Page 5 of Rico

The man blushed. “I have a feeling I’ll pale in comparison to you in one.”

Stepping in and brushing his lips across Evan’s again, Rico whispered, “I doubt you pale in comparison to anyone, sweetheart. Don’t let me hear you put yourself down again. You’re sexy as fuck, and I’ve wanted you since the first night you were at my bar with that group.” When Evan’s eyes grew wide, Rico nipped at his jaw. “Oh, yeah, I noticed you that night. Pissed me off we were so busy I couldn’t get your name and number.”

Evan gulped. “Why—why didn’t you say anything when I started coming in every week?”

“I picked up on your nervousness.”

He quickly put two and two together. “And you thought I was closeted or newly outed.”

“Yup. But I’m glad I was wrong. Let me have your phone.” Rico moved back and held out his hand. After Evan swiped the screen, he gave him the cell. Rico put in his number and then hit send to connect to his own phone. When it rang in his pocket, he disconnected the call and returned the device to Evan. “The gala starts at eight. It’s only a few blocks from here. If you don’t mind driving, you can pick me up across the street. My condo is in the Paradox.”

“Um, yeah, that sounds great.”

With a final peck on the lips, Rico said, “Yes, it does.”

Three

“H

ey, Dad? Where are you?”

Evan’s hands froze where they’d been straightening his bowtie. He stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom, putting on the final touches to his black tuxedo, and the last thing he expected was for Brian to stop by his apartment. When Susan and Evan decided to divorce, he found a two-bedroom place only ten minutes away from the house they’d shared so he could still be nearby for his sons. While he had the boys over for dinner every Tuesday and Thursday, and they stayed with him every other weekend, he told them they could come over any time they wanted to visit. He was still very active in their lives, going to their baseball and lacrosse games, taking them to the movies or fishing, and giving them rides any time they needed, among other things. He and Susan even went together with Brian to look at different colleges. Susan also invited him over for dinner almost every Sunday. Evan knew, as far as divorces went, he’d gotten damn lucky. His ex-wife was one hell of a woman, and he’d be forever grateful for her understanding and compassion over the end of their marriage.

The lanky seventeen-year-old strolled into the bedroom and looked his father up and down. “Where are you going all dressed up? Another awards show?”

“Uh, no. I’m going to ... um, an art show.”

Brian sat on the edge of the queen-sized bed. “Art show? In a tux?”

“Yup. It’s a black-tie party at a gallery downtown.” He double-checked the cufflinks he put on earlier, then turned around and held out his hands. “How do I look?”

His son shrugged. “Good, I guess.”

“Thanks—I think. What’re you doing here anyway? Not that I mind you stopping by.”

Brian hesitated a moment, and then his gaze fell to the floor. “Mom let me borrow the car. She’s got a date tonight.”

Ah. Evan had encouraged Susan to start dating again, but she kept saying she hadn’t found anyone she was interested in yet. As far as Evan knew, this would be her first date since their divorce.

He took a seat next to Brian. “Do you know who it is?”

“Nope. She said she’d introduce him to us if he was still around after a few dates.”

Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. “This is a good thing, Bri. I know it’s hard for you and Mark to think about your mom with someone other than me. But she deserves to be happy with someone who can care for her when you and your brother go off to college and the great beyond.”

“I know. It’s just weird.” He glanced at Evan’s tux again. “Are you going on a date too?”

When he finally sat his boys down and told them he was gay and it was the reason why he and Susan were divorcing, Evan swore he would never lie to them again. He’d lied to everyone and himself for years, which hurt them all. After they overcame the initial shock, he was surprised by how accepting theywere. Times were changing, he guessed. While there were still plenty of people out there who hated the LGBTQ+ community, being gay didn’t have the same stigma it had many years ago, especially in the Bay Area.

“Yeah, I am. First date. Well, second—we had coffee the other night.”

“What’s his name?”

“Rico Demara. He owns a bar and restaurant downtown. It’s his friend’s art show we’re going to.”

When Brian just nodded, Evan clasped his shoulder and pulled him close for a sideways hug. “You can hang out here tonight if you want. There’s leftover pizza in the fridge.”

He shrugged again. “Maybe.”

---