Page 23 of Candy Hearts
“Say it. I’ll like it,” Benji whispered.
William watched him closely. “You beautiful slut.”
Benji loved it. He nodded and panted and generally forced himself not to deepthroat the man in front of him.
William grinned and went to get the pizza.
Chapter Seven
Talking to Benji was fun becauseBenjiwas fun, but William had not enjoyed the job conversation. Benji discovering that William slept in his office poked at every insecurity and point of weakness William had. Every mistake he’d made in the past.
Thank God for the distraction of pizza.
He swung the front door open only to be assaulted by roses, a big balloon, and the strong scent of burnt cheese.
“What the—” Had he accidentally ordered a Valentine’s Day special?
“I have a Sweet Treat Two-Topping Pizza for Two for William?” the gangly delivery boy said.
He took the pizza box from the teenager. The small bouquet of roses was lying caddy-corner across the greasy box. Then the teenager handed him a wine bottle. No, not a wine bottle. A sparkling-cider bottle. There was a huge mylar, heart-shaped balloon tied to the neck with the words “I Adough You” scrolled across it in blue marker. Lastly, the delivery boy passed over a large brownie wrapped in cellophane.
“This is … very nice. Thank you. Here’s the coupon,” William said.
Benji squeezed in behind him in the entryway. “Wow, babe. You shouldn’t have. This is so romantic.” He took the cider from William and cradled the bottle, the balloon banging off the top of the doorframe.
The teenager’s eyes went wide, and he grinned like he’d been handed the keys to a Maserati. “Hi! Cool. You’re boyfriends?”
Benji jumped in. “We’re valentines. That’s why we’ve planned such an amorous meal. Meat Lovers pizza and gas station brownies and apple juice. Yum.”
“Oh no. It’s not Meat Lovers,” the delivery boy said, flustered suddenly. He pulled the receipt out of his pocket. “It’s only Italian sausage and green peppers. Is it supposed to be a Meat Lovers? Oh shit. I mean,shoot. That’s the third time I’ve delivered the wrong pizzatoday!”
“No. I’m sorry. This is right,” Benji said, stricken and remorseful, which was deserved, what with sending their teenage delivery boy into such a panic. “This is what we ordered. I was just being …”
“Not funny,” William finished for him.
Benji buried his laugh in William’s shoulder.
“Wow. Okay. That’s cool. Please don’t tell my boss I cussed.” The teenager was staring at them avidly.
“We won’t. I promise.” William pulled cash out of his wallet and thrust it at the teen. “Thanks.”
“Wow,” the boy said again as the door closed. William hadn’t counted out the bills. He’d probably overpaid.
“Who needs fancy dinners when they have Pecker’s Pizza Town?” Benji asked.
William couldn’t hold in his snort. “It’s Peter’s Pizza Town. Come on. Let’s eat.”
The house was darkening as the sun sank lower in the sky, but the fireplace gave off enough light to see each other while sitting cross-legged on the rug with the pizza box between them.
“That kid acted like he’d never seen a queer couple before,” Benji said, after they’d both downed three slices apiece.
“Yeah, well. This is a small town.”
“Rural queers exist. I read an article about them once.” Benji’s lips curled into a teasing smile.
“I know. I grew up in a small town, but—”
“You did?”
