The private room had been booked months in advance for the dinner between the two families and the newly wed.
Mr. Hale and Mr. Harrington were both seated at the ends of the table with their wives on one side.
Rowan pulled out a seat for Adrian before taking the one beside him. Adrian cast him a side glance, maybe the punch got to his dense brain.
They all grew alarmed when they saw Rowan sporting a bruised eye, the skin around it already turning a deep reddish purple.
"What happened to your eye?" His father asked.
Rowan picked up his cutlery with practised movement, still calm as ever like he'd been asked about the weather.
"My wife got pretty angry." He turned to Adrian with a small smile. "He has quite the temper."
Mr. Hale made a disapproving sound. "Have Silas enroll him in an anger management class. He's part of the family now, we can't have him going around acting like a rabid—"
Adrian cleared his throat, cutting him off. This was the last thing he needed but he picked up his cutlery and served himself while the others looked on in shock. It wasn't proper etiquette.
Mr. Hale looked at the Harringtons, as if saying—this is what you want us to deal with.
"I've had their honeymoon covered," Ms. Evelyn said to break the tension in the air. "Their flights are booked for Sunday."
Adrian stopped mid-movement, steak halfway into his mouth. "Flights?"
Ms. Evelyn nodded. "Iceland, you'll love it."
"I won't, it's too cold." Adrian chewed as he spoke only because he knew it would annoy everyone at the table. "I have the immune system of a house rat."
"Clearly," Ms. Hale muttered.
"I'll send the tickets to you, Rowan. Make the most of it, work resumes in a couple weeks."
They kept talking like Adrian or his opinions didn't matter. He sat there, counting every bite of food so he didn't get carried away.
He only lifted his head when his phone dinged, it was a notification from his agent. He immediately froze, the result for his last audition must've come in.
He was about to click the test open when Ms. Hale spoke.
"It's rude to use your phone when you're with people. Keep it down, we're almost done."
Adrian fought really hard to keep himself from rolling his eyes. The good Lord knew he wouldn't be here if he wasn't trying to help Lily.
To think this was the family she would've been married to. She was too sweet and polite for these people, he couldn't imagine them treating her the same way they did.
Suddenly he felt Rowan's hand under the table, it hovered for a bit before resting on his thigh. Adrian froze and cast him a quick glance but Rowan was speaking to his father, his expression a cold mask. Betraying nothing he felt.
It was the problem he had with Rowan.
The man was always so uptight, always in control, and it pissed Adrian the hell off. He didn't know how someone could be a motionless statue.
Rowan's hand collapsed around his thigh, making Adrian freeze. What the hell was he trying to do?
Adrian tried to push Rowan's hand away, but it was too strong and he squeezed tight enough to make Adrian tense up.
"Addy here can assist Rowan with his work in the office, I mean they're officially a couple now," Ms. Evelyn said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm just really glad that our families are united now."
"It would've been better if Rowan had married the sweet little girl instead. You two managed to polish her up really well to high standards." Mr. Hale didn't hide his disapproval.
Adrian was about to reply when Rowan's hand on his thigh moved up, cutting off his train of thoughts. He looked at Rowan, alarmed. He was going to get him rock hard at this point.
He looked down at his crotch, Rowan's hand was progressively moving forward, making beads of sweat form at his temples.
This was the closest the two of them have ever been since knowing each other. Was Rowan's hand always this thick and calloused?
Rowan pressed the heel of his hand down on Adrian, and almost smiled when he heard Adrian's sharp intake of breath. He knew exactly what he was doing, keeping Adrian distracted enough to spare him the criticism his father was throwing his way.
The poor guy had acted like the words from the mob earlier didn't hurt him, but Rowan had noticed how he subtly flinched.
Even now, Rowan's family was tearing his background apart. The little distraction he was giving Adrian was a type of mercy.
The dinner finally came to an end.
"We'll be retiring now," Rowan said and finally removed his hand from under the table. "Thank you for dinner."
He grabbed Adrian's collar and pulled him up when the man didn't move.
"We'll be on our way."
It wasn't until they were outside and the buzz of the city around them brought Adrian out of his reverie.
"Hey! What the fuck was that?"
Rowan texted their driver to bring the car. "What was what?"
"You were groping me in there!" Adrian brought his voice down to a whisper. "Don't tell me you like me? Cause that would be fucking gross."
Rowan looked at him for half a second. "For once I agree with you."
"And was that about my wife? I'm a man!"
A small smile tugged at the corner of Rowan's mouth, moments like this made Adrian look like a kid throwing a tantrum.
"The car is here," was all he said before opening the car door for Adrian who refused to get in.
"I can get the door myself!"
"Elias is waiting for us at the hotel—"
Rowan was barely done when Adrian shot into the car. Elias was their agent, he'd even forgotten about his text. He opened it.
"I have good and bad news for you."
Elias for sure knew had to put someone in suspense. Adrian didn't even realize he was bouncing his leg up and down.
He was out of the car before it even stopped in front of the hotel.
"Slow down," Rowan cautioned when he got out of the car. "Elias is not running away."
They found Elias in the sitting area. He was a fat short man with round eyes that made Adrian often call him Humpty Dumpty.
"What's the news?" Adrian asked, already sitting across from him. "I want the good one first."
ELias glanced between the two who were still in their wedding suits. He had so many questions about the wedding but there were more important matters at hand.
"The last movie you both auditioned for. Crimson Oath."
Adrian nodded. "And?"
"You both got the main lead roles."
Adrian jumped up in excitement before he registered what Elias said. "Wait…the both of us? There can only be one top, that's the role we auditioned for."
Elias gulped. "The bad news. You're playing the couple, and Adrian—" their was guilt in his eyes. "You're the bottom."