Page 69 of Sass in the Grass

Dixon glanced over at him, and Jovian could tell that it bothered him.

“I mean…I just do because I can.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

After they cleaned up, Dixon showed him out the back, and the first thing Jovian saw were the two long lines of trees in the back. “They’re pretty! What are they?”

“That’s my orchard. Apples and peaches, and behind them I have berry bushes, all kinds of different ones.”

There was a small greenhouse off to the left of the beautiful patio.

On the patio, that was covered with a pergola that reached from the house out ten feet, was a wicker couch and two matching chairs, a trunk for a coffee table, and of course, more plants. “This is so pretty, Dixon.”

“You know, you can call me Cherokee. The campers all use my last name, but you’re…not just a camper.”

Jovian smiled shyly, a smile that felt strange to his lips. “I’d like that.”

Farther to the right, next to the greenhouse, was a huge garden. There were plants of every size and shape growing in wood encased, raised beds. “This is my peace right here. When I’m playing in the garden or in the greenhouse, I feel…peace.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt that before I met you,” he confessed, then felt his face flushing hot.

“Maybe you needed a little peace in your life.”

Jovian grabbed both his hands and smiled at him. And then, the waterworks started all over again. “Dang it! I cry way too much around you.”

“All those emotions, just begging to get out for a long time, and now they can.”

After swatting at them, he turned away from Dixon…Cherokee. “Let’s get back. I need to shower.”

“You can shower here.”

Turning, shocked, he asked, “Without a change of clothes and my products? Are you for real?”

“Sorry,” he said with both hands raised. The laughter he tried to keep inside leaked out, however. “Let’s get you back to your products.”

He showered, dressed and readied for the rest of the day, finding his friends in the Mess Hall, just starting lunch. He got a tray of the fish and rice but picked at it as he told them about his adventure. “He’s the sweetest man that ever lived.”

“Wow. You have it bad,” Alan said. “Did you guys…you know?”

“I will not kiss and tell.”

“Hell, we don’t want to hear about the kissing,” Mike said, laughing.

“Fine, but don’t tell another soul!”

“We won’t,” they said in unison.

“Telling secrets like this to gay men, well, I know it’s going to get out, but…yes. We did.”

As they both squealed with delight, Jovian was busy trying to hush them.

“I don’t need the world knowing!”

“Tell us everything,” Mike whispered.

“Not everything! I’m no cad.”

“Cad,” Alan mocked. “Don’t be a cad, Michael.”

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