Free Coda 05 -Paris a to Z by Marie Sexton

Angelo, youll be with Jon and Jared.” He grinned wickedly across the table at Ang. “Dont do anything I wouldnt do, doll.”
Angelo laughed, and Jared asked, “ Is there anything you wouldnt do?”
“Now, sweets, you know good and well theres at least one thing.” He turned to Matt. “And so, buttercup, I believe that leaves you with Zach and me. It will be nice for us to get to know each other better, wont it?” He batted his eyes innocently at Matt.
Matt shook his head, apparently torn between being amused and being embarrassed. He chuckled grudgingly.
Angelo elbowed Matt playfully in the ribs. “Maybe its not a matter of Cole havin too many partners,” he said to him. “Maybe its a matter of you havin too few.”
“That makes sense,” I said. “After all, if were averaging two each…”
“What an excellent point,” Cole said. “Theres only one solution. Somebody at this table is going to have to sleep with Matt.”
Jared burst out laughing, and everybody at the surrounding tables turned our way.
Angelo nodded, grinning mischievously at Matt. “Makes sense.”
“Jared,” Cole went on, “youre disqualified for obvious reasons. And I suppose I am as well, since its my promiscuity thats brought us to this embarrassing predicament in the first place.” He said this with a theatrical solemnity that had me fighting to keep a straight face. “I propose that the rest of you draw straws.”
Matt looked baffled, obviously confused as to how he had suddenly become some sort of carnival prize. His cheeks were slowly turning red. Jared made a valiant effort to stifle his laughter. Jon merely raised his eyebrows at Cole.
Angelo held up his hands, laughing. “Im gonna have to sit this one out. No offense,” he said, turning to Matt, “but youre not my type.”
Matts blush deepened. Cole looked at Angelo with a perfectly straight face and said, “And what if Zach wins?”
Angelo grinned wickedly. “I think Jared and I can entertain each other while theyre busy.”
“Wait a minute!” Matt growled at Angelo.
“It is only fair,” Cole said.
“Anyway,” Angelo said to Matt, “were doing this for you . You should be thankin us, right Jared?”
“Absolutely,” Jared said. Matt turned to Jared with a look that should have vaporized him in his chair, but it only caused Jared to burst out laughing again.
Angelo turned back to Cole. “Theres a flaw in your plan though, Cole, assumin your goal is to make us all even.”
The growing mischief in Angelos eyes was mirrored by the spark in Coles. They were having way too much fun together. “Youre so right, doll!” Cole said. “Jonny, youll obviously have to sleep with Matt too.”
“Exactly,” Angelo said.
“And why is that?” Jon asked. He wasnt as amused by the conversation as Jared, Cole, and Angelo, but he wasnt bothered by it either.
“Its the only solution, love.”
“Right,” Angelo said. “Then well all be tied at three.” He turned to Matt, who was sitting red-faced and silent next to him. “Will you feel better once were all even?”
Jared was completely gone now, holding his stomach and laughing so hard that tears were running down his face. Matt turned on him and snapped, “Its not funny,” which only made Jared laugh harder.
“Any of you guys strict about top or bottom?” Angelo asked. “Cause if so, youll screw it all up—”
“Literally,” Cole said.
“And well have to start over.” Angelo turned to Matt. “If you got a strong preference you better say so now.”
“ Lay it all out , so to speak,” Cole said.
“On the table,” Angelo said.
“For all to see.”
“Zach does like to watch,” Angelo said, winking at me, and I was relieved that with the direction the conversation was going, nobody took him seriously.
“Then its settled!” Cole said. “Whos going where with whom first? Zach, I think youre up.” He winked at me. “Or you soon will be.”
“Oh dear God,” Matt moaned, hanging his head. “I knew I shouldnt