Fic: I'll Be Waiting | Part 9 of 10
Title: I’ll Be Waiting
Rating: NC-17
Links to other parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
**
Dlisted.com
Lambert Lameness Lands in NYC
Adam Lambert is in New York doing interviews for his latest movie. He was caught being all grim-faced and annoyed at the cameras in his face. He’s got a killer smile, would it kill him to show us once in a while? Or maybe he’s still “in character” to give his performance a boost.
TMZ.com
Where is the Love Adam Lambert?
Our cameras caught up with Adam Lambert at JFK early this morning-way too early-which might explain his “eaten something sour” face. He was definitely not amused as he jumped into the waiting SUV. We’re told he’s in town to promote his latest film, Not Today, Not Tomorrow. Maybe that’ll be his new sound-bite for us if we could get him to talk. But, then again, seeing that he probably didn’t get his beauty sleep on the red-eye flight, who could blame him?
PerezHilton.com
La Lambert in New York City
La Lambert has been in New York all week for a promotional tour to pimp out his new movie, but sources say that he’s been misbehaving. Not shocking, we know. He’s been holed up in his hotel room, barely speaking with staff and driving people around him crazy. We also hear that he’s been acting sullen and moody. Hmm, is he missing something or someone in LA? Something to ponder.
**
“Well,” Cale said as he looked around the apartment. “This feels like déjà vu.”
“Har-har,” Kris said as he headed into the kitchen. He mumbled, “Jeez, ask a buddy to help you move once and you get shit for it…” He called out, “You want a beer?”
“Dude, really?”
Kris laughed, “Just checking. Pizza’s on its way.”
“Free beer and pizza as my payment, huh? Well, I guess when you’re ready to actually upgrade and buy a place, I’ll be your realtor of record and the commission will make up for the pain and suffering,” Cale said smugly.
“Nice to see our friendship hasn’t colored your quest to be a money-grubbing jackass.”
“Yeah, well,” Cale replied. “Dating in LA is a little hard on the wallet.”
“How’s that going anyway?” Kris asked handing him a beer.
“It’s going,” Cale answered. “What about you?”
“Why are you changing the subject?”
“I’m not changing the subject,” Cale whined. At Kris’s look, “Jeez, okay, fine. It’s a little weird, not like Dallas.”
“Weird how?”
“Like I need to explain that to you,” Cale snorted. “At least you’re dating a real actor instead of a wannabe.”
“Not dating.” Kris paused, “So, all the girls you’ve gone out with want to be actors?”
“Or models.”
“Where are you meeting these women?”
“A few set-ups from the guys at work, but obviously nothing’s happened; which is why I want to know what’s going on with you and your exciting life.”
Kris laughed, “Pizza’s here.” He got up to answer the door.
“Speaking of nothing happening,” Cale hedged as he put his beer down, “What’s going on with Lambert?”
“He’s in New York.”
“I didn’t ask where he was, I asked what was happening between you two.”
Kris sighed, “Things are just…I don’t know. It’s good…I think.”
“You think? That’s it?”
“What more do you want?” Kris demanded as he opened the pizza boxes. “Let’s eat.”
“No, seriously, Kris,” Cale asked with his mouth full. “You’re not going to tell me?”
“Nothing to tell, seriously,” Kris said wiping.
“Weren’t you supposed to meet up or something?”
“Or something,” Kris mumbled.
“Dude, don’t make me call Mama Allen to find out.”
Kris laughed, “Really? That’s your threat? Go ahead, she doesn’t know anything.”
“Damn, either she’s losing her touch or there really is nothing going on.”
Taking a bite, Kris grinned, “Told ya.”
**
People.com
Star Sightings: Not Today, Not Tomorrow Stars Surprise Film Students
Co-stars Adam Lambert and Nury Lavendar surprised aspiring film students at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts yesterday afternoon. In town to promote their film, Lambert and Lavendar took time out of their hectic schedule to sit down for a 30-minute Q&A session. Afterwards, they handed out movie theater gift cards.
JustJared.com
Lambert Takes Manhattan
Adam Lambert jumped into the crowd of fans waiting for him outside the Late Night with David Letterman studio last night. In town to promote his upcoming film Not Today, Not Tomorrow, the star signed autographs and took pictures with hundreds of Glamberts who had camped out to see their favorite actor.
USAToday.com
Lifeline: Lambert and Lavendar Create Fan Frenzy
Adam Lambert and Nury Lavendar, stars of the upcoming film Not Today, Not Tomorrow, were spotted all around Manhattan promoting the movie. From blocking streets for photo shoots to buying patrons coffee in the Starbucks down the street, the two actors caused a frenzy wherever they appeared, and the citizens of Gotham were more than happy to let them take over.
**
Kris frowned as he checked his phone, tempted to not answer since he didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello?” Kris said hesitantly.
“Hey puppy,” Brad’s voice came through the phone. “So, I have an idea that would be totally awesome and amazing. I don’t know what…”
“Brad, how’d you get my number?” Kris interrupted.
“Oh, puppy, I make it my business to know information like this,” Brad said haughtily. “Anyhow, back to me and my idea. Adam is scheduled to fly back tonight, a little bit after midnight instead of tomorrow afternoon as originally planned.”
“Um, okay.”
“Let me finish, puppy,” Brad scolded. “Someone, perhaps me, leaked his flight information to the leeches, so they’ll be expecting him tomorrow. I feel, maybe, slightly bad for his crazy fans, but there was no other way. Unfortunately, my little car can’t hold his suitcase and him, plus, I’ll probably be a little drunk tonight since I have a date with a hot little number that I kind of like, so I don’t think I’d be the best person to pick him up, you know?”
Kris blew out a breath, “What’s your point, Brad. I do have a meeting to get to in an hour.”
“Rawr, puppy, rawr,” Brad laughed. “My point is, I think you should pick him up from the airport. I know it’s a school night, and you’ve got homework and have to catch enough zzzz’s, a growing boy needs his beauty sleep, but I think Adam would appreciate it.”
“Uh, didn’t Tatiana arrange a car to pick him up?”
“The paps know his car service and which drivers he prefers, shit even the stalker fans do, so if they get wind of any of them heading to LAX, they’ll know he’ll be coming in tonight.” Brad paused. “If you don’t want to…”
“It’s not that,” Kris said. “I…I…well, is there anything special or covert I have to do? I mean, I have no problem picking him up, but do I have to worry about paparazzi or fans? What about his luggage? Do I just swing by the curb like people normally do or park and wait?”
Brad squealed out loud, “Oh, you are just too cute.” Kris rolled his eyes and waited for Brad to catch his breath. “Puppy, he’s a normal person. If you want to park and wait for him at baggage claim, that’s your prerogative, but normally he’ll grab his bags and jump into your car if that’s what you want him to do. I just need to let him know.”
“Fine, I’ll pick him up. Text me his flight information?”
“Of course. So jump into your rolling car or will you be parking and waiting?”
“He’ll have to jump into the car.”
“Oooh, this should be fun,” Brad mused. “I don’t think he’s done that in a while. Okay, I’ll let him know.”
“Brad, I said I would park and wait…”
“It’s funnier this way, puppy! Text is on its way! Toodles and kisses.”
“Uh, okay…” Kris said but realized the call was already disconnected.
Not understanding, but not questioning his instincts, Kris quickly checked his schedule. Nothing terribly important that couldn’t wait. He quickly sent out emails to reschedule the few conference calls and meetings, then left the office so he could tell Robert and Joyce and HR that he’d be taking a couple of personal days.
**
Appreciate you picking me up tonight. Was supposed to be a surprise
Still is a surprise :)
Will text when I land. Meet you curbside
Have a good flight
I’ll be the tall, dark and handsome one in sunglasses ;p
LOL I’ll try not to confuse you with the other tall, dark and handsome ones trying to jump into my car
>:(
;p
I’ll be waiting
Grateful that no one in the office gave him grief about the sudden time-off, Kris got through the rest of the day, even though it was a giant blur. He tried to settle his nerves-though why he had nerves in the first place he didn’t know and didn’t want to think about it-by making himself a small dinner, talking to his mom and taking a little nap.
His phone beeped, shocking him awake. The living room was dark, the night sky black through the windows, with the screen of the television providing the only flicker of light in the room. Reaching out blindly to grab his phone and turn it off, Kris splayed his hands until his fingers hit the flat surface of his coffee table and gripped the phone. He squinted as he checked the time…10:22…and saw that he had a few text messages and voicemails.
Kris put the phone back down and put his forearm over his eyes. He had another two hours before he had to leave for the airport. Stretching out his arms, he twisted his body, working out the kinks from falling asleep on the couch. It was dumb to not set an alarm, but then he hadn’t planned on falling asleep for a couple of hours. And, how he slept through the phone ringing was beyond him. He sat up and scratched his head, then reached over to check his phone again.
Two text messages from Brad: His flight is on time, so don’t be late, followed by You’re a peach for picking him up, he’s a ~wee bit cranky, just FYI
One from Cale: Scored box tix to Dodgers game from client for Saturday. Y/MFY? Pick you up at 5
Rubbing his eyes with his fingertips, he yawned and stretched out his limbs again. As he patted his stomach, he realized he still had on his work clothes. He started to unbutton his shirt and left a trail of clothes as he entered the bathroom. After a hot shower, he wiped the fogged up mirror and stared at himself, trying to figure out what it was about him that caught Adam’s eye. After having met Brad, and despite telling himself not to, had searched out photos of Adam’s other boyfriends, even the ones of his most recent fling.
He knew what he saw in Adam, despite what the tabloids said. It wasn’t just the looks, though, hell, who didn’t appreciate that, but what Adam was like as a person. Through the arduous movie process, Kris was able to see the private side of Adam, what his public persona only alluded to. And it was this part, if he was honest with himself, that made him fall for Adam.
Whether this would work or break his heart, whether he was just a passing fancy for Adam or if this was a legitimate start to a relationship, Kris knew he’d have to take the chance. He’d bear with the good, the bad and the paparazzi to see how it would go. Nodding at himself with the decision, he took the towel and started to dry his hair. His eye twitched, and he squeezed it tight, tears leaking from his right eye.
“Dammit.” He reached up to take out his contacts. “Ugh,” he groaned. No point in suffering through the pain and watery eyes. Placing the case and solution away, he muttered, “Great. I guess that’s what I get for being vain.”
**
As the plane descended into Los Angeles, Adam stared out the window at the red taillights and yellow headlights of the cars on the 405. He glanced quickly at the pastel LED columns at the entrance of LAX as the plane taxied onto the runway, the landing only slightly bumpy. He pulled out his phone and powered it up as he loosened his seatbelt. The flight attendants came by handing out coats and jackets from the closet to the passengers in the first class cabin. He smiled in thanks as he quickly sent out a text to Kris.
Just landed, still on runway
On my way. See you in a bit came the reply not a minute later.
And just like that, Adam was nervous as fuck.
He didn’t know whether to kill Brad or kiss him for this. When he had called Tatiana to tell her about his schedule change, he didn’t realize Brad was in the house. He bullied her into putting Adam on speaker phone and took over from there. Yes, he would love for someone to pick him up, but it was a late flight and he didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, but Brad volunteered. Adam really should have known better. And, this morning, he knew why.
“Sweets, I forgot I had plans that I can’t get out of, so I won’t be able to pick you up.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Adam replied. “I’ll have Tatiana arrange a car for me.”
“Oh, sweets,” Brad cooed. “Why would you do that? I already made arrangements for you, so you have nothing to worry about.”
“What are you talking about Brad?”
“Kris will be there to get ya. I just sent him your flight info, and it’s going to be a curbside pick-up. No royal treatment for you from him,” Brad laughed. “I think I’m a little in love with him and his snarkiness.”
“Brad.”
“Oh, sorry sweets,” Brad laughed. “He’s all yours. Like I was saying, he’ll be getting you tonight, okay?”
“He…he actually agreed to it?”
“Of course!”
Though Adam didn’t get a chance to talk with Kris on the phone while he was in New York, he realized he missed him like crazy. The few texts they did exchange kept him going, making him laugh at the right times, keeping him sane throughout the whirlwind week. Adam couldn’t remember the last time he missed anyone like this; had never thought twice about leaving his boyfriends for weeks or months at a time to go on location or do promotional junkets. Even Brad, the love of his life, he didn’t miss as much as he did Kris.
Somehow, Kris made him want to go home. And stay home.
He quickly grabbed his backpack from the overhead bin, strapped his jacket in between the straps and took long, purposeful strides down the jetway and into the terminal. It was eerie, the lack of people hustling about trying to get to their gates, the cleaning crew running vacuums on the floor, shops closed up tight. He hoped the lack of flights and complaining passengers meant that his luggage would come out promptly.
Approaching the baggage claim area, his fingers twitched as he debated pulling his sunglasses out. He trusted Brad’s plan, but old habits died hard; and the paparazzi, and even worse, his fans, were relentless. Compromising with himself, he pulled out the sunglasses, but hooked them into the collar of his shirt, just in case.
The baggage claim area was fairly empty, only people from his flight slowly filtering in. He stalked the conveyer belt, waiting impatiently for his bag. As soon as he saw his suitcase, he nearly jumped on it, banging his shin on the metal. Grabbing the handle, he yanked it off, tripping over it as it wobbled. Thanking the gods that there were no cameras around…at least not that he could see, fucking camera phones. Graceful right now, he was not.
He hitched his backpack up, clutched the handle of his suitcase and headed outside. Right as he got to the curb, his back pocket buzzed.
Coming around the corner. Waiting for your luggage?
Adam grinned and typed in quickly: Outside with everything. Tall, dark and handsome in case you forgot
LOL. I see you
Adam looked up and smiled when Kris flashed his high-beams at him. The hazard lights blinked on as Kris pulled up to the curb. At the sound of the trunk popping open, Adam hefted his suitcase into it as Kris walked to the back of the car. Together they closed it with a thunk.
“You ready?” Kris asked as he quickly ducked back into the driver’s seat.
Adam frowned, “Yeah…” He opened the passenger door and sat down. Buckling his seat belt, he turned to face Kris, finally being able to look at him. “You…you’re wearing your glasses.”
Kris turned his head to pull away from the curb and concentrated on getting out of the airport. Adam took the few moments to stare at his face which was alternately hidden by shadows and lit by the passing streetlights.
“Uh, yeah. Something messed up my eye earlier, so had to take out my contacts,” Kris finally answered. “Sorry, I hate driving around the airport with all the busses and vans.”
“It’s okay. You really didn’t have to do this.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay,” Kris said shaking his head. “I’m still getting used to LA traffic in general and the way people drive in the loop at LAX kinda freaks me out.”
Adam smiled, “Thanks anyway.”
“So, um, did you get any sleep on the plane?”
“Just little snatches of sleep here and there,” Adam answered. He leaned his head back against the seat, “I can’t really sleep on planes.”
“First class not comfortable enough for you?” Kris ribbed.
“Funny. You think you’re so funny.”
“Hey,” Kris said in a mock-hurt voice. “Someone has to think I’m funny, might as well be me.”
Adam grinned.
“So my pops said that the week went well despite the little confusion at the beginning of it.”
“Little confusion?” Adam laughed. “I guess one could call it that. But, yeah, overall, it was good. Just glad to be home.” And, looking at Kris’s face, Adam realized he really meant it.
“You don’t like New York?”
“Oh, I do,” Adam sighed. “It was just a little draining this time around, a lot of work and running around and not enough time to just enjoy the restaurants and nightlife.”
“Ah,” Kris nodded. “Well, we’ll get you home and you can sleep and rest up.”
“Mmm, yeah.”
**
Kris quietly hummed along with the music as he drove. Adam had fallen asleep as soon as they got onto the freeway, so he drove in comfortable silence with his Keane CD keeping him company. The security guard opened the gate as soon as Kris drove up, which confused him, but figured Brad had given him a head’s up.
Adam startled awake as Kris turned the engine off. “I totally fell asleep on you.”
Kris watched fascinated as Adam rubbed the back of his neck, “It’s okay, you’re tired.”
“No, I generally don’t sleep like that on planes, cars or anything,” Adam said, confusion coloring his voice.
“Luxury car with soft leather seats and being hella tired will do that to you,” Kris chuckled softly. “Come on,” he said opening his door. “Let’s get you inside so you can crash.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Kris pulled the suitcase and backpack from trunk, not letting Adam help him. He glared at him, “Just open the door.”
His eyes greedily followed Adam’s form as he walked up to the door. Dragging the suitcase behind him, he looked down just in time as Adam switched on the light and helped him get it inside. Adam set it off to the side and took the backpack and jacket from Kris’s arm.
“Hey, come on in.”
“I should go and let you get some rest,” Kris hedged as he reached back for the door.
Adam reached out and grabbed his hand, “A few minutes? Now that I’m home, I probably won’t be able to fall asleep for a bit.”
“Are you sure?”
“At least have some tea with me,” Adam cajoled. “I know you have to work tomorrow and it’s late, but…”
“I don’t…”
“Please?”
Kris nodded and let Adam draw him into the house, their hands still clasped. He had no desire to let go.
Adam pulled them into the kitchen and pushed Kris onto a stool at the counter, “Sit. I’ll get the tea started. Honey? Cream?”
“Just a little bit of honey.”
“Okay,” Adam smiled.
Kris watched as Adam fussed around the kitchen, filling up the kettle with water, grabbing mugs from the cabinet, taking a spoonful of loose tea from a jar. It was all so mundane, yet fascinating watching this man do something so domestic.
“Were you really going to cook?” Kris asked, breaking the silence.
Adam snorted softly, “Why does everyone question that?”
“I don’t know,” Kris answered. “Just can’t picture it.”
“Truth?” Adam inquired as he leaned against the sink, hands on the edge behind him. Kris nodded. “Tatiana had me do a practice run the day you canceled, which in hindsight, was a great idea, but don’t tell her I said that.”
Kris laughed, “Won’t say a word.”
“I’ve cooked, but not cooked, you know? But, it turned out pretty well, and Tatiana survived and is alive to tell me about it, so I call it a success.”
“Did she volunteer or did you volunteer her for this experiment?”
Adam scowled, and Kris found it adorable. “She volunteered.”
“Just checking.”
“I’m not a barbarian,” Adam pouted.
“Never said you were.”
The whistle of the kettle interrupted them, and again Kris watched Adam efficiently put the tea together from the press to the honey. He bent down and Kris turned away, telling himself to not look at Adam’s ass or the way his shirt pulled up to reveal the skin of his back. He pulled out a tray and carefully placed the tea presses, mugs, honey and spoons onto it.
“Come on,” Adam said, holding the tray close to his body.
“We can just have tea here, no?”
“No, I want to sprawl on my couch. Den, let’s go.”
Kris huffed out a laugh, “Fine.”
They sat on opposite ends of the couch and sipped their tea while Adam regaled him with stories of his New York trip. Kris shook his head as he listened to the insane schedule and wondered to himself how Adam wasn’t passed out at this very moment.
“See? You’ve got to be exhausted,” Kris stated. He put his mug down onto the tray. “How can you not be? I’m tired just listening to that schedule.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“And, that was just one week and a partial promotional junket?”
Adam finished his tea and set down his mug, “Yeah. Had the LA junket, what, two months ago, at the Beverly Hilton. That was just two days, but it was local, so not as bad. The photo shoots were spread out, which made things a lot easier. With a bigger film comes a bigger budget, which means the main cast would be prancing all around the world for junkets and premieres.” He fell back into the corner of the couch, “And if there’s a film festival that happens to overlap, we’d have to incorporate that into it, go to those events and parties.”
“Wow.”
“It can be fun.”
“Are you still having fun?”
Kris watched as Adam thought about it. He wasn’t expecting an answer, and if an answer came, that it would be an unequivocal yes.
“Yes and no,” Adam admitted. “For something like this, yes. I don’t know if I could do a large film anymore though. A year out of my life, you know? From filming to promotion…maybe once in a while, but not anytime soon. I’m enjoying my time off, which I didn’t think I would.”
“So next on the list is the premiere for this thing and then you’re done, right?”
“Yeah,” Adam smiled. He pointed to a stack of scripts on the table sitting on the corner behind the tray. “I need to pick a project before my agents go insane, thereby drive me insane.”
“Anything interesting?”
Adam sat up to grab the script at the top. “This one,” he said flipping the pages. “It’s actually another one your dad’s studio is producing.” He glanced up shyly from the script to Kris. “That won’t be weird will it?”
“Why would it?”
Adam shrugged and slowly turned the pages again. Kris chuckled as Adam tried to hide a yawn. “You should go to bed.”
“I want you to read this and tell me what you think first,” Adam said holding out the script.
“Then, you’ll go to bed?” Kris asked as he took it.
Nodding, Adam got up from the couch and stretched his arms over his head. “I’m going to jump into the shower to take this airplane stink off me while you read. You tell me what you think.”
“You should shower and go to sleep, while I take this home to read. I can tell you what I think another time.”
“No,” Adam argued. “Won’t work, I have a conference call with my agents in the afternoon, so I need to give them an answer. Just the synopsis and the first few pages. I’ll be quick.”
“Fine. Go, then.”
Kris held onto the script as he watched Adam hurry out of the room. Shaking his head, Kris flipped through the pages. He read the synopsis and recalled his father talking about it. He read through the pages until his eyes started to close, his head nodding back. Yawning, he took off his glasses and set them down on the side table and put the script down. He’d just close his eyes for a bit until Adam came back down.
**
Adam slipped a worn t-shirt over his head as he padded barefoot down the stairs. He barely glanced at his suitcase he normally would have been unpacking, but he continued on to the den, where he found Kris asleep, mouth slightly agape, head resting on his arm. Biting his lip, he reached for the blanket, but changed his mind as his fingers touched the fleece.
He touched Kris’s shoulder, shaking him awake. “Come on Kris,” he said softly. “Let’s go to bed.”
“S’eepy,” Kris mumbled as he shifted his body.
“I know, baby, but you’re going to be hurting in the morning. Comfy bed upstairs,” Adam cajoled. “Fluffy pillows, warm blankets.”
“Mmmmm.”
He got Kris up off the couch and grunted as his sleepy body weighed down on him, “Work with me here, sleepyhead.”
Adam made his way up the stairs, half dragging Kris down the hall, past the guest room to his own. He was completely winded, breath coming out unevenly after he got Kris onto the bed, and took a few seconds to catch his breath. Taking Kris’s foot in his hand, he slipped off the black Converse sneaker, then removed the other one. He reached up to Kris’s waist, hands shaking as he unbuckled the belt and slipped it through the loops of his jeans. Balling his hands to keep himself from reaching down further, he took another breath and pulled Kris’s white shirt down where it got pushed up.
Pulling the comforter down and fixing the pillows, Adam rolled Kris over until he nearly rolled off the bed. “Whoa, whoa,” Adam panicked, grabbing Kris’s hip. He carefully lifted Kris’s head to place a pillow under it. He held his breath as Kris turned and mumbled, fixing the pillow under his head and adjusting his body until he lay on his stomach, arms wrapped around the pillow. Adam sat on the bed and finally listened to his brain; his hand reached out and slid down the curve of Kris’s back. Slowly, he moved his hand back up, gliding over the softness of the t-shirt and over his spine and shoulder.
Adam closed his eyes and covered Kris with the corner of the comforter and slid in next to him. He lay down on his side and took the time to study Kris’s face, the features from his cute nose and long, dark lashes to his mouth and the lower lip that always looked like it was swollen with kisses. Squishing his pillow, Adam threw his arm around Kris’s body, drawing him in close, and closed his eyes.
“Adam!” Tatiana’s shout ricocheted around the house.
Groaning at the sound, Adam burrowed into his bed wrapping the comforter around him as he rolled into…a warm body? Adam’s eyes flew open and he threw the comforter off him as he came face to face with Kris, whose widened eyes expressed the same shock.
“Oh, uh hey,” Adam stuttered out.
“Hey.”
Adam smiled bashfully, “Did…did you sleep okay?”
Kris’s mouth opened, then closed as it looked like he was trying to figure out what to say. Eventually he nodded, “Yeah, I did. Out like a light, I guess, huh?”
Adam watched as the emotions flew across Kris’s face-shock, confusion, uncertainty, embarrassment-as he tried to subtlety check out his state of dress, his jeans and shirt wrinkled from sleep. Adam quirked his lips, “You fell asleep and looked too cute, I couldn’t bear to wake you up and have you drive home. So I brought you up here, uh, I...”
“Adam! I swear to God! Answer me so I know you’re alive! Don’t make me come up there! I don’t care if you’re butt naked!” Tatiana shouted again.
Sitting up and running his hands through his hair, giving the already unruly bed-head a boost, he yelled out, “Do you get a perverse joy in waking my tired ass up?”
“Yes!” came the reply. “You’re alive. That’s all I needed to know.” A wicked cackle traveled up the house.
“I have a guest over! You shouting like hellhounds are after you is a little silly!”
“Don’t care!” Tatiana shouted back.
He groaned, “God, she’s an evil little thing sometimes.”
At Kris’s amused laugh, Adam turned to him. “It’s not funny.”
In reply, Kris yawned, “It sorta is.” He sat up and scratched his belly, giving Adam a little peek at tan skin. Adam groaned again and fell onto his back.
“Um,” Kris paused. “This is a bit awkward, no?”
Adam put his forearm over his eyes, “A bit? No. A lot awkward, yes.”
He froze at Kris’s touch on his arm, “It was sweet of you to drag me up here like a caveman so I could sleep comfortably and not end up with a messed up back when I finally got up.”
Adam lowered his arm, pulled the comforter up a bit before shifting his body. If Kris kept touching him, he wouldn’t be responsible for what he might do to mess up Kris’s back.
“Do you know what time it is?” Kris asked, looking around.
“Since Tati’s here and screaming at me, probably around 10,” Adam said, then stopped. “Shit, you have to go to work! I knew I should have set an alarm or something for you.” He rolled over onto his stomach and mumbled into the pillow, “I’m so sorry.”
The warm hand on his shoulder relaxed him. “Don’t worry about it,” Kris was saying. “I, uh, I took the day off.” He spoke quickly, “Figured I’d be tired and not functioning, and you know, in case your flight was delayed or something, not knowing how late I’d be out. And, my boss was on me to take a day off anyway, so…”
Adam peeked up, half his face still squished into the pillow, “You’re too cute.” He didn’t want to, tempted by Kris’s hand rubbing small circles on his shoulder, but he turned onto his side. “Okay, plan. I have an extra toothbrush in the guest bathroom, towels and all that if you want to jump into the shower. You’ll borrow a new t-shirt, and we’ll face my demon assistant downstairs.” As Adam thought through his idea and said it out loud, he got excited and sat up. “We’ll have some coffee while I go over my schedule with Tati. And, while I’m taking care of that shit, you can go change, and then we’ll meet up for lunch or something and hang out?” He paused for a breath, “Oh, um, if that’s okay with you.”
“I’d like that,” Kris said with a smile.
**
EW.com
The Evolution of Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert is beat and looks worn out. The sun has set, and we’re sitting in his suite surrounded by clothes and a table of food, which he hasn’t touched. Well, I’m sitting while he’s sprawled out on the couch, taking a brief break from his crazy promotional schedule for the summer anti-blockbuster flick Not Today, Not Tomorrow, directed by Anoop Desai. We get into the ins and out of the film, what made him want to tackle the roll, his thoughts about the tabloids and his rabid fans, as well as his thoughts on love and life as a gay man in Hollywood. What’s next for this Hollywood star who seems to be everywhere, but is elusively private at the same time? Read our exclusive interview on EW.com tomorrow.
RadarOnline.com
Since When Does Adam Lambert Sing?
A little birdy told us that actor Adam Lambert is also taking a stab at singing. The Not Today, Not Tomorrow star was in the recording studio doing a cover of the 30 Seconds to Mars song “Was it a Dream?”, and now the song will be featured in his movie and on the soundtrack, under a pseudonym. Though his reps didn’t return our calls for confirmation, we heard a snippet of it. We gotta say, if that really is him singing, we’re fans. Color us shocked.
**
All day long, Kris was feeling antsy and there was no rhyme or reason behind it. He didn’t have a meeting he needed to be at or an event to put together. Work was going well, his parents were fine, Cale was happily dating a sweet woman who was a nurse and had no Hollywood aspirations, so there was nothing to explain why he was feeling the way his was feeling. The last couple weeks had flown by with Kris in a haze of happiness and contentment.
Kris laughed as he thought back to a few night ago when Adam had attempted to make coq au vin. There was mess of chopped vegetables all over the counter, flour and butter in thick chunks around the cast iron pan, tomato paste-smeared utensils hanging on tenaciously onto the edge of the stove, and Adam in the center of it, with a half-empty bottle of Pinot Noir in his hand. They ended up ordering take-out Chinese.
The evening security guard, Kevin, waved Kris through as he pulled up to the house. Kris smiled at him and shouted out a hello before he parked his car in the space next to the garage. He frowned at the unfamiliar car in the driveway. Making his way around to the back door, Kris saw Adam talking to a pretty blond man through the kitchen window. His heart hitched as the two of the laughed and Adam leaned into him, forehead on the shoulder while the man petted Adam’s head.
Adam straightened up and caught Kris standing. His smile turned into a beam of happiness as he came around the corner to open the French doors of the kitchen. “There you are!” he laughed as he wrapped his arms around Kris. “Did you get stuck in traffic? I haven’t been outside all day, but Tatiana traffic-dialed me and was bitching for a good half an hour and I think she moved, like two blocks.”
Kris welcomed Adam’s tight hug, his body relaxing against Adam’s warm, welcoming embrace. He didn’t know how long they stood out there hugging each other, Adam chattering in his ear.
Adam finally pulled away and grabbed Kris’s hand, “Come on. I want you to meet someone.”
Bracing himself, Kris allowed Adam to pull him into the kitchen as Adam stepped behind him and placed Kris in front of the pretty, blond stranger.
“Tommy, this is Kris,” Adam said. He moved closer to Kris, removing any semblance of personal space between them and moved his arm to hug his stomach. “Kris, this is my good friend Tommy.”
“Hey, man,” Tommy grinned. “Nice to finally meet you in person,” he said and pointed his chin up, “This one’s been talking about you forever, but figured you didn’t actually exist since he’s been keeping you a big secret.”
“Have not,” Adam replied.
Kris laughed because he could feel Adam’s pout over his head. “Hey, Tommy,” Kris said, reaching out to shake the man’s hand. “Good to meet you, too. Uh, you look familiar.”
Tommy rolled his eyes, “Oh, that’s probably because you’ve seen my picture splashed all over the fucking tabloids, drunk off my ass, hanging all over Adam as we left club after club.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Adam said.
“Yeah? Tell that to the guys in my band, my family and girlfriend,” Tommy laughed. “You owe me so bad, that I think even your grandkids will be in debt.”
“Whatever,” Adam retorted. “You and the band have been playing sold out shows for the last three months, and there are so many skanky groupies hanging around all of you that I think I’d get an STD just being in the same room as the rest of the band.”
“Says the tabloid’s favorite bad boy,” Tommy said sticking out his tongue. “So, Kris, what’s your deal?”
“My deal?” Kris stuttered. He tried to turn and look at Adam, but he held him close, back pasted to Adam’s chest.
“Yeah, Adam has been weirdly quiet about you. Been keeping you under wraps, which is weird for him, considering how much he likes to talk. None of us know shit about you, man.”
Kris covered Adam’s arm as it tightened around his waist, “Uh, not much to tell. I work at a non-profit, and uh, I like sports.”
“Oh, that’s right. Saw you at the fundraiser downtown,” Tommy nodded, remembering the night. “That was the night this one was too chickenshit to go up to you and introduce you to us.”
“Shut up,” Adam growled.
“Sports, huh?” Tommy laughed, then turned to Adam, “How’s that working out for you?”
Adam kissed Kris’s temple and released him, “Boys in tight pants or shorts, I’m okay with that.”
Tommy laughed as Kris rolled his eyes, “He leaves the room or puts on his headphones, right?”
“Yeah,” Kris answered. He leaned against the counter and watched Adam start mixing something in a giant pot on the stove. “How long have you known Adam,” he asked Tommy.
Tommy took a sip from his beer before answering, “For a few years now. Met him through some mutual friends at one of my gigs. He thought he was cool, I thought I was hot shit. You know, the usual.”
“You play?”
“Yeah, bass and synthesizer.”
“Cool.”
“You should come to our gig next weekend,” Tommy said. He eyed Kris, “But, uh, don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t know if it’ll be your type of music.”
Chuckling, Kris shook his head, “It’s okay, I get that all the time. But, no, I love all kinds of music, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.”
“Cool.”
“Are you two done with the flirting because the stew is done.”
Tommy stood up and patted Kris on the back, “I want to say thank you, man. You got him cooking, and it’s actually good. But don’t tell my mom, she’d kill me.”
“Fuck you, Tommy. Go do something useful and set the table. You gotta earn your keep.”
Kris laughed as he went to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. “What do you need help with?”
Adam reached up into the cabinet for some bowls, then bent over to kiss Kris on the temple, “Nothing. I’m going to have Tommy do all the work because he’s a pain in my ass.”
“Aww, don’t be like that. What can I do?”
“Fine,” Adam said ladling the stew into the bowls. “Can you take the bread over to the table?”
“Sure. Um, did you actually bake bread?”
Adam snorted, “Hardly. I’ve barely gotten a handle on cooking, never mind venture into baking.”
**
Adam’s nerves settled as he observed Tommy and Kris chatting away like old friends. It was a risk, inviting Tommy over for dinner, but one that Adam trusted would pan out. He needed Kris to know that there was nothing but friendship between him and Tommy. And, in his own way, apologize to Kris for what happened months ago. Christi had told him that Neil was notified of what they were planning to do and why when the shit hit the fan with the tabloids, but Adam wasn’t sure Neil fully explained it to Kris. Adam knew he still needed to tell Kris everything, and hoped tonight would allow him to ease into it.
Things were good, Adam was happy, but he could feel that underlying something between them, a wire-thin line of trust that needed to be strengthened somehow, a rebuilding that had to happen in order for them both to let go and move forward. And, Adam really wanted this to work.
He watched silently as the two continued to eat, laugh and start to bicker over music. It made him happy that Kris was able to get along with Tommy, even though it surprised him how knowledgeable he was about music. There were many layers to Kris, and Adam wanted to know every single one.
Adam was so deep in thought, it startled him when Kris gathered their empty plates and bowls and headed to the sink.
“You don’t have to do that,” Adam called out.
Kris shrugged, “Habit, I guess.” He ran the water over the dirty dishes, “Hand-wash or dishwasher?”
“Rinse and dishwasher, please.”
Tommy leaned over the table and whispered, “He’s a good guy.”
Adam smiled fondly, “He is.”
“Does he know about…”
“I’m not sure. We haven’t talked about it, but he recognized you, so…”
“Gotcha,” Tommy said, then patted his stomach and took the remaining items from the table. “I know what to do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Trust me, dude.”
Adam eyed Tommy warily as he placed everything on the counter next to the sink, but let go of the niggling feeling that he was up to something. As Kris and Tommy chatted and finished the dishes and putting away the extra food, Adam made himself busy by putting together a tray of cookies and tea.
“Movie time,” Adam said marching towards the den. He turned to Tommy, “Nothing gory or gross.”
“You’re no fun.”
**
And final part (finally!) ...right here!
Rating: NC-17
Links to other parts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
**
Dlisted.com
Lambert Lameness Lands in NYC
Adam Lambert is in New York doing interviews for his latest movie. He was caught being all grim-faced and annoyed at the cameras in his face. He’s got a killer smile, would it kill him to show us once in a while? Or maybe he’s still “in character” to give his performance a boost.
TMZ.com
Where is the Love Adam Lambert?
Our cameras caught up with Adam Lambert at JFK early this morning-way too early-which might explain his “eaten something sour” face. He was definitely not amused as he jumped into the waiting SUV. We’re told he’s in town to promote his latest film, Not Today, Not Tomorrow. Maybe that’ll be his new sound-bite for us if we could get him to talk. But, then again, seeing that he probably didn’t get his beauty sleep on the red-eye flight, who could blame him?
PerezHilton.com
La Lambert in New York City
La Lambert has been in New York all week for a promotional tour to pimp out his new movie, but sources say that he’s been misbehaving. Not shocking, we know. He’s been holed up in his hotel room, barely speaking with staff and driving people around him crazy. We also hear that he’s been acting sullen and moody. Hmm, is he missing something or someone in LA? Something to ponder.
**
“Well,” Cale said as he looked around the apartment. “This feels like déjà vu.”
“Har-har,” Kris said as he headed into the kitchen. He mumbled, “Jeez, ask a buddy to help you move once and you get shit for it…” He called out, “You want a beer?”
“Dude, really?”
Kris laughed, “Just checking. Pizza’s on its way.”
“Free beer and pizza as my payment, huh? Well, I guess when you’re ready to actually upgrade and buy a place, I’ll be your realtor of record and the commission will make up for the pain and suffering,” Cale said smugly.
“Nice to see our friendship hasn’t colored your quest to be a money-grubbing jackass.”
“Yeah, well,” Cale replied. “Dating in LA is a little hard on the wallet.”
“How’s that going anyway?” Kris asked handing him a beer.
“It’s going,” Cale answered. “What about you?”
“Why are you changing the subject?”
“I’m not changing the subject,” Cale whined. At Kris’s look, “Jeez, okay, fine. It’s a little weird, not like Dallas.”
“Weird how?”
“Like I need to explain that to you,” Cale snorted. “At least you’re dating a real actor instead of a wannabe.”
“Not dating.” Kris paused, “So, all the girls you’ve gone out with want to be actors?”
“Or models.”
“Where are you meeting these women?”
“A few set-ups from the guys at work, but obviously nothing’s happened; which is why I want to know what’s going on with you and your exciting life.”
Kris laughed, “Pizza’s here.” He got up to answer the door.
“Speaking of nothing happening,” Cale hedged as he put his beer down, “What’s going on with Lambert?”
“He’s in New York.”
“I didn’t ask where he was, I asked what was happening between you two.”
Kris sighed, “Things are just…I don’t know. It’s good…I think.”
“You think? That’s it?”
“What more do you want?” Kris demanded as he opened the pizza boxes. “Let’s eat.”
“No, seriously, Kris,” Cale asked with his mouth full. “You’re not going to tell me?”
“Nothing to tell, seriously,” Kris said wiping.
“Weren’t you supposed to meet up or something?”
“Or something,” Kris mumbled.
“Dude, don’t make me call Mama Allen to find out.”
Kris laughed, “Really? That’s your threat? Go ahead, she doesn’t know anything.”
“Damn, either she’s losing her touch or there really is nothing going on.”
Taking a bite, Kris grinned, “Told ya.”
**
People.com
Star Sightings: Not Today, Not Tomorrow Stars Surprise Film Students
Co-stars Adam Lambert and Nury Lavendar surprised aspiring film students at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts yesterday afternoon. In town to promote their film, Lambert and Lavendar took time out of their hectic schedule to sit down for a 30-minute Q&A session. Afterwards, they handed out movie theater gift cards.
JustJared.com
Lambert Takes Manhattan
Adam Lambert jumped into the crowd of fans waiting for him outside the Late Night with David Letterman studio last night. In town to promote his upcoming film Not Today, Not Tomorrow, the star signed autographs and took pictures with hundreds of Glamberts who had camped out to see their favorite actor.
USAToday.com
Lifeline: Lambert and Lavendar Create Fan Frenzy
Adam Lambert and Nury Lavendar, stars of the upcoming film Not Today, Not Tomorrow, were spotted all around Manhattan promoting the movie. From blocking streets for photo shoots to buying patrons coffee in the Starbucks down the street, the two actors caused a frenzy wherever they appeared, and the citizens of Gotham were more than happy to let them take over.
**
Kris frowned as he checked his phone, tempted to not answer since he didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello?” Kris said hesitantly.
“Hey puppy,” Brad’s voice came through the phone. “So, I have an idea that would be totally awesome and amazing. I don’t know what…”
“Brad, how’d you get my number?” Kris interrupted.
“Oh, puppy, I make it my business to know information like this,” Brad said haughtily. “Anyhow, back to me and my idea. Adam is scheduled to fly back tonight, a little bit after midnight instead of tomorrow afternoon as originally planned.”
“Um, okay.”
“Let me finish, puppy,” Brad scolded. “Someone, perhaps me, leaked his flight information to the leeches, so they’ll be expecting him tomorrow. I feel, maybe, slightly bad for his crazy fans, but there was no other way. Unfortunately, my little car can’t hold his suitcase and him, plus, I’ll probably be a little drunk tonight since I have a date with a hot little number that I kind of like, so I don’t think I’d be the best person to pick him up, you know?”
Kris blew out a breath, “What’s your point, Brad. I do have a meeting to get to in an hour.”
“Rawr, puppy, rawr,” Brad laughed. “My point is, I think you should pick him up from the airport. I know it’s a school night, and you’ve got homework and have to catch enough zzzz’s, a growing boy needs his beauty sleep, but I think Adam would appreciate it.”
“Uh, didn’t Tatiana arrange a car to pick him up?”
“The paps know his car service and which drivers he prefers, shit even the stalker fans do, so if they get wind of any of them heading to LAX, they’ll know he’ll be coming in tonight.” Brad paused. “If you don’t want to…”
“It’s not that,” Kris said. “I…I…well, is there anything special or covert I have to do? I mean, I have no problem picking him up, but do I have to worry about paparazzi or fans? What about his luggage? Do I just swing by the curb like people normally do or park and wait?”
Brad squealed out loud, “Oh, you are just too cute.” Kris rolled his eyes and waited for Brad to catch his breath. “Puppy, he’s a normal person. If you want to park and wait for him at baggage claim, that’s your prerogative, but normally he’ll grab his bags and jump into your car if that’s what you want him to do. I just need to let him know.”
“Fine, I’ll pick him up. Text me his flight information?”
“Of course. So jump into your rolling car or will you be parking and waiting?”
“He’ll have to jump into the car.”
“Oooh, this should be fun,” Brad mused. “I don’t think he’s done that in a while. Okay, I’ll let him know.”
“Brad, I said I would park and wait…”
“It’s funnier this way, puppy! Text is on its way! Toodles and kisses.”
“Uh, okay…” Kris said but realized the call was already disconnected.
Not understanding, but not questioning his instincts, Kris quickly checked his schedule. Nothing terribly important that couldn’t wait. He quickly sent out emails to reschedule the few conference calls and meetings, then left the office so he could tell Robert and Joyce and HR that he’d be taking a couple of personal days.
**
Appreciate you picking me up tonight. Was supposed to be a surprise
Still is a surprise :)
Will text when I land. Meet you curbside
Have a good flight
I’ll be the tall, dark and handsome one in sunglasses ;p
LOL I’ll try not to confuse you with the other tall, dark and handsome ones trying to jump into my car
>:(
;p
I’ll be waiting
Grateful that no one in the office gave him grief about the sudden time-off, Kris got through the rest of the day, even though it was a giant blur. He tried to settle his nerves-though why he had nerves in the first place he didn’t know and didn’t want to think about it-by making himself a small dinner, talking to his mom and taking a little nap.
His phone beeped, shocking him awake. The living room was dark, the night sky black through the windows, with the screen of the television providing the only flicker of light in the room. Reaching out blindly to grab his phone and turn it off, Kris splayed his hands until his fingers hit the flat surface of his coffee table and gripped the phone. He squinted as he checked the time…10:22…and saw that he had a few text messages and voicemails.
Kris put the phone back down and put his forearm over his eyes. He had another two hours before he had to leave for the airport. Stretching out his arms, he twisted his body, working out the kinks from falling asleep on the couch. It was dumb to not set an alarm, but then he hadn’t planned on falling asleep for a couple of hours. And, how he slept through the phone ringing was beyond him. He sat up and scratched his head, then reached over to check his phone again.
Two text messages from Brad: His flight is on time, so don’t be late, followed by You’re a peach for picking him up, he’s a ~wee bit cranky, just FYI
One from Cale: Scored box tix to Dodgers game from client for Saturday. Y/MFY? Pick you up at 5
Rubbing his eyes with his fingertips, he yawned and stretched out his limbs again. As he patted his stomach, he realized he still had on his work clothes. He started to unbutton his shirt and left a trail of clothes as he entered the bathroom. After a hot shower, he wiped the fogged up mirror and stared at himself, trying to figure out what it was about him that caught Adam’s eye. After having met Brad, and despite telling himself not to, had searched out photos of Adam’s other boyfriends, even the ones of his most recent fling.
He knew what he saw in Adam, despite what the tabloids said. It wasn’t just the looks, though, hell, who didn’t appreciate that, but what Adam was like as a person. Through the arduous movie process, Kris was able to see the private side of Adam, what his public persona only alluded to. And it was this part, if he was honest with himself, that made him fall for Adam.
Whether this would work or break his heart, whether he was just a passing fancy for Adam or if this was a legitimate start to a relationship, Kris knew he’d have to take the chance. He’d bear with the good, the bad and the paparazzi to see how it would go. Nodding at himself with the decision, he took the towel and started to dry his hair. His eye twitched, and he squeezed it tight, tears leaking from his right eye.
“Dammit.” He reached up to take out his contacts. “Ugh,” he groaned. No point in suffering through the pain and watery eyes. Placing the case and solution away, he muttered, “Great. I guess that’s what I get for being vain.”
**
As the plane descended into Los Angeles, Adam stared out the window at the red taillights and yellow headlights of the cars on the 405. He glanced quickly at the pastel LED columns at the entrance of LAX as the plane taxied onto the runway, the landing only slightly bumpy. He pulled out his phone and powered it up as he loosened his seatbelt. The flight attendants came by handing out coats and jackets from the closet to the passengers in the first class cabin. He smiled in thanks as he quickly sent out a text to Kris.
Just landed, still on runway
On my way. See you in a bit came the reply not a minute later.
And just like that, Adam was nervous as fuck.
He didn’t know whether to kill Brad or kiss him for this. When he had called Tatiana to tell her about his schedule change, he didn’t realize Brad was in the house. He bullied her into putting Adam on speaker phone and took over from there. Yes, he would love for someone to pick him up, but it was a late flight and he didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, but Brad volunteered. Adam really should have known better. And, this morning, he knew why.
“Sweets, I forgot I had plans that I can’t get out of, so I won’t be able to pick you up.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Adam replied. “I’ll have Tatiana arrange a car for me.”
“Oh, sweets,” Brad cooed. “Why would you do that? I already made arrangements for you, so you have nothing to worry about.”
“What are you talking about Brad?”
“Kris will be there to get ya. I just sent him your flight info, and it’s going to be a curbside pick-up. No royal treatment for you from him,” Brad laughed. “I think I’m a little in love with him and his snarkiness.”
“Brad.”
“Oh, sorry sweets,” Brad laughed. “He’s all yours. Like I was saying, he’ll be getting you tonight, okay?”
“He…he actually agreed to it?”
“Of course!”
Though Adam didn’t get a chance to talk with Kris on the phone while he was in New York, he realized he missed him like crazy. The few texts they did exchange kept him going, making him laugh at the right times, keeping him sane throughout the whirlwind week. Adam couldn’t remember the last time he missed anyone like this; had never thought twice about leaving his boyfriends for weeks or months at a time to go on location or do promotional junkets. Even Brad, the love of his life, he didn’t miss as much as he did Kris.
Somehow, Kris made him want to go home. And stay home.
He quickly grabbed his backpack from the overhead bin, strapped his jacket in between the straps and took long, purposeful strides down the jetway and into the terminal. It was eerie, the lack of people hustling about trying to get to their gates, the cleaning crew running vacuums on the floor, shops closed up tight. He hoped the lack of flights and complaining passengers meant that his luggage would come out promptly.
Approaching the baggage claim area, his fingers twitched as he debated pulling his sunglasses out. He trusted Brad’s plan, but old habits died hard; and the paparazzi, and even worse, his fans, were relentless. Compromising with himself, he pulled out the sunglasses, but hooked them into the collar of his shirt, just in case.
The baggage claim area was fairly empty, only people from his flight slowly filtering in. He stalked the conveyer belt, waiting impatiently for his bag. As soon as he saw his suitcase, he nearly jumped on it, banging his shin on the metal. Grabbing the handle, he yanked it off, tripping over it as it wobbled. Thanking the gods that there were no cameras around…at least not that he could see, fucking camera phones. Graceful right now, he was not.
He hitched his backpack up, clutched the handle of his suitcase and headed outside. Right as he got to the curb, his back pocket buzzed.
Coming around the corner. Waiting for your luggage?
Adam grinned and typed in quickly: Outside with everything. Tall, dark and handsome in case you forgot
LOL. I see you
Adam looked up and smiled when Kris flashed his high-beams at him. The hazard lights blinked on as Kris pulled up to the curb. At the sound of the trunk popping open, Adam hefted his suitcase into it as Kris walked to the back of the car. Together they closed it with a thunk.
“You ready?” Kris asked as he quickly ducked back into the driver’s seat.
Adam frowned, “Yeah…” He opened the passenger door and sat down. Buckling his seat belt, he turned to face Kris, finally being able to look at him. “You…you’re wearing your glasses.”
Kris turned his head to pull away from the curb and concentrated on getting out of the airport. Adam took the few moments to stare at his face which was alternately hidden by shadows and lit by the passing streetlights.
“Uh, yeah. Something messed up my eye earlier, so had to take out my contacts,” Kris finally answered. “Sorry, I hate driving around the airport with all the busses and vans.”
“It’s okay. You really didn’t have to do this.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay,” Kris said shaking his head. “I’m still getting used to LA traffic in general and the way people drive in the loop at LAX kinda freaks me out.”
Adam smiled, “Thanks anyway.”
“So, um, did you get any sleep on the plane?”
“Just little snatches of sleep here and there,” Adam answered. He leaned his head back against the seat, “I can’t really sleep on planes.”
“First class not comfortable enough for you?” Kris ribbed.
“Funny. You think you’re so funny.”
“Hey,” Kris said in a mock-hurt voice. “Someone has to think I’m funny, might as well be me.”
Adam grinned.
“So my pops said that the week went well despite the little confusion at the beginning of it.”
“Little confusion?” Adam laughed. “I guess one could call it that. But, yeah, overall, it was good. Just glad to be home.” And, looking at Kris’s face, Adam realized he really meant it.
“You don’t like New York?”
“Oh, I do,” Adam sighed. “It was just a little draining this time around, a lot of work and running around and not enough time to just enjoy the restaurants and nightlife.”
“Ah,” Kris nodded. “Well, we’ll get you home and you can sleep and rest up.”
“Mmm, yeah.”
**
Kris quietly hummed along with the music as he drove. Adam had fallen asleep as soon as they got onto the freeway, so he drove in comfortable silence with his Keane CD keeping him company. The security guard opened the gate as soon as Kris drove up, which confused him, but figured Brad had given him a head’s up.
Adam startled awake as Kris turned the engine off. “I totally fell asleep on you.”
Kris watched fascinated as Adam rubbed the back of his neck, “It’s okay, you’re tired.”
“No, I generally don’t sleep like that on planes, cars or anything,” Adam said, confusion coloring his voice.
“Luxury car with soft leather seats and being hella tired will do that to you,” Kris chuckled softly. “Come on,” he said opening his door. “Let’s get you inside so you can crash.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Kris pulled the suitcase and backpack from trunk, not letting Adam help him. He glared at him, “Just open the door.”
His eyes greedily followed Adam’s form as he walked up to the door. Dragging the suitcase behind him, he looked down just in time as Adam switched on the light and helped him get it inside. Adam set it off to the side and took the backpack and jacket from Kris’s arm.
“Hey, come on in.”
“I should go and let you get some rest,” Kris hedged as he reached back for the door.
Adam reached out and grabbed his hand, “A few minutes? Now that I’m home, I probably won’t be able to fall asleep for a bit.”
“Are you sure?”
“At least have some tea with me,” Adam cajoled. “I know you have to work tomorrow and it’s late, but…”
“I don’t…”
“Please?”
Kris nodded and let Adam draw him into the house, their hands still clasped. He had no desire to let go.
Adam pulled them into the kitchen and pushed Kris onto a stool at the counter, “Sit. I’ll get the tea started. Honey? Cream?”
“Just a little bit of honey.”
“Okay,” Adam smiled.
Kris watched as Adam fussed around the kitchen, filling up the kettle with water, grabbing mugs from the cabinet, taking a spoonful of loose tea from a jar. It was all so mundane, yet fascinating watching this man do something so domestic.
“Were you really going to cook?” Kris asked, breaking the silence.
Adam snorted softly, “Why does everyone question that?”
“I don’t know,” Kris answered. “Just can’t picture it.”
“Truth?” Adam inquired as he leaned against the sink, hands on the edge behind him. Kris nodded. “Tatiana had me do a practice run the day you canceled, which in hindsight, was a great idea, but don’t tell her I said that.”
Kris laughed, “Won’t say a word.”
“I’ve cooked, but not cooked, you know? But, it turned out pretty well, and Tatiana survived and is alive to tell me about it, so I call it a success.”
“Did she volunteer or did you volunteer her for this experiment?”
Adam scowled, and Kris found it adorable. “She volunteered.”
“Just checking.”
“I’m not a barbarian,” Adam pouted.
“Never said you were.”
The whistle of the kettle interrupted them, and again Kris watched Adam efficiently put the tea together from the press to the honey. He bent down and Kris turned away, telling himself to not look at Adam’s ass or the way his shirt pulled up to reveal the skin of his back. He pulled out a tray and carefully placed the tea presses, mugs, honey and spoons onto it.
“Come on,” Adam said, holding the tray close to his body.
“We can just have tea here, no?”
“No, I want to sprawl on my couch. Den, let’s go.”
Kris huffed out a laugh, “Fine.”
They sat on opposite ends of the couch and sipped their tea while Adam regaled him with stories of his New York trip. Kris shook his head as he listened to the insane schedule and wondered to himself how Adam wasn’t passed out at this very moment.
“See? You’ve got to be exhausted,” Kris stated. He put his mug down onto the tray. “How can you not be? I’m tired just listening to that schedule.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“And, that was just one week and a partial promotional junket?”
Adam finished his tea and set down his mug, “Yeah. Had the LA junket, what, two months ago, at the Beverly Hilton. That was just two days, but it was local, so not as bad. The photo shoots were spread out, which made things a lot easier. With a bigger film comes a bigger budget, which means the main cast would be prancing all around the world for junkets and premieres.” He fell back into the corner of the couch, “And if there’s a film festival that happens to overlap, we’d have to incorporate that into it, go to those events and parties.”
“Wow.”
“It can be fun.”
“Are you still having fun?”
Kris watched as Adam thought about it. He wasn’t expecting an answer, and if an answer came, that it would be an unequivocal yes.
“Yes and no,” Adam admitted. “For something like this, yes. I don’t know if I could do a large film anymore though. A year out of my life, you know? From filming to promotion…maybe once in a while, but not anytime soon. I’m enjoying my time off, which I didn’t think I would.”
“So next on the list is the premiere for this thing and then you’re done, right?”
“Yeah,” Adam smiled. He pointed to a stack of scripts on the table sitting on the corner behind the tray. “I need to pick a project before my agents go insane, thereby drive me insane.”
“Anything interesting?”
Adam sat up to grab the script at the top. “This one,” he said flipping the pages. “It’s actually another one your dad’s studio is producing.” He glanced up shyly from the script to Kris. “That won’t be weird will it?”
“Why would it?”
Adam shrugged and slowly turned the pages again. Kris chuckled as Adam tried to hide a yawn. “You should go to bed.”
“I want you to read this and tell me what you think first,” Adam said holding out the script.
“Then, you’ll go to bed?” Kris asked as he took it.
Nodding, Adam got up from the couch and stretched his arms over his head. “I’m going to jump into the shower to take this airplane stink off me while you read. You tell me what you think.”
“You should shower and go to sleep, while I take this home to read. I can tell you what I think another time.”
“No,” Adam argued. “Won’t work, I have a conference call with my agents in the afternoon, so I need to give them an answer. Just the synopsis and the first few pages. I’ll be quick.”
“Fine. Go, then.”
Kris held onto the script as he watched Adam hurry out of the room. Shaking his head, Kris flipped through the pages. He read the synopsis and recalled his father talking about it. He read through the pages until his eyes started to close, his head nodding back. Yawning, he took off his glasses and set them down on the side table and put the script down. He’d just close his eyes for a bit until Adam came back down.
**
Adam slipped a worn t-shirt over his head as he padded barefoot down the stairs. He barely glanced at his suitcase he normally would have been unpacking, but he continued on to the den, where he found Kris asleep, mouth slightly agape, head resting on his arm. Biting his lip, he reached for the blanket, but changed his mind as his fingers touched the fleece.
He touched Kris’s shoulder, shaking him awake. “Come on Kris,” he said softly. “Let’s go to bed.”
“S’eepy,” Kris mumbled as he shifted his body.
“I know, baby, but you’re going to be hurting in the morning. Comfy bed upstairs,” Adam cajoled. “Fluffy pillows, warm blankets.”
“Mmmmm.”
He got Kris up off the couch and grunted as his sleepy body weighed down on him, “Work with me here, sleepyhead.”
Adam made his way up the stairs, half dragging Kris down the hall, past the guest room to his own. He was completely winded, breath coming out unevenly after he got Kris onto the bed, and took a few seconds to catch his breath. Taking Kris’s foot in his hand, he slipped off the black Converse sneaker, then removed the other one. He reached up to Kris’s waist, hands shaking as he unbuckled the belt and slipped it through the loops of his jeans. Balling his hands to keep himself from reaching down further, he took another breath and pulled Kris’s white shirt down where it got pushed up.
Pulling the comforter down and fixing the pillows, Adam rolled Kris over until he nearly rolled off the bed. “Whoa, whoa,” Adam panicked, grabbing Kris’s hip. He carefully lifted Kris’s head to place a pillow under it. He held his breath as Kris turned and mumbled, fixing the pillow under his head and adjusting his body until he lay on his stomach, arms wrapped around the pillow. Adam sat on the bed and finally listened to his brain; his hand reached out and slid down the curve of Kris’s back. Slowly, he moved his hand back up, gliding over the softness of the t-shirt and over his spine and shoulder.
Adam closed his eyes and covered Kris with the corner of the comforter and slid in next to him. He lay down on his side and took the time to study Kris’s face, the features from his cute nose and long, dark lashes to his mouth and the lower lip that always looked like it was swollen with kisses. Squishing his pillow, Adam threw his arm around Kris’s body, drawing him in close, and closed his eyes.
“Adam!” Tatiana’s shout ricocheted around the house.
Groaning at the sound, Adam burrowed into his bed wrapping the comforter around him as he rolled into…a warm body? Adam’s eyes flew open and he threw the comforter off him as he came face to face with Kris, whose widened eyes expressed the same shock.
“Oh, uh hey,” Adam stuttered out.
“Hey.”
Adam smiled bashfully, “Did…did you sleep okay?”
Kris’s mouth opened, then closed as it looked like he was trying to figure out what to say. Eventually he nodded, “Yeah, I did. Out like a light, I guess, huh?”
Adam watched as the emotions flew across Kris’s face-shock, confusion, uncertainty, embarrassment-as he tried to subtlety check out his state of dress, his jeans and shirt wrinkled from sleep. Adam quirked his lips, “You fell asleep and looked too cute, I couldn’t bear to wake you up and have you drive home. So I brought you up here, uh, I...”
“Adam! I swear to God! Answer me so I know you’re alive! Don’t make me come up there! I don’t care if you’re butt naked!” Tatiana shouted again.
Sitting up and running his hands through his hair, giving the already unruly bed-head a boost, he yelled out, “Do you get a perverse joy in waking my tired ass up?”
“Yes!” came the reply. “You’re alive. That’s all I needed to know.” A wicked cackle traveled up the house.
“I have a guest over! You shouting like hellhounds are after you is a little silly!”
“Don’t care!” Tatiana shouted back.
He groaned, “God, she’s an evil little thing sometimes.”
At Kris’s amused laugh, Adam turned to him. “It’s not funny.”
In reply, Kris yawned, “It sorta is.” He sat up and scratched his belly, giving Adam a little peek at tan skin. Adam groaned again and fell onto his back.
“Um,” Kris paused. “This is a bit awkward, no?”
Adam put his forearm over his eyes, “A bit? No. A lot awkward, yes.”
He froze at Kris’s touch on his arm, “It was sweet of you to drag me up here like a caveman so I could sleep comfortably and not end up with a messed up back when I finally got up.”
Adam lowered his arm, pulled the comforter up a bit before shifting his body. If Kris kept touching him, he wouldn’t be responsible for what he might do to mess up Kris’s back.
“Do you know what time it is?” Kris asked, looking around.
“Since Tati’s here and screaming at me, probably around 10,” Adam said, then stopped. “Shit, you have to go to work! I knew I should have set an alarm or something for you.” He rolled over onto his stomach and mumbled into the pillow, “I’m so sorry.”
The warm hand on his shoulder relaxed him. “Don’t worry about it,” Kris was saying. “I, uh, I took the day off.” He spoke quickly, “Figured I’d be tired and not functioning, and you know, in case your flight was delayed or something, not knowing how late I’d be out. And, my boss was on me to take a day off anyway, so…”
Adam peeked up, half his face still squished into the pillow, “You’re too cute.” He didn’t want to, tempted by Kris’s hand rubbing small circles on his shoulder, but he turned onto his side. “Okay, plan. I have an extra toothbrush in the guest bathroom, towels and all that if you want to jump into the shower. You’ll borrow a new t-shirt, and we’ll face my demon assistant downstairs.” As Adam thought through his idea and said it out loud, he got excited and sat up. “We’ll have some coffee while I go over my schedule with Tati. And, while I’m taking care of that shit, you can go change, and then we’ll meet up for lunch or something and hang out?” He paused for a breath, “Oh, um, if that’s okay with you.”
“I’d like that,” Kris said with a smile.
**
EW.com
The Evolution of Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert is beat and looks worn out. The sun has set, and we’re sitting in his suite surrounded by clothes and a table of food, which he hasn’t touched. Well, I’m sitting while he’s sprawled out on the couch, taking a brief break from his crazy promotional schedule for the summer anti-blockbuster flick Not Today, Not Tomorrow, directed by Anoop Desai. We get into the ins and out of the film, what made him want to tackle the roll, his thoughts about the tabloids and his rabid fans, as well as his thoughts on love and life as a gay man in Hollywood. What’s next for this Hollywood star who seems to be everywhere, but is elusively private at the same time? Read our exclusive interview on EW.com tomorrow.
RadarOnline.com
Since When Does Adam Lambert Sing?
A little birdy told us that actor Adam Lambert is also taking a stab at singing. The Not Today, Not Tomorrow star was in the recording studio doing a cover of the 30 Seconds to Mars song “Was it a Dream?”, and now the song will be featured in his movie and on the soundtrack, under a pseudonym. Though his reps didn’t return our calls for confirmation, we heard a snippet of it. We gotta say, if that really is him singing, we’re fans. Color us shocked.
**
All day long, Kris was feeling antsy and there was no rhyme or reason behind it. He didn’t have a meeting he needed to be at or an event to put together. Work was going well, his parents were fine, Cale was happily dating a sweet woman who was a nurse and had no Hollywood aspirations, so there was nothing to explain why he was feeling the way his was feeling. The last couple weeks had flown by with Kris in a haze of happiness and contentment.
Kris laughed as he thought back to a few night ago when Adam had attempted to make coq au vin. There was mess of chopped vegetables all over the counter, flour and butter in thick chunks around the cast iron pan, tomato paste-smeared utensils hanging on tenaciously onto the edge of the stove, and Adam in the center of it, with a half-empty bottle of Pinot Noir in his hand. They ended up ordering take-out Chinese.
The evening security guard, Kevin, waved Kris through as he pulled up to the house. Kris smiled at him and shouted out a hello before he parked his car in the space next to the garage. He frowned at the unfamiliar car in the driveway. Making his way around to the back door, Kris saw Adam talking to a pretty blond man through the kitchen window. His heart hitched as the two of the laughed and Adam leaned into him, forehead on the shoulder while the man petted Adam’s head.
Adam straightened up and caught Kris standing. His smile turned into a beam of happiness as he came around the corner to open the French doors of the kitchen. “There you are!” he laughed as he wrapped his arms around Kris. “Did you get stuck in traffic? I haven’t been outside all day, but Tatiana traffic-dialed me and was bitching for a good half an hour and I think she moved, like two blocks.”
Kris welcomed Adam’s tight hug, his body relaxing against Adam’s warm, welcoming embrace. He didn’t know how long they stood out there hugging each other, Adam chattering in his ear.
Adam finally pulled away and grabbed Kris’s hand, “Come on. I want you to meet someone.”
Bracing himself, Kris allowed Adam to pull him into the kitchen as Adam stepped behind him and placed Kris in front of the pretty, blond stranger.
“Tommy, this is Kris,” Adam said. He moved closer to Kris, removing any semblance of personal space between them and moved his arm to hug his stomach. “Kris, this is my good friend Tommy.”
“Hey, man,” Tommy grinned. “Nice to finally meet you in person,” he said and pointed his chin up, “This one’s been talking about you forever, but figured you didn’t actually exist since he’s been keeping you a big secret.”
“Have not,” Adam replied.
Kris laughed because he could feel Adam’s pout over his head. “Hey, Tommy,” Kris said, reaching out to shake the man’s hand. “Good to meet you, too. Uh, you look familiar.”
Tommy rolled his eyes, “Oh, that’s probably because you’ve seen my picture splashed all over the fucking tabloids, drunk off my ass, hanging all over Adam as we left club after club.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Adam said.
“Yeah? Tell that to the guys in my band, my family and girlfriend,” Tommy laughed. “You owe me so bad, that I think even your grandkids will be in debt.”
“Whatever,” Adam retorted. “You and the band have been playing sold out shows for the last three months, and there are so many skanky groupies hanging around all of you that I think I’d get an STD just being in the same room as the rest of the band.”
“Says the tabloid’s favorite bad boy,” Tommy said sticking out his tongue. “So, Kris, what’s your deal?”
“My deal?” Kris stuttered. He tried to turn and look at Adam, but he held him close, back pasted to Adam’s chest.
“Yeah, Adam has been weirdly quiet about you. Been keeping you under wraps, which is weird for him, considering how much he likes to talk. None of us know shit about you, man.”
Kris covered Adam’s arm as it tightened around his waist, “Uh, not much to tell. I work at a non-profit, and uh, I like sports.”
“Oh, that’s right. Saw you at the fundraiser downtown,” Tommy nodded, remembering the night. “That was the night this one was too chickenshit to go up to you and introduce you to us.”
“Shut up,” Adam growled.
“Sports, huh?” Tommy laughed, then turned to Adam, “How’s that working out for you?”
Adam kissed Kris’s temple and released him, “Boys in tight pants or shorts, I’m okay with that.”
Tommy laughed as Kris rolled his eyes, “He leaves the room or puts on his headphones, right?”
“Yeah,” Kris answered. He leaned against the counter and watched Adam start mixing something in a giant pot on the stove. “How long have you known Adam,” he asked Tommy.
Tommy took a sip from his beer before answering, “For a few years now. Met him through some mutual friends at one of my gigs. He thought he was cool, I thought I was hot shit. You know, the usual.”
“You play?”
“Yeah, bass and synthesizer.”
“Cool.”
“You should come to our gig next weekend,” Tommy said. He eyed Kris, “But, uh, don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t know if it’ll be your type of music.”
Chuckling, Kris shook his head, “It’s okay, I get that all the time. But, no, I love all kinds of music, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.”
“Cool.”
“Are you two done with the flirting because the stew is done.”
Tommy stood up and patted Kris on the back, “I want to say thank you, man. You got him cooking, and it’s actually good. But don’t tell my mom, she’d kill me.”
“Fuck you, Tommy. Go do something useful and set the table. You gotta earn your keep.”
Kris laughed as he went to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. “What do you need help with?”
Adam reached up into the cabinet for some bowls, then bent over to kiss Kris on the temple, “Nothing. I’m going to have Tommy do all the work because he’s a pain in my ass.”
“Aww, don’t be like that. What can I do?”
“Fine,” Adam said ladling the stew into the bowls. “Can you take the bread over to the table?”
“Sure. Um, did you actually bake bread?”
Adam snorted, “Hardly. I’ve barely gotten a handle on cooking, never mind venture into baking.”
**
Adam’s nerves settled as he observed Tommy and Kris chatting away like old friends. It was a risk, inviting Tommy over for dinner, but one that Adam trusted would pan out. He needed Kris to know that there was nothing but friendship between him and Tommy. And, in his own way, apologize to Kris for what happened months ago. Christi had told him that Neil was notified of what they were planning to do and why when the shit hit the fan with the tabloids, but Adam wasn’t sure Neil fully explained it to Kris. Adam knew he still needed to tell Kris everything, and hoped tonight would allow him to ease into it.
Things were good, Adam was happy, but he could feel that underlying something between them, a wire-thin line of trust that needed to be strengthened somehow, a rebuilding that had to happen in order for them both to let go and move forward. And, Adam really wanted this to work.
He watched silently as the two continued to eat, laugh and start to bicker over music. It made him happy that Kris was able to get along with Tommy, even though it surprised him how knowledgeable he was about music. There were many layers to Kris, and Adam wanted to know every single one.
Adam was so deep in thought, it startled him when Kris gathered their empty plates and bowls and headed to the sink.
“You don’t have to do that,” Adam called out.
Kris shrugged, “Habit, I guess.” He ran the water over the dirty dishes, “Hand-wash or dishwasher?”
“Rinse and dishwasher, please.”
Tommy leaned over the table and whispered, “He’s a good guy.”
Adam smiled fondly, “He is.”
“Does he know about…”
“I’m not sure. We haven’t talked about it, but he recognized you, so…”
“Gotcha,” Tommy said, then patted his stomach and took the remaining items from the table. “I know what to do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Trust me, dude.”
Adam eyed Tommy warily as he placed everything on the counter next to the sink, but let go of the niggling feeling that he was up to something. As Kris and Tommy chatted and finished the dishes and putting away the extra food, Adam made himself busy by putting together a tray of cookies and tea.
“Movie time,” Adam said marching towards the den. He turned to Tommy, “Nothing gory or gross.”
“You’re no fun.”
**
And final part (finally!) ...right here!