Page 31 of Cosmo

Abs grabbed his hand and tugged. “Come on, we have to get a rideshare. Murphy’s mean and he won’t let me drive his vehicle.”

“I’ve seen you drive, Abs. No flippin’ way.”

After Abs stuck out his tongue at Murphy, they were out the front door and hurrying down the sidewalk. “I have them pick me up down the street. If you call them for the pub, they always come to the opposite end. It’s annoying.”

“I knew a guy in prison that used to drive for a rideshare. He said people are crazy and disgusting and he’d never do it again.”

“He’s right, and I’ve never driven for one, but I can’t even imagine the smells,” he said, and his thin nose scrunched up cutely.

He really was adorable, even if he was trying so hard to be dark. A pretty face, rather feminine, and his gestures were even more so.

Liam liked his guys on the masc side of things, but he wasn’t like some gay men. He didn’t hate all other types like some of the guys he’d banged when he was young. In fact, he held great disdain for those that judged on looks. They were all part of the same community. There was no reason to push each other aside.

Abs pointed with his long finger to the white SUV pulling up to the curb a few feet from them. “There she is. Rhonda, in a white Tahoe.”

Liam found he was already having a good time, despite his normal aversion to being around just about anyone.

They sat in the backseat and Abs talked to the driver, prattling on about the stores he was taking Liam to, comparing notes with the college student.

She gave him some new stores to try, and he gave her the lowdown on the pub on the weekends. “It’s a gay club, but plenty of girls come. We love our gal pals.”

“I love gay clubs. My friends and me go to one in Aurora sometimes when we just want a night without guys all over us.”

“I can’t promise that, but I can promise that if they bug you, my best friend will wail on them. He’s huge, very handsome, and doesn’t put up with girls getting harassed.”

“You just sold about twenty cosmos!”

Abs clapped and looked over at him, grinning. “Cosmo’s areto die for!”

Liam rolled his eyes but laughed.

Abs kissed her cheek before they left the SUV, and then he retook Liam’s hand.

Liam noticed a woman glaring at their clasped hands, and his fur went up. He stopped them and stared back until her pace sped and she purposely looked the other way.

“I hate some people,” Abs whispered. “Don’t let them get to you.”

“Can’t help it.”

“How was…how was prison for you?”

Liam didn’t take offense to the question. “Hard, of course, but I never got jumped. Did you ever…?”

“I was in juvie, then spent a couple months in jail, but they let me go. Time served. I met Murphy and Eazy right after. I was kind of…wandering.”

“And you’ve been there a long time?”

Abs nodded and suddenly, Liam watched the anger and hurt leave him as he smiled sweetly. “Sure. Almost four years since I just turned twenty-one. I was running with a rough crowd, and then Murphy and the guys saved me. Mama Tally too.”

“Mama?”

“We call her that sometimes, and, well, Mims always calls her that. She’s amazing to us.”

He didn’t have or want a mother in his life. “I’ll stick to calling her Tally.”

“Her real name is Tallulah. What a name, right?”

“It’s Irish. I knew two of them back in church when I was little. One was also Tally, the other was Lulu.”

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