Page 47 of Tooth and Nail

Ari snorted. “Yeah, that’s what I meant.”

“You really are an ass,” Eoghan said, glancing at him to note his smile before looking back out the windshield.

“I’m only kidding. I’m super jealous. Toyota has come a long way since releasing this car twenty-five years ago. The design of this new one is really nice. I guess you get great mileage?”

“About sixty-five miles to the gallon,” Eoghan replied.

Ari sat forward. “Are you serious? I had no idea the gas mileage was that good. I figured it would be like fifty.”

“I was a little surprised myself, but I can’t say I’m not happy about it. I’ve had the car for about two months, and this is only my second tank of gas. I’ll need to fill up soon but still, I use about a quarter of the amount of gas that I used to.”

“That’s crazy. Do you have a long commute?”

“Not really. About forty minutes in normal traffic. My place is in the Valley.”

“I don’t know where that is in relation to Griffith Park.”

“It’s not far as the crow flies but unfortunately, we get stuck with traffic. I live in Studio City which you can drive in about a half hour on side streets or forty minutes when traffic is heavy.” He hit the brakes and looked at the street signs which signaled that they were approaching downtown. “In fact, we’ll take side streets as soon as we get to Hollywood. It’s quick after that.”

“Wait,” Ari said. “You’re taking me back to your house?”

Eoghan turned and smirked. “I have a perfectly acceptable couch. Where’d you think I was taking you?”

“To a hotel close to the airport where I can rent a car.”

Eoghan thought about it, rejecting the idea right away. The fact was, he just wanted him close after everything that had happened today. He tested the idea and found he really liked it. He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just one night. The I.S.R. isn’t paying your rent anyway so why not stay with me?” He went on when Ari didn’t reply. “We have things to talk about…like I told you.”

“That’s right,” Ari replied. “Fine. I’ll stay tonight but after that, I have to find another room somewhere.”

“Whatever you feel you need to do,” Eoghan said.

“I feel like I should buy you dinner or at the very least cook for you to thank you for the couch.”

Eoghan glanced over and smiled. “I’d like that. There’s a Trader Joe’s close to the house. We can pick up the ingredients for something there.”

“They have one in Lexington, but I’ve never been to it.”

“Trader Joe’s? It’s my favorite grocery store.”

“That sounds good then.”

They got to the store and picked up fresh ingredients for a pasta dish, pulling into the driveway of his triplex an hour later. Eoghan parked beside Mr. Greenberg’s Cadillac and got out, just as his neighbor was coming out of his front door. He smiled at the older man who smiled back as they walked up. He looked Ari up and down and eyed the large suitcase he pulled out of the back seat before turning back to Eoghan.

“Hello, Eoghan. Who’s your friend?”

“Good evening, Mr. Greenberg. This is my new partner at the Marshals Service, Aristotle Brown.” He turned to Ari. “Ari, my landlord, Al Greenberg.”

“Nice to meet you, sir.” Ari held out his hand for the older man to shake. Mr. Greenberg’s front door opened and Al’s partner, Ted, walked out before locking the door. He smiled at them and came walking over.

“Hello, Eoghan.”

“Hi, Mr. Feld,” Eoghan said, shaking the man’s hand. “Let me introduce you to my new partner at work. Ted Feld, this is Aristotle Brown. Ari, this is Mr. Greenberg’s—” He hesitated.

“Boyfriend,” Ted finished, reaching for Ari’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too, sir.”

“Ari’s going to stay the night on my couch since he had to leave his former apartment.”

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