Page 39 of For the Love of the Lawyer

"That's not going to work for me, Mickey. I've thought about the two of us a lot since you brought Charlie to Dillwyn. I know I behaved like a real prick by leaving before we talked about things. I'm still trying to figure out why I acted that way. No, I know why I did. I was scared, Mickey. I've been afraid to let anyone get close to me because getting involved in a relationship brings a lot of responsibilities, and I didn't think I wanted anything to do with them.

"I went to my parents' place yesterday for lunch and finally told them I'm gay. Who the fuck knew they'd already guessed it? When Audrey came out, they decided to let me stew until I was finally forced to come clean with them. If it wasn't for you, I'd have likely gone on living the lie until Ham and Ally were old and gray.”

Mickey couldn't help but laugh. "You're full-a-shit, Jonny. There's no way you knowin' me had anything to do—” Jon pulled him into his arms and sealed his mouth over Mickey's before the sentence was finished.

When the man's tongue slipped between Mickey's lips and grazed his teeth, the young cowboy couldn't help himself. Hewas in love with the man, as unlikely a pairing as they might be, but as Tim had told him, the heart wants what it wants.

The kiss became passionate, and Mickey could feel Jon's hard cock against his through the denim of their jeans. They were rutting against each other as the kisses continued, and Mickey felt himself about ready to shoot off.

He pulled back and looked into Jon's eyes, not moving his lower body from the feel of Jon's hardness. The heat between them was something Mickey yearned to feel, fighting the thought that it was yet another one-time-only situation. He quickly determined he was going to take it in stride and at least fulfill a fantasy before it was over.

"Should we take this aloft?" Mickey pointed to the ladder.

He watched as Jon closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "No."

To say Mickey felt the sting of the word was a gross understatement. He worried if he'd used the word “aloft” wrong, but decided he'd used it in the proper context. Jon just didn't want anything to do with him, physically.

Mickey had been studying to take his GED, and he'd hoped he could impress Jon with all the new things he was learning since he was being tutored by Tim, during which Matt watched them and chuckled at their interaction.

"What the hell does that mean?" Mickey asked as Tim quizzed him on vocabulary words. They were in the kitchen at the Circle C, Mickey sautéing vegetables for dinner while Tim kept him company as he sat at the island.

"You've heard of prerequisites, right? Things that are necessary before... So, if they don't come before…" Tim was prodding.

Mickey appreciated his help, but sometimes, the younger cowboy felt like a moron, and he didn't appreciate his best friend seeing it live and in person. "I don't know why you bother, Timmy. I'm just a good ole boy. This is ridiculous. My folks neverexpected me to make anything of myself, and I don't know why you do.” Mickey placed the spatula on the spoon rest and turned to face his friend.

Tim took a deep breath. "Okay, what does pre mean?"

"It means before.” Mickey snapped at him, which surprised them both.

"Okay, what does prerequisites mean?"

"Things that are required before, okay?" Mickey roared loud enough to bring Rocky and Ryan out of the basement.

"What's wrong?" Ryan’s face showed concern.

Tim laughed. "Nothing at all. I'm teaching Mickey some vocabulary words, and he's excited because he just learned a new one."

He then turned to Mickey and smiled. "So, requisite—use it in a sentence."

Mickey laughed. "In order to live at the Circle C, it is requisite that you bring your own dad-burn dictionary."

"Exactly!" Tim shut the book and turned on the radio. The four of them danced around the kitchen to Barron Shelton as a meatloaf cooked in the oven. It was great fun, sometimes, learning with Tim as his teacher.

Mickey swallowed, not sure what to say to the man standing in front of him. Hell, he wasn't sure why the jackass had shown up at the ranch anyway. No reason Mickey could figure. "What the fuck are ya even doin' here, Jon?"

Jon took a deep breath and exhaled as he grabbed Mickey's hand, pulling him closer. "I'm not interested in a quick romp in the hay as temptingly cliché as it might be. I want us to try to be more, Mickey. I know you're ten years younger than me, but I'll be damned if I can stop thinking about you. I'd like to talk to you about some changes I want to make, and I'd like to take you on an honest-to-God date. I can't get you out of my head, Cowboy, and I figure there must be a very good reason," Jon confessed.

Mickey took a minute to think about what he’d said because he didn't want to make a misstep with the man. He'd stewed over the other two times they'd been around each other and how horribly wrong it had gone. He didn't think it was his fault because the man had issues, to be sure, but was he ready for another go-round?

"Who's that?"

Jon and Mickey stood in the corner of the pool at Jeri and Marty's house. It was an adults-only party, and there were friends and family filling the backyard of the senior Collins’ white clapboard home.

Since Jon wasn't familiar with most of the attendees, Mickey took it upon himself to give him the lay of the land—and provide the background information and gossip regarding those in attendance.

"That's Cecelia Blankenship, the boys' first-grade teacher. She was great with them, especially Rocky.” Mickey tilted his head toward the woman sitting in a chair on the pool deck.

"Why especially Rocky?"

---