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Lou waited.

Even as their high school friends bantered about their vernal youth and sundry years following.

Even as the servers presented appetising Italian cuisines, from pizza margherita to puréed lamb.

Even as Alex tried convincing his friend to “go home,” noting the growing frustration in his physiognomy.

Lou waited. His rumination on the coquetry between Debbie and Tristian. Her coy giggles at his every word. His subtle touches along her unveiled, svelte arm. And who could let pass without notice her candescent, jubilant smiles and flushing on her mellow apricot skin. Granting her an appearance of which the employees at the office would stare, jaw slackened, if not fallen, with bewilderment.

Envy obstructed Lou.

Languished him.

But what could he do but watch?

Alex nudged his best friend once more, jumping himself when Lou at long last acknowledged him.

“Bro, I think we gotta go. I’ve never seen you like this.”

Lou’s eyes widened, though he glanced away, assuaging his discomfiture, before returning his attention to Alex after a few seconds.

“I’m good, bro.”

Alex prepared to speak more before the lights in the room dimmed.

“I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves tonight. At this time, we will draw the raffle,” said Tristian.

The billionaire’s assistants walked over with a sophisticated rack rotating several hundred tickets. He smiled while pressing a few buttons on the tech, which caused it to spin rapidly before sprouting a singular paper through a narrow depression and up the top-loading slit. Lou sat up, looking straight ahead while Tristian collected the parchment, issuing a dramatic pause before calling out the raffle numbers. Each enunciation suffusing clamoured disappointment or casual acceptance.

All except for one table.

“Holy shit! You won!” Alex cried aloud, his iron grip shaking Lou back and forth.

Leaving aside a few disgruntled opposers, the room applauded the men. Tristian’s prior twinkle ebbed, replaced with a manufactured acceptance as he called Lou onto the stage. Lou’s bravado returned as he swaggered through the room, taking his place next to Tristian. The billionaire gave a half-hearted nod before gesturing him towards the audience.

“Congratulations Lou. You won our raffle. How does it feel to be $40,000 richer?”

“Fucking great TC,” said Lou with a broad smirk, putting his broad arms around Tristian’s shoulders, “especially since you’re the one giving it to me.”

Tristian cringed, more so due to titters at Lou’s comment. He maintained a faux comfort.

“Great. As you know, because I’m so sure you were listening, our bodies are considered inappropriate reflections of our value. Big or small. Black or white. We’re fundamentally the same. But demonstrating such requires more than a quick bite at our old town’s gym.”

The audience chuckled while Tristian presented a flat glittered and gold foiled invitation to Lou.

“On account of this, I’m hosting an all-expense 7-Night Caribbean retreat where we will hold discourse regarding our efforts towards promoting body acceptance. One for which you are welcomed as the winner of our raffle.”

“You allow plus ones, TC?! The more, the merrier!” Alex cried out from his table.

Tristian grimace. All the greater at Lou’s amusement and stronger grip on his shoulder.

“How else to promote that varied discussion, right? You know, the one I listened to?”

The audience laughed once more. Tristian gave a curt nod.

The banquet continued for another half hour before people started cleaning. With his arms behind his head, Alex placed both his feet atop their table as he pushed his chair back along a wall.

“Not only did we get some pocket change, we got a free vacation.”

“Yeah...” spoke Lou, playing on his phone.

Alex rolled his eyes, waving his foot before his friend, who smacked it away. After an abrupt pause, the two began laughing.

“Not gonna lie. I don’t really care. Don’t do cruises.”

Another detriment as a consequence of his size. A prosthetic and shorts as the only impediments to humiliating exposure. And since water always loosened his prosthetic, he rather concerned himself with drier escapades. Debbie and Tristian ambled by the two men, only pausing once Alex snapped his fingers.

“You got that plus one invite, TC? My bro and I are not planning to be turned away.”

Tristian rolled his eyes, glancing at Debbie, who nodded and placed her invitation on the table.

“Why do you have one?” questioned Lou.

Debbie’s attention flicked upwards.

“Tristian invited me. I’ll be his plus one.”

Lou gave a pinched smile.

“Cool...”

Initially, he had no plans to go. Give Alex a last-minute excuse. But now...?

No way he could get his surgery before the cruise. He would lose any chance of winning Debbie’s attraction if he did not attend.

“Ready?” questioned Alex.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

As the two men prepared themselves, Lou loosened his posture. There was more to “water, beach, pool” on the boat. And he could hold off on any intimacy.

Women liked that.

Right?

Maybe he was overthinking it.