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Mario watched as Erico seemed to hurry back to the kitchen. He wasn t sure if it was
the lack of a backup chef or his need to hide his emotions. He returned his attention to Asa.
Suddenly, it was his lover who looked uncomfortable. Please don t worry about him. What
we had was over a long time ago.
Why didn t you tell me you hated this place?
Mario shrugged. Like I told you, the evening isn t about me.
Where do you usually go?
Depends on my mood. Sometimes I go up to the Grizzly Bar, sometimes Debs, but
mostly I tend to hang out at O Brien s. Sean and Jay have both become pretty good friends.
Jay, that s the girly-looking fellow, right?
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Mario wondered how many times people had used those words to describe Jay. Like
Erico, Jay was so much more than his appearance. Yeah. I can t wait to introduce you to
him. He has to have one of the purest souls of anyone I ve ever met.
No time like the present.
Huh?
Asa brought out his wallet and tossed some bills onto the table. Let s get out of here
and go to O Brien s.
Mario was all for eating at O Brien s, it was the money being left by Asa that bothered
him. He dug out his own wallet and handed the money on the table back to his lover. I
invited you out. I ll pay for it.
Asa opened his mouth. Mario knew his lover intended to argue the point, so he held up
his hand. Please.
Asa finally nodded and reached for his walker. Mario helped steady Asa with a hand
on Asa s lower back. Once outside, he gestured to the car they d driven into town. Mario
admitted to himself that he liked the way the sleek Jaguar drove, but, like The Canoe, it made
him feel uncomfortable.
He helped his lover into the car before folding the walker and stowing it in the trunk.
According to Asa s doctor, Asa wouldn t be able to use a cane for at least another month,
maybe longer. Mario knew Asa took the doctor s words as a challenge. Like he did in
business, Asa would push himself to the brink of exhaustion in order to exceed expectations.
Mario folded himself into the low-slung car and turned to give Asa a kiss. I think my
truck fits my size better.
Asa grinned. Although you look damn good in this car, I might need to consider
buying a sedan to better accommodate your size.
Or, we could start taking my truck once you re able to climb into it. Part of him knew
the statement was a test, but he needed to know how Asa would handle their obvious class
differences.
It s got a bench seat, right? Asa surprised Mario by asking.
Uh, yeah.
I m all for bench seats. They don t make many of them anymore. The closer I can ride
to you the better. This damn console between us is driving me nuts.
Good answer. Mario grinned and leant over said console for a kiss. I ll remember that.
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So what did Erico mean when he said he was surprised to see us together after what
happened? Asa asked.
Mario started the car, appreciating the purr of the engine as he waited for the heater to
kick in. He was talking about the hospital thing. He shrugged. Things were so good
between him and Asa, he hated to bring up bad memories. Don t worry about it. I ve gotten
over it.
Over what?
Your refusal to see me right after the collapse.
What? I didn t even know you came by.
Mario let out a snort. I did a hell of a lot more than that. I slept in the damn waiting
room for days, hoping you d call for me. The memories still caused an ache in his gut.
Asa reached out and gripped Mario s thigh. I didn t know. I was so upset that you
never came. Who told you I didn t want to see you?
Mario shrugged again. One of your flunkies.
Asa s hand turned into a fist. It tore me up that&
Mario stopped Asa with a kiss. It doesn t matter anymore. Those assholes are gone
and we re together.
He pulled out and drove towards O Brien s. The food is a lot better than you might
think, much better than when it was Brewster s. Jay s done a damn good job revamping the
menu. Of course the food s not fancy, but there s usually a lot of it and it s good.
Just how often do you normally eat out, because you sound like an expert.
Mario shrugged and pulled in to a parking spot a couple of stores down from O Brien s.
Before I started hanging out at Casa Montgomery every night, I d eat out four, maybe five,
times a week. Most of the time, I d just stop and get something to go.
He started to get out, but Asa stopped him. That s why you were so angry when I
asked you to help in my rehabilitation.
Mario shook his head. Yeah, but I really don t wanna go into it. It was the hurt talking.
Not my heart.
I m so sorry. We both could have been saved pain if only&
Asa s grumbling stomach interrupted the touching moment. Mario leant over the
console and gave his lover another kiss. We were both duped. Let s just move on.
Asa nodded.
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Feeling better, Mario unfolded himself from the car and retrieved Asa s walker. By the
time he reached the passenger door, Asa already had it open and was standing beside the
car, bracing his hands on the still-open door.
Mario rolled his eyes and shook his head. Only hours after the doctor had initiated the
challenge, Asa was already testing his limits. Mario set the walker in front of his lover and
waited for Asa to clear the door so he could shut it.
They d barely reached the sidewalk when Asa s phone began to ring. Mario knew
enough to slow to a stop. Asa rarely let a ringing phone go unanswered. In his professional
life, an unanswered question could mean thousands of dollars. Mario did his best to block
some of the brutal wind from blowing on Asa as his lover answered.
Hello?
Asa sighed and rolled his eyes. Can I call you later, sis? I m right in the middle of
something.
Mario began to rub Asa s back to keep his muscles warm.
Well, I m sorry he wants an answer now, he ll have to wait until I get home.
Mario couldn t help but notice the slight flare of Asa s nostrils as his voice grew in
volume. Look, I ll call back later. End of subject.
Asa ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Everything okay? Mario asked.
Yeah. I ll tell you about it once we get out of this fucking cold. Asa gripped the
walker with both hands as they slowly made their way to O Brien s.
Mario found them a booth and stowed Asa s walker out of the way. Ethan walked up to
the table with a couple of menus. When did you start working here? Walk out on Nate
already?
Ethan laughed. Naw. Just helping out a couple nights a week. Not much else to do
besides sit in my apartment anyway.
Mario declined a menu, but Asa took his. I ll have a Bud Light Lime for now.
Ethan nodded and looked at Asa.
White Russian, please, Asa ordered.
Coming up.
Ethan left and Asa opened his menu. So, what would you recommend?
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Their steaks are always top quality, but I think you can t go wrong with whatever
pasta dish Jay s whipped up for the special.
Sounds good to me. Asa closed his menu and set it to the side. You know I ve been
in here a couple of times for Taco Tuesday, but I guess I never thought about them having
food the rest of the week, Asa said with a chuckle.
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