Amsterdam.

Billy giggled. “Your stomach is making rumble-noises…” Dom grinned. “Uh yeah, we’ve been out here for quite some time; must be time to eat, I guess.”
“You’re right, we can’t stay here forever…” Billy added whispering: “although I want us to…”
Dom smiled even more. antiantic fool.”
Billy pretended to be offended. “What? Mé; a fool? Why Mr. Monaghan, I’m gonna get you for that!” and he tackled his legs while pushing him into the sea. Dom had grabbed Billy’s T-shirt in a reflex and pulled him along, causing them both to end up in the shallow dark-blue water.
“Fuck!” “You deserved that!” “I did not!” “Wanker!” “You wish!” “Not hére, love…”

Orlando slowly pushed his sunglasses to the tip of his nose while his eyes showed amusement. In front of him were his two wet-to-the-bone friends. “Well, well; lookie what the cat dragged in… I trust you ladies had a good swim?”
They grinned and looked at each other. Their hair and clothes were covered with sand.
“Or perhaps it was móre than a good swim?” Orlando added out of the blue. They both flushed a bit and went silent for a few seconds.
“I’ll take that as a “yes” then.” He grinned like a maniac. “About bloody time too! Congratulations, boys; you two really deserve happiness; no need to be shy about it” and he began hugging them.
“Thanks Orli. That means a lot to me”, Billy whispered. Dom gave Orlando a kiss on his temple. “Can we call you “Karen” now?”
“You watch to many bloody American comedy’s, Dom.”

They had dinner inside and the food was unbelievable. Billy couldn’t remember that he ever had such great food on a beach. He was sitting next to Dom and their bare, sandy feet were making love under the table. He couldn’t believe how happy he was right now. The only thing that surely was missing was a fat baldheaded Italian with a moustache playing “That’s amore” on a violin. He had an inner chuckle.
“Anyone snog a bird today?” Lij asked casually.
“Go ahead Lij, tell us who you snogged today; cause that wás the sole purpose of your question, right?”
“Yeah, Lij, tell us.”
“God, I’m thát transparent, am I?” Elijah asked while he put the back of his hand on his forehead.
“Lij, stop playing the drama-queen and just tell us, you tosser!”
“Yeah, big twit, just spill it.”
“Alright, alright! Keep your pants on!”

“I didn’t intend to keep mine on tonight…” Dom teasingly whispered in Billy’s ear. Billy went as red as a lobster and gave Dom a naughty look, but Elijah didn’t notice and started to talk about some sexy brunette he kissed. “What was her name, Lij?”
“Uhm, I…uh.”
“You didn’t even caught her name, you shallow perv? You’ve gotta respect your women, Lij. One of these days it’s gonna backfire on you big time,” Orlando said with an air of wisdom.
Elijah was embarrassed and blushing. “Yeah, uh okay. I’ll think about it next time. So, how about you two? Any luck today?” he asked as he pointed towards Dom and Billy.

“As a matter of fact, Lij, we bóth got kissed today…” Dom smiled.
“Really, what did yours look like? Any good?”
Billy bit his lip and glared to Dom.
“Yeah” and he twisted his hands graciously like a magician’s assistant towards Billy. “Tada!” he singsonged.
Elijah’s big blue eyes widened. “You’re not fucking with me, right? Really? His voice pitched. Nóóó! Réally?”
Dom nodded.
“You serious? This isn’t one of your jokes, Dom?”
Dom started shaking his head. “Nope. It really isn’t.”
Billy and Orlando started to laugh out loud, adding to Lij’s confusion.
“Billy, tell me honest, is it true?”
“Aye, all true. No joke.” He gave Dom a big kiss on his lips, as if to prove that he was telling the truth.
When it finally had sunk in, Elijah gave them a warm smile and took both of their hands. Words were unnecessary.

Billy was lying in Dom’s arms a loungechair, watching the sinking sun. The sky was mixed blood red with shades of pink, yellow and blue. It was about nine o’clock when the DJ put on “Carmina Burana” and people were beginning to stand up facing the sun. A salute to their friend that they owed their fabulous day to.

O Fortuna,
velut luna…

Billy was softly singing along now.

“statu variabilis,
semper crescis,
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis,
nunc obdurat,
et tunc curat,
ludo mentis aciem,
egestatem,
potestatem,
dissolvit ut glaciem”

Dom began to suck Billy’s right ear.
“Oww, you cheeky devil; now I can’t sing anymore…”