Page 71 of Mimosa

“Good ones, though.”

“Yeah, money makes things easier. I was out on my ass without a cent when my dad kicked me out. Money, back then,would have made all the difference. Money isn’t evil, per se, but it can make people evil pretty quick.”

“Or bring out the evil that was already there, just hidden.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Mims loved waking up next to Sonny. The man was even hot in his sleep. Those dark lips were parted, letting him shallowly breathe from his mouth, and one hand lay over his abdomen while the other was behind his head.

Leaning on his elbow, Mims stared along every bit of him that was uncovered, right down to his dark pubes.

How he’d gotten so lucky, he’d never know. Forever staring down at men he barely liked, never was physically attracted to and mostly hated. They all treated him like a hooker, though he never made them pay for things.

Finally, a man that was perfect, good, hot. He was a lucky man.

He went to the bathroom, then padded to the kitchen to get coffee. Like usual, Goldie had been up and made the coffee. He was an early riser, even on nights after their weekend shows.

Being bookended by Goldie’s room and Hippy’s was nice, comforting. Two of the toughest guys of the lot, and he was in between them, protected, or at least that was how he felt.

Goldie, the big, strong one. Hippy, the one with the guns. He never worried he’d be hurt, but with Sonny in his room with him? He was invincible.

“Hey, Mimsy,” Goldie said as he strolled into the retro common area. After hopping on the counter near the coffee maker, he asked, “How was last night?” as his brows wiggled.

“You did not hear!”

“I did! I really did!”

Mims slapped his leg and it hurt his hand more than it hurt Goldie. “Damn! Why are you so…so hard?”

“Because I work at it. Keep up that workout like last night and you’ll be almost as ripped as me.”

“Ugh, gawww, I hate you!”

“Nah. You love me. And you sure do loooove Sonny.”

Mims giggled and put sugar in his coffee. “I do.”

“Love looks good on you, Mims.”

“Does it?”

“It really does. Got some color in those cheeks, and I’ll bet those aren’t the only cheeks a little red this morning.”

“You’re so gross!”

Cosmo came in through the door that led to the Murphy household and whined, “Are you serious?”

“What?”

“Goldie was supposed to meet me in Murphy’s fifteen minutes ago.”

“Sorry. I was giving Mims hell for the sex last night.”

Cosmo immediately lost his annoyance. “Oh? Good, was it?”

“You should have heard.”

Cosmo came over and poked his neck. “Love bites. Nice.”

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