Page 66 of Possession

Including the small smile he had on his face behind his stupidly sexy beard. “Maybe I want it to be a surprise.”

“It already is a surprise. Why does it make it less of one if you tell me now instead of letting me see when we get there?”

“I guess you have me there,” Tomas said, then opened the center console and handed him a pamphlet.

It was advertising for different events at a convention center in GR. Plays, musicals, comedians. He flipped through it and found the date, and then he jerked his head over to stare at Tomas’s profile.

“Did Mason tell you?”

Tomas shook his head. “No, I asked Penny.”

He stared at the man, who looked completely calm as he drove them through the heavy city traffic. “You asked Penny and not Ollie?”

Tomas snorted. “I’m sure Ollie would’ve known what you liked, but in my experience, the boy can’t keep his mouth shut.”

That was true. Though, he was sure Ollie would’ve kept this a secret, especially if it gave him the opportunity to brag about what a great date he’d helped orchestrate.

Running his fingers over the title and description, Vinnie whispered, “Thank you.”

“You haven’t even seen it yet. For all you know, there’s been a lot of overhyping of these flying witches or whatever.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m pretty sureWickedhasn’t been overhyped.”

“Well, I guess we’re about to find out,” he said, taking an exit. Within a few turns, they were entering the parking garage next to the center.

Tomas turned off the truck and reached for his door handle, but Vinnie grabbed his wrist, stopping him. It was a lot darker in the parking garage, most of Tomas’s face lost in shadows.

“Seriously,” Vinnie said softly, “thank you.”

Tomas cocked his head. “You already said that.”

“I know. It’s just…” He wasn’t sure how to explain it. Finally, he just blurted out, “No one’s ever really done something like this for me.”

Tomas didn’t say anything for a long moment, and Vinnie couldn’t read his face in the dark. “Taken you on a date?”

Vinnie shook his head. “Taken me on a date to somewhere they knew I would like because they asked one of my best friends and listened to her when she gave him suggestions. Taken me somewhere that wasn’t going to be to their taste because they cared more about whether or not I would enjoy it.”

Another car went by, lighting up the inside of Tomas’s truck for a second and letting Vinnie see the serious expression on his face. When one of those big, rough hands cupped his cheek, he let his eyes fall closed.

“You’re welcome, gatito.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s against the law to eat fast food after seeing a musical,” Tomas said, humor thick in his voice as he drove them back to Ridgewood.

Vinnie was on cloud nine.

Wickedhad been everything he’d ever hoped it would be and then some. And despite the fact that he was pretty sure Tomas didn’t actually like musicals, he had sat there calmly, a smile on his face every time Vinnie glanced over at him. He’d held his hand, laughed with him, and somehow managed to make the experience even better.

“I didn’t want to sit around in a restaurant. It’s already going to be midnight by the time we get home,” he said, tossing his empty wrapper into the paper bag the food had come in. He leaned his head back on the headrest and tipped his face towardTomas. “Besides, it was still the most perfect date I’ve ever been on.”

Tomas glanced at him for longer than was probably safe, though there weren’t a lot of cars on the road with them now that they were miles away from Grand Rapids. They drove past winter-barren fields a few miles outside of Ridgewood, alone except for the moon shining down on them.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Thank you for seeing me,” he added softly. He reached over and rubbed his palm up Tomas’s bicep and over the round ball of his shoulder until he got to the back of his neck. He gave him a light squeeze, then left his hand there, wanting to feel connected to Tomas when his emotions were running rampant over the thoughtful man.

Tomas took in a deep breath and let it out a little unsteadily. “I do see you, Vinnie. You and Mason aren’t just a package deal. You are your own person, and I see that. Anyone who ever made you feel like that wasn’t true isn’t worth your time.”

“I know,” he said quietly, but it had still happened more often than not. He didn’t mind bowling dates or going to the movies or just eating at a diner and talking, but going to see a musical… That was something he loved but didn’t get to do often since none of his friends enjoyed them like he did.

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