Page 101 of The Fireman and the Flirt

I ordered two Mountain Man Martinis, tonight’s drink special. Typically, I wasn’t a martini guy, but I’d make an exception. Someone tapped me on the shoulder as I took out my wallet. I turned and stood face-to-face with Bill, Des, and Hank. Next to me, I felt Cary’s body tense.

“Hey,” Bill said.

I gave him a mere nod of acknowledgement, nothing more. I shifted to shield Cary. “Can I help you?”

“We came to apologize, to both of you,” he said, looking over my shoulder. Bill was a man of few words, but he made them count.

I searched out Mitch in the crowd, certain he told the guys we’d be here tonight.

“We were assholes,” said Des.

“Fucking assholes,” Hank added. “We’re sorry for bringing up that dumb story. We’re sorry, Cary.” Hank waved over me. “I think we had earth science together, right?”

“I think you guys should go,” I said. They weren’t going to ruin this wonderful night for him.

“We mean it,” said Des. “We feel bad about how we left things. We were joking around at the bar, and we should’ve stopped when you asked. That’s no way to treat a teammate or his boyfriend. And we’re not just saying that because we want you to join the Comebacks. Though our defense is fucked if you’re not on the team.”

Cary pushed past me to face them. “I’m putting gearhead behind me, but it wasn’t fun living through that. It’s not fun being a gossip item. You guys were on top of the world in high school. You have no idea what it was like.”

“My son is bullied.” Hank’s jaw tightened, his perma-smile vanishing. “He’s the kind of kid we would’ve teased back in the day. But he’s more intelligent and more interesting than all of us. He’s going to be a professional math genius and leave all us idiot jocks in the dust. I guess this is karma.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You were right, Derek. If it was my kid being talked about, I’d feel awful.”

“I’m sorry he’s going through that,” said Cary.

Bill clapped my shoulder. “Having you back here, being on the ice together, it’s something special. I know you felt it.”

I had a flash of playing hockey again, the thrill of being on the ice. I’d never heard these guys apologize, so for them to come here meant that they were sincere. I looked to Cary. I wasn’t going to do anything that made him feel uncomfortable, and if that meant giving up on the Comebacks, then so be it.

“You heard ‘em,” Cary said, a smile cracking his lips. “Their defense is fucked without you.”

The guys’ eyebrows perked up in unison.

“I guess I’ll see you at practice,” I said. “But if I hear any jokes about having sex with cars, then I will rip your balls off.”

“Ball.” Des held up a finger.

We broke out laughing. The guys hugged Cary and congratulated him on his plaque. As soon as Des mentioned he was in the market for a new place, Cary switched into real estate agent mode.

While the PRG event was at a fancy banquet hall with delicious catering, I much preferred this party.

Cal and Russ arrived a little bit later. Cal and I had made a plan that he’d come to the firehouse once a week for lunch. It would be a brotherly bonding session.

“What do you think, Russ? Should we let them in?” Cal asked, crossing his arms.

“I think it goes without saying,” his husband replied.

“Into what?” Cary asked.

“The Single Dads Club!” Cal said, throwing an imaginary handful of confetti in the air.

“I’m thinking that we should probably change our name,” Russ said.

“Can’t. I already trademarked it and am getting merch made.” Cal giddily sipped his drink.

The night woreon until finally Charlie stood on a bar stool and announced that the movie was about to begin.

It was standing room only. Mitch had to be pleased with the turnout at least. The Single Dads Club shoved to the back of the room. It was no different than when we used to sit in the last row of the auditorium during assemblies.

“Did I miss the movie?” Leo swept in, unbuttoning his swanky peacoat. His twins went up front to sit with Jolene. His boyfriend Dusty brushed flurries out of his blond locks.

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