “It paid off.”

“I can tell by your eyes. Your eyes are eating me alive. Or some cool monster stuff like that,” Allan teased.

“Godzilla or Reptar?”

“They might be cousins, so either one.”

“King Kong.”

“Now we’re fucking talking.”