Page 89 of Sweet T

“They have that?”

“They sure do... and what I’ve come across is pretty pornographic.”

“OK,” Tucker said, leaning closer. “Now, I’m interested.”

“I bet you are. What do you want for dinner?”

Tucker’s eyes remained glued to Evan’s. He grinned.

“On the menu.”

Tucker glanced at the menu for a moment, then pointed at a picture labeled Moo Goo Gai Pan.

“That’s another thing,” Evan said. “You always point to pictures on menus. You’re not reading them, are you?”

“No.”

“My dear, you don’t know what you’re missing out on.”

“Am I missing out on that blow job?”

“Hell, no.”

* * *

With the blossoming of their romance came unforeseen benefits. Tucker’s relationship with his father was on the mend. The four of them were dining together at the main house once, sometimes twice, a week. They also began the ritual of watching Braves games together on Sundays.

It was while watching one of those games that a long-dormant dream was awakened. Pedro and Tucker were in the kitchen, hard at work on a mid-afternoon meal. Evan and Titus were in the family room, television on, Chip Caray and Joe Simpson announcing the starting lineup.

“How are things coming with the play?”

“Great.” Evan grabbed his beer bottle from the coaster on the coffee table. “I’m a little nervous, not having rehearsed with anyone other than Sebastian. But we have a tech rehearsal tonight and a final dress Thursday which should allay those apprehensions. Somewhat, anyway. I hope.”

“I’m sure it will be wonderful.”

Evan laughed. “I’m not sure I buy that last statement.”

Titus reached for his own beer. “I wasn’t the best of students, Evan. Violet, Tucker’s mother, helped me maintain my grades. I was much more of a sports guy.” He gestured with the bottle toward the TV. “Give me a Braves or Falcons game any day.”

“Handsome men in snug uniforms? I see why. I could watch Freddie Freeman turn double plays all day.”

“Not today, you won’t. He’s on the DL. And Freeman would assist. The turner is the second baseman.”

Evan clinked his bottle to Titus’s. “My mistake.”

They were quiet for a while, watching the end of the first inning. A commercial for Aflac came on and Evan spoke again. “Can I ask you something, Titus? Just between the two of us.”

“Yes.” Titus eyed him shrewdly. “But only if I can do the same.”

“Deal. Me first, though.”

“OK.”

Evan wasn’t sure where to start. Depending on the scope of the lunch/supper meal assemblage in the kitchen, he knew they had a little time before Pedro and Tucker rejoined them. So he plunged headlong, blurting. “What’s the deal with Javy?”

“What do you mean?”

“Tucker feels like he’s been replaced by his stepbrother, and that maybe you favor Javy. My words, not his.”

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