The next morning found Philip alone on the big bed. Aiden's bed to be exact. The hungover was nothing, the embarrassment of what he did when he was drunk is what kills him everytime.
He couldn't let himself admit this piece of information himself for the last two days but, he knew it deep down. He was the one keeping himself glued to Stanley and now with Aiden the pattern is one and the same.
He remembered Jake's yesterday ramblings and by what he was saying? It was clear as day that he was fucking up an innocent man's life pretty bad.
Philip knew that it was selfish of him but, he can't back out now that he had a taste of paradise. Aiden was every person's dream if the dream gets to do with being spoiled and respected.
He knew that Aiden was moving at his pace. But, what of his pace if he wasn't even walking towards anything? He was just standing at the same place figuratively. Hoping for a change of a scene from the same act.
He could stay in the bed for too long and whine about his self induced dilemma or he just fuck it and make it right somehow. Less awkward was the goal at least.
He needed to get a move on and show Aiden the real him with no filters. Telling him the truth now would be an abomination but, he could at least ease them both into each other. Be vulnerable with a stranger. Peeling his heart anew.
"Girl, I'm gonna be myself from now on" Said Philip as soon as the call got connected to Jake.
"What time is it?" Asked Jake, groggy still on the sofa bed.
"Too late to still be sleeping that's for sure" Retorted Philip sassily, "Where's Tristan?"
"I don't know bitch, I just woke up!" Complained Jake in a whine.
"So, no more goody two shoes two faced bitch act with Aiden from now on!" Declared Philip ignoring the big baby on the other side of the call.
"That's wise" Supported Jake now wide awake. That wasn't a dream, was it?. He never believed in anything but, he wished for Philip's soap opera to end soon. And it was happening!
"I know right?" Agreed Philip enthusiastically, "Like what's the worst that could happen?"
"He already saw you as a drag queen and knows how bad an influence you can be to the society and he still drove to the other side of the earth to pick you up. That guy ain't going nowhere" Said Jake with a little bit of pride. Philip was falling in love whether he knew it or not and he got to thank Aiden for that.
"The question remains though" Said Philip with a sigh and Jake had a mini heart attack on that. Yes, people calls him drama but, an undecided Philip is the worst version "What?"
"How can I be myself around him?" Asked Philip out loud making Jake speechless, "I'm hanging up the phone if you still don't wish to make sense" Said Jake dryly after he realized Philip wasn't going to say anything.
"I'm serious! I always become this soft spoken person around him. It's so weird" Said Philip absent minded.
"Does it feel uncomfortable?" Asked Jake curiously.
"It does! And my stomach is churning like hell and this morning... Do you know what he did?" Asked Philip in suspense looking at the piece of paper on his hand.
"What? Suck you off while you were in your sleep and expects an apology from you when he gets back?" Questioned Jake expectantly.
"That's weirdly specific" Stated Philip narrowing her eyes at her reflection, "Everything okay with you two?"
"Tristan thinks I was confessing because I was drunk" Said Jake with a sigh. He regretted confessing to him publicly like that.
"Not really further from the truth though" Pointed out Philip enjoying Jake's predicament.
"But, I meant every word, Phi phi!" Defended Jake frustrated.
"I know that. Maybe because I knew you for many years now?" Hinted Philip, applying lip gloss and make it pop. He loves the drama but, falls in love the drama queen looking back at her batting her eyelashes dramatically. The look was divine.
"Maybe, you are right and I need to be that shameless while I'm sober" Relented Jake with a shrug.
"Rooting for you hon!" Said Philip with kisses sound making Jake smile. The diva is back. He didn't know what happened to shape her back but, maybe miracles do exist if you believe.
"Next time boo" Said Jake before cutting the call.
Philip didn't have any appointment for the day and had no desire to rehearse any scene from her new series. A series! Not some run downtown adult movie queen anymore.
Taking up provocative snaps to send them to Aiden unannounced was no biggie. He was free and it was Aiden's fault to leave a text saying he'd step out to go to college and that for any emergency he knew who to call. What a romantic? Not really. These dudes needs some classes.
He walked through every part of the apartment and changed quite a lot of the decorations, and the layout in general.
At four in the evening he was already in a night dress and holding his contract that was delivered from Stanley earlier that day.
"I see you got the papers" Answered Stanley in his deep voice that at some point made his fears at bay.
"You could have scanned them or faxed" Replied Philip not really seeing the necessity of personal deliveries.
"I'm too old for those you know that" Teased Stanley lightly before he went serious again, "Been alright, butterfly?"
"I have a boyfriend now" Said Philip looking towards the door subconsciously.
"I get it. It's a old habit... Takes too much to kill" Said Stanley as a reason why.
"Coraline loves you. Don't screw that up" Reminded Philip realizing how much he was going in cycles with him.
"I know that but, we both know how much I like coaxing my prey" Said Stanley with a smile to his voice. How he loves to hear him talk like that.
"Why did you call me Stanley?"Asked Philip getting serious.
"I got your email saying you want me to keep being your manager. I hope you know what you are doing" Said Stanley giving Philip a warning of some kind.
"You are very professional and have great strategies when it comes to me and my work and with your connections? I can see myself reaching far with you" Reasoned Philip, assuredly.
"You have changed, butterfly" Observed Stanley with a smile near chuckle.
"Huh? That's strange because, I'm still the same person" Retorted Philip acting clueless.
"Alright but, I'd use Andy as your assistant. I can't always move with you as we used to before" Decided Stanley casually hoping Philip would tell him otherwise.
"Yes, I understand. Anything else?" Replied Philip making the guy speechless before he laughed aloud. Was it really over with him?.
"Does...Does he know about us?" Asked Stanley, interested
"Yes, Yes he does" Replied Philip with a fond smile at the thought of Aiden.
"Everything?" Asked Stanley patiently before Philip let out a cough as he saw Aiden walk through the door, "Just enough"
"Be careful butterfly. Too many secrets breaks one's trust" Reminded Stanley before he hang up the call.
"Did I interrupt anything?" Asked Aiden as he went over and kissed Philip passionately and deeper than usual. He was happy being greeted by Philip like that.
"You can't even if you try" Replied Philip accepting the kiss from Aiden with a smile.
"I see you have been busy around here" Appraised Aiden looking around their apartment. Now the bed and closet were out of sight from the sofa.
"Someone needed to change those dreadful blinds" Said Philip unapologetically, "Welcome to paradise sweetheart"
"I saw your text" Whispered Aiden before sucking on Philip's ear.
"Which one?" Asked Philip feigning ignorance and seriously getting in the mood, "The one with the boobs or my dick?"
"I liked the last one better" Whispered Aiden trying to keep his breathing steady but, it was hard with Philip looking like that. So deliciously good.
"That was a video" Clarified Philip dryly with a roll of his eyes.
"Not a GIF?" Questioned Aiden holding back laughter.
"I was going for a video but, I'm not complaining with the result" Said Philip going to straddle the guy to shut his teasing ass, "How hard did it make you though?
"See it for yourself, Baby" Answered Aiden jumping his dick.
"Call me by my name" Ordered Philip while playing with his lips with his very own. The tension was getting over their limits.
"That's right, don't forget that. Never forget that" Said Philip meaningfully before kissing Aiden rotten.