Page 98 of The Falcon and the Foe

I couldn’t think of anything better. After losing my parents and having my brother move to the other side of the country, I’d been this unmoored being, searching for a place to call home. I’d spent my twenties searching for people to love me back. I had moved to Sourwood years ago as a last-ditch effort for a fresh start; more and more, it felt like fate that brought me here.

“What’s with you?” Leo asked Buzz, whose face went gray.

“About the whole not going anywhere part.” Buzz put down his beer and let out a nervous laugh. “Shane and I are moving to Seattle.”

* * *

The next day,Russ came over on his lunch break. He had built up the courage to flex his seniority and stretch his lunch breaks to two hours. Since he got his work done and didn’t have meetings scheduled, his company was cool with it. He worked hard for them. He deserved some leisurely midday nookie.

I had tried making my own pizza as Russ had done. It had turned into a kitchen catastrophe that forced me to unscrew my smoke alarm. Russ said he’d bring over lunch.

“What’s that?” I pointed at the Little Caesar’s bag in his hand.

“Lunch.” Russ kissed me on the cheek as he entered my home. “They have these lunch specials. A mini Sicilian pizza and Pepsi for five bucks.”

“I’ve tempted you to the dark side.”

“I read online that the owner of Little Caesar’s tended to Rosa Parks in her later years.”

“So what you’re saying is that we’re actually helping the world by eating Little Caesar’s?”

Russ sat the food on the kitchen table, then pulled me in a sweeping, full-bodied kiss.

“What was that for?”

“Yesterday after work, I stopped by Malcolm’s grave.”

I froze up. I knew Malcolm would always be there in some capacity. Quentin was his son. He and Russ had a history. I wasn’t here to erase any of that.

“I told him about you.”

“I hope you said nice things. I hope he said nice things.”

Russ managed a half-smile. “I told him that I’d found someone really special. Someone who makes me laugh, who brings me joy, who makes me want to sing in the shower again.”

“And what did he say?” Was there a Good Housekeeping Dead Husband Seal of Approval I needed?

“I don’t know.”

“He doesn’t speak to you?”

“I don’t believe in ghosts. But I like to think he’s at peace, and he wants me to be happy. Cal, this isn’t a competition thing.” Russ held my face. “Wherever he is, I believe Malcolm has given his blessing. I think he would’ve liked you.”

“He seems like a wonderful guy.”

“And so are you. I have been so disgustingly happy with you in my life.”

“Who would’ve thought?”

“Not me.” Russ pushed me against the fridge. Magnets dug into my back, but that was okay because a hard dick dug into my front. “There’s something else.”

“Do you have another dead husband?”

Russ cocked his head. Maybe that wasn’t in the best taste, but fortunately, Russ laughed.

“Negative. I, uh, I’ve been thinking about what you said in the previous Falcons meeting of all places.” Russ cleared his throat. “About bottoming.”

My ears and dick perked up. “Oh?”

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