disruption. Carlo watched Andi and Matt until they disappeared into the kitchen. As long as he was focused on Hector’s reaction, he didn’t have to deal with his own.
Garrett had brought one of his boyfriends to Ransom, not to sit in the dining room and be treated to The Chef Garrett Ransom Show, but to “play” in the kitchen. Garrett hadn’t come straight to Ransom when he got off his flight because he had been with Matt. None of Garrett’s boyfriends had ever come before Ransom. Until now.
Carlo turned to Garrett and did the expected thing. “So, tell me about Matt.”
The words cost him. When Garrett’s eyes slid away again and he changed the subject, Carlo let him. And, when a new bar of sunlight announced the arrival of the first actual guests, he greeted their arrival with relief.
****
2 a.m. The digital clock next to his bed added the extra minute silently. Garrett stared up at the ceiling. He was still on West Coast time, and his body insisted 11 p.m. was ridiculously early to be in bed.
The apartment was completely silent, not even the whisper of the central air disturbed him. There were cars somewhere down below, people, the city that never slept. Up here, none of it intruded. He could be in space, floating alone above the earth. He strained his ears listening, trying to find a connection to the city around him.
Matt was out there somewhere enjoying the nightlife, so at least Garrett had the apartment to himself. Facing another human when he walked in his own door tonight would have pushed all his buttons. Now he wondered which would be worse—the awkwardness of Matt bringing another man home or the inevitable expectations if he didn’t.
Matt was a good kid, Garrett reminded himself. Garrett couldn’t blame Matt that his presence had become a massive irritant over the last few days. Today’s constant togetherness had been the worst. Garrett had suffered through the flight, settling Matt into his rarely used guestroom, the whole bloody day. Sharing Ransom’s kitchen with Matt had actually been easier than expected. It just hadn’t been the homecoming he wanted.
He hadn’t realized how much he had missed Carlo until he spent their first evening back together avoiding him.
God forbid he had a relationship he didn’t fuck up.
So far Carlo was his single biggest success story in the relationship department. His partner attributed this to the fact that they had never slept together. But, hell, there were tons of people Garrett hadn’t slept with. All of them pretty much hated him on extended acquaintance. Why had Carlo stuck?
He sighed into the darkness.
Tomorrow, he wouldn’t be able to put off telling Carlo what he’d done.
Chapter Two
Carlo hesitated in front of Garrett’s door, key in hand. Normally he gave a courtesy knock and let himself in. But normally he didn’t have to worry about one of Garrett’s boyfriends being in residence. Garrett didn’t encourage sleeping over. Just one more way Matt was “special.”
Garrett had called and asked him over for lunch, so they were up and dressed, right? The logic didn’t help. He couldn’t shake the image of walking in on Garrett and Matt. His normally latent imagination put together an unwelcome full-color collage of all the things he might find them doing together. He stuck the key back into his pocket and knocked.
The door swung open almost immediately, and he was faced with Matt, fully dressed, thank god, and with an expensive-looking camera hanging around his neck. Carlo forced a smile. The kid looked way too relaxed and happy this morning. Don’t go there . But of course it was too late.
If his own smile looked forced, Matt didn’t seem to notice.
“Hey, Carlo—come on in. He’s starting to fret about lunch being ruined.”
Carlo. His nickname on Matt’s lips grated, and he tried to push back the irritation.
“Nice camera. Lunch picture-worthy?”
“Nah, I’m headed out. I’m sure you and
Garrett had brought one of his boyfriends to Ransom, not to sit in the dining room and be treated to The Chef Garrett Ransom Show, but to “play” in the kitchen. Garrett hadn’t come straight to Ransom when he got off his flight because he had been with Matt. None of Garrett’s boyfriends had ever come before Ransom. Until now.
Carlo turned to Garrett and did the expected thing. “So, tell me about Matt.”
The words cost him. When Garrett’s eyes slid away again and he changed the subject, Carlo let him. And, when a new bar of sunlight announced the arrival of the first actual guests, he greeted their arrival with relief.
****
2 a.m. The digital clock next to his bed added the extra minute silently. Garrett stared up at the ceiling. He was still on West Coast time, and his body insisted 11 p.m. was ridiculously early to be in bed.
The apartment was completely silent, not even the whisper of the central air disturbed him. There were cars somewhere down below, people, the city that never slept. Up here, none of it intruded. He could be in space, floating alone above the earth. He strained his ears listening, trying to find a connection to the city around him.
Matt was out there somewhere enjoying the nightlife, so at least Garrett had the apartment to himself. Facing another human when he walked in his own door tonight would have pushed all his buttons. Now he wondered which would be worse—the awkwardness of Matt bringing another man home or the inevitable expectations if he didn’t.
Matt was a good kid, Garrett reminded himself. Garrett couldn’t blame Matt that his presence had become a massive irritant over the last few days. Today’s constant togetherness had been the worst. Garrett had suffered through the flight, settling Matt into his rarely used guestroom, the whole bloody day. Sharing Ransom’s kitchen with Matt had actually been easier than expected. It just hadn’t been the homecoming he wanted.
He hadn’t realized how much he had missed Carlo until he spent their first evening back together avoiding him.
God forbid he had a relationship he didn’t fuck up.
So far Carlo was his single biggest success story in the relationship department. His partner attributed this to the fact that they had never slept together. But, hell, there were tons of people Garrett hadn’t slept with. All of them pretty much hated him on extended acquaintance. Why had Carlo stuck?
He sighed into the darkness.
Tomorrow, he wouldn’t be able to put off telling Carlo what he’d done.
Chapter Two
Carlo hesitated in front of Garrett’s door, key in hand. Normally he gave a courtesy knock and let himself in. But normally he didn’t have to worry about one of Garrett’s boyfriends being in residence. Garrett didn’t encourage sleeping over. Just one more way Matt was “special.”
Garrett had called and asked him over for lunch, so they were up and dressed, right? The logic didn’t help. He couldn’t shake the image of walking in on Garrett and Matt. His normally latent imagination put together an unwelcome full-color collage of all the things he might find them doing together. He stuck the key back into his pocket and knocked.
The door swung open almost immediately, and he was faced with Matt, fully dressed, thank god, and with an expensive-looking camera hanging around his neck. Carlo forced a smile. The kid looked way too relaxed and happy this morning. Don’t go there . But of course it was too late.
If his own smile looked forced, Matt didn’t seem to notice.
“Hey, Carlo—come on in. He’s starting to fret about lunch being ruined.”
Carlo. His nickname on Matt’s lips grated, and he tried to push back the irritation.
“Nice camera. Lunch picture-worthy?”
“Nah, I’m headed out. I’m sure you and
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