Friends and Lovers Read online

  “I’m here in Savannah.”

  “Is Ken with you?”

  “No. He and I… we had a… a spat. I had to get away…”

  “Oh, buddy. Are you okay?”

  “Not… not really, Tom. I… I need a place to stay for the night. What’s left of it. I wouldn’t ask, but I left my wallet behind. I was in such a rush… Stupid. I can’t believe how stupid… I’ve been on the road since… I don’t know. It feels like for- forever.”

  This sounded like more than a ‘spat.’ “Where are you?” he asked again. He’d take Josh to task for calling himself stupid after his friend had a good night’s sleep under his belt.

  “I’m at the gas station that’s about two minutes from your place.” The sorrow and weariness in his friend’s voice almost broke Tom’s heart. “I didn’t want to just come knocking on your door.”

  “You know you’re always more than welcome, but what are you doing in that part of town? I called you about it. You weren’t home, but I told Ken.”

  “Oh, yeah. That’s right,” he said hollowly. “I… I guess I forgot. You moved in with what’s-his-name?”

  “His name is Jack Sweet, as you very well know.” His friend had a mind like a steel trap and forgot nothing, which was why he still was less than friendly toward Jack, remembering the times he’d had to pull Tom together after Jack had pushed him from his life once again.

  “Right. Can you give me directions?”

  “Sure, buddy.” After having Josh repeat them twice, he said, “It should take you about twenty minutes to get here. You’ve got your hog? Make sure you ride careful then, you hear me?”

  “I hear you. Thanks, Tom. I…” Josh’s chuckle was watery. “Thanks.”

  Oh, Josh, what did that son of a bitch do to you? Tom felt his heart turn over, but he wouldn’t let Joshua hear the concern in his voice. Something was seriously wrong, much more serious than a lovers’ spat. “Bread on the water, Josh.”

  “You’re a good friend, Tom.”

  Mutual acquaintances had never been able to understand how he and Joshua could become friends.

  Tom couldn’t understand it himself. Josh was a big, happy, easygoing kind of guy, and he was short, intense, and volatile, the proverbial leather daddy. It hadn’t seemed to matter to Joshua though. He’d seen Tom at his worst, fucking a twink over a pool table in a biker bar, and he’d still been willing to be his friend.

  “I’ll see you soon. Bye, buddy.” He disconnected the call, then rang the guard house at the gates of the community he, his lover, and the two Sweet children had moved into a few years before. “This is Tom Hansom. Who’s this? Oh, Chad, listen, a friend of mine should be coming by in about twenty minutes. Joshua Andretti. He’ll be riding a big ol’ Harley. Let him through, okay? Thanks.”

  “Are we gonna have company, babe?” Jack asked as he hung up the receiver.

  “Shit. I’m sorry I woke you, Jack.”

  “Like I wouldn’t wake up when the phone rings in the middle of the night? I did a quick head count and didn’t breathe easy until I knew they were all safe in their beds. Or at least under our roof.” He grinned wryly. It had taken some time for him to accept his son might find himself in another boy’s bed, but he really didn’t want to face the knowledge that his little girl might also be in a boy’s bed.

  “Yeah, so did I. I even worried about my Mom.”

  “I didn’t. I knew Charlie would take good care of her. You’d beat him to a pulp if he didn’t.”

  “Think you know me so well?”

  “Don’t I?” Jack pulled him against his body.

  “Yeah, you do.” He was the only man Tom would allow to do something like that, allow to see him at a weak point. “I should have asked if it would be okay with you...”

  “Ass. It’s not a problem, we have plenty of room.”

  “Still, I should have…” Tom knew Jack had as little liking for Joshua as Joshua had for him. Seeing the other man reminded Jack too clearly of his poor treatment of Tom. How was Jack going to feel when he learned who’d be sleeping in one of their spare bedrooms?

  Jack gave him a poke. “I’ll let you get by with that only because it’s so early and I know you’re not a morning person. So who was it?”

  “It’s Josh Andretti, my friend from my Tallahassee days.” Tom half-expected Jack to pull away from him, and he was inordinately relieved when he didn’t.

  “Didn’t you tell me he was living in North Carolina with a Marine?”

  “Midway Park.” Tom nodded. “It’s right outside Camp Lejeune. He said he and his partner had a spat. It had to be more than a spat, though, Jack. Josh left home without his wallet.” Dumb jarhead, hurting a sweet guy like Josh.

  “So that’s why he called you. He was looking for a place to lick his wounds.”

  “Don’t make it sound like he’s using me.”

  “Isn’t he?”

  “No more than all the times I used him. I cried on his shoulder often enough when my grandfather was dying.” And when Jack had succeeded in breaking his heart once again, even though he’d sworn to himself that the last time would be the last time.

  “Okay, I’m sorry.”

  “Never mind. Just don’t you tear into him when he gets here. I think Egan really hurt him this time.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “He sounded like he’d been crying.” Tom knew that Jack wouldn’t think less of his friend for having wept. They’d both done it plenty of times.

  “You never liked his boyfriend.”

  “No.” Tom didn’t want to go into it more than that. Ken Egan was too reminiscent of himself in his leather daddy days, although he’d always made a point of treating his bottoms well. Why would he hurt or humiliate someone who made him feel so good? He also didn’t want to think what it might mean that Josh went looking for someone like himself, in personality if not in appearance – Egan was only an inch or so shorter than Joshua, with black Irish looks. “You don’t have to get up, babe.” Tom threw aside the covers and got out of bed, taking the time to pull on his undershorts. The days were long gone when he could parade around the house in the buff.

  “It’s okay. I’d have to be getting up soon anyway.” The owner of a construction company, Jack liked to be onsite when his men arrived. “Why don’t you put a pot of coffee on, and I’ll make up the bed in the spare guest room.”

  “Okay, Jack. Thanks.” Tom aimed a kiss at Jack’s chin, mindful as always of morning breath, but Jack turned his face and caught the kiss, turning it into something more than simple thanks.

  He smiled into Tom’s eyes and patted his ass. “Get hopping, buddy.”

  He went into the kitchen and snagged a can of Coke from the fridge. It would keep him going until the coffee was ready.

  5. The Brother –

  The door slammed, and normally Tom wouldn’t bother looking up from the invoice he was preparing. Living in a house filled with young people, he’d grown used to hearing doors slam.

  But this wasn’t the usual, ‘I’m hungry, let me at the food,’ or ‘Watch out, I’m heading for the bathroom,’ or even, ‘That professor is such an asshole!’ slam.

  This time, there was anger – no, something more than anger – in the sound that reverberated throughout the house, and he was on his feet, his chair spinning away on its wheels from the haste of his action, striding from the office even before he heard Theodore’s shouted, “BT!”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ll tell you what’s wrong!” Theodore was stalking toward him, dragging a white and shaken Joshboy along after him. “That cocksucking, motherfucking, son of a candy-assed bitch bastard – ”

  “Theodore!” Tom had never heard the son of his heart use such language before. “What happened? Are you all right?”

  “We’re not going to Wesley’s wedding!”

  “Wesley?”

  “My… my brother.”

  “His ex-brother!” Theodore spat.

&n
bsp; “Saying it doesn’t make it so, Teddy-my-Ted.”

  “Tell your fucking brother that!”

  Oh, no. This did not sound good! “Come into the dining room with me.” Once there, he pushed both young men down into chairs and went to the liquor cabinet to take out a bottle of Southern Comfort. He poured two healthy shots and turned to hand them to Theodore and Joshboy, then couldn’t prevent a small smile.

  Theodore had pulled Josh from his chair and onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him.

  Tom’s smile vanished as he noted the reason: it was to absorb Josh’s shivers.

  “Here. I want you both to drink this.” He waited until they’d obeyed him, then pulled up a chair and sat down in front of them. “All right. Now tell me what happened.”

  “I was going to take Josh to lunch – ”

  “The Olympia Café on River Street – ”

  “It’s our sixth anniversary – ”

  “We’ve been engaged for six weeks,” Joshboy clarified. “Anyway, we were crossing the street – ”

  “And I was holding Josh’s hand –” Theodore tightened his hold on Josh.

  “Yes, you were.” Josh leaned into Theodore and rubbed his cheek against his hair.

  “Someone said, ‘Squirt, is that you?’”

  “It was my brother – ”

  “Ex-brother!”

  “Teddy, please stop interrupting me?” Theodore subsided. “Thank you. It was Wesley, BT.”

  “I remember him from John’s wedding.”

  He’d kept hovering around their table, trying to get Catherine to dance with him, and making remarks that brought an angry flush to her cheeks. It was touch and go as to who would deck the little candy-ass first – Tom or Jack.

  “What is he doing in Savannah?”

  Josh shrugged. “He didn’t say –”

  “No, he wanted to know where that hot blonde babe had got too.”

  “So I told him we broke up – ”

  “And he said, ‘I’m not surprised if she caught you holding hands with some guy!’”

  “He didn’t recognize Teddy, which was a good thing.”

  “No matter – Wait just one second, Joshboy! Why was that a good thing?”

  “Teddy, if my family ever learns that I did something like that to them, made them look like fools in front of all their friends – ”

  “They don’t have friends here in Savannah, do they?”

  “No, but that wouldn’t matter.” Josh worried his lower lip, obviously distressed. “They wouldn’t see it that way.”

  “Well, their friends would never find out!” Theodore insisted obstinately, and continued, “Anyway, no matter what Josh tried to say, he kept making fun of him for holding my hand.”

  Tom growled, and Theodore nodded in agreement.

  Josh pretended he hadn’t heard him. “So I finally said, ‘Why shouldn’t I hold my fiancé’s hand?’”

  “And you should have seen Wesley’ face! I thought he was going to pee his pants!”

  “Teddy.”

  “Sorry, Joshboy. ‘Burst a blood vessel,’” he corrected, then lowered his voice. “And then he was going to pee his pants!”

  Tom laughed, albeit reluctantly. “But I thought you’d called your parents to invite them to the wedding. Surely he was aware you and Theodore are getting married?”

  Josh hung his head. “I kept putting it off. Please don’t be angry with me, BT. I know it was cowardly of me, but I couldn’t face how they would react.” He shivered and turned pale, and started rubbing his stomach. “And if they said they were going to come, I knew they would do something to ruin it, and it’s supposed to be the most perfect day of my life, and –” His voice hitched, and tears slid down his cheeks. “And I don’t care! I don’t want them here!”

  “Oh, baby!” Theodore tightened his hold and stroked a comforting hand up and down Josh’s back.

  Tom knelt beside the boys and wrapped his arms around them both. “It’s all right, Joshboy. They won’t be missed, I promise you!”

  “There’s more, BT,” Theodore said grimly. “Go ahead, Josh. Tell him.”

  “I… I said, ‘Aren’t you going to congratulate me?’ Wesley said, ‘For what? Proving our parents were right about you? I always thought there was something faggy about you! This will break Mother’s heart when I tell her!’ It won’t,” he mused sadly, his eyes welling with tears he struggled not to shed. “I’m not…” His voice cracked. “… not Wesley. But it will be all she needs to have Father disown me.”

  Tom wanted to kick the Hardens to the curb for not realizing what a wonderful son they were tossing away with such careless disregard.

  “I keep telling you, you’ve got us now, babe!” Theodore’s eyes had become over-bright. “We’re your family! Please don’t cry. They aren’t worth a single tear! Tell him, BT!”

  “Yes, we are, and no, they aren’t!” Tom assured Josh, although he knew that having family cut you out of their lives hurt no matter how old you were. He thought of his sister, who treated him as if he were nothing more than an acquaintance. “Oh, Joshboy.”

  Josh sniffed and wiped his palms over his cheeks. His stomach chose that moment to rumble. “We missed our lunch,” he mourned. “The Olympia Café.”

  “We were gonna go Greek.” Theodore looked innocent until Josh gave a startled spurt of laughter. Then he looked very pleased with himself.

  “You can go Greek another time. My Mom stopped by earlier. Let’s go see what she left in the fridge.”

  6. Kira’s new boyfriend –

  In spite of the fact that it was a week before Halloween, it was still warm enough for the weekly barbecue to include a pool party.

  Tom stood watching as pretty boys, straight and gay, and pretty girls splashed in the pool. Kira was balanced on her latest boyfriend’s shoulders, struggling to maintain her position, an arm wrapped firmly around the neck of – Billy? Jimmy? Tom had forgotten his name – while Catherine and Theodore faced them. It was easy to see the added height of the brother and sister team gave them the advantage.

  With a smothered shriek, Kira toppled off, flopping into the water inelegantly. She surfaced, spluttering and scowling. Tom couldn’t hear her words, but he had no doubt this was the beginning of the end for her hapless latest. He’d long since stopped counting, and he knew bringing up the subject was less than useless; Kira was determined to go her own way.

  “They’re gorgeous!” Josh Andretti joined him.

  “They are. See anything you like?” Tom grinned up at him.

  “Are you kidding? Why do you think I got out of the pool and wrapped my towel around my waist?”

  “Really? That’s wonderful! Who’s caught your eye?”

  “No, not really! They’re all so young! I feel like a dirty old man just looking at them!”

  “Speak for yourself! We’re the same age!”

  “Yes, and you’re very happily involved with someone who’s a man and not a boy.”

  Tom glanced around, his eyes lighting on his lover, who was busy manning the grill. Jack caught his look and smiled at him, and he sighed contentedly. “I am, aren’t I?”

  “Was it worth it, Tom? All the… the heartbreak he put you through?”

  “It was. I’ve never been happier, Josh. Seriously. I’ve not only got Jack, but I’ve got the children I never thought I’d have.”

  “Cath and Teddy are good kids.”

  “They are, but I didn’t just mean them. Kira and Josh are also very special to me. Who’d have thought when I first hired them that Joshboy and Theodore would make a match of it?”

  “I guess it was serendipity, Tommy.”

  Tom bumped his shoulder against his friend’s, pretending not to hear the yearning in HisJosh’s voice.

  “How is the tall one taking the engagement?”

  “Smile when you call him that!” Tom laughed softly. HisJosh was actually Jack’s height. “He’s very pleased about it.”

  “He should be
, considering that Josh has put his grad work on hold and is going for a bachelor’s in business administration.”

  “I hope he doesn’t regret that. I told him it wasn’t necessary, that I didn’t have a degree in business administration but managed okay, but he’s determined to prove he can pull his weight.” He sighed. “Did you know a couple of their ‘friends’ had the nerve to hint that Josh had latched onto Theodore in order to secure a cushy berth with Jack’s company?”

  “You can’t be serious! Josh is the least likely of anyone I’ve ever met to do that!”

  “I know.”

  “Well, I hope they’ve seen how very wrong they are!”

  “It doesn’t matter. When Theodore found out – he happened to overhear, Josh didn’t say anything – he went ballistic and said they were no longer his friends.”

  “Teddy?”

  “Yeah. You wouldn’t think it, would you? He’s got his father’s disposition, but hurt someone he loves, and you’re history!”

  “And I can see how much he loves Joshboy. I wish…” He sighed and looked away.

  “You’ve been alone for a while now.”

  “Not alone, buddy. You’ve always been there for me, and I – ”

  “Don’t get maudlin on me, Andretti. You were there for me more times than I can count. What’s a spare shoulder between friends?” Tom frowned. “Ken hasn’t called, has he?”

  After HisJosh had come to stay with them, it hadn’t taken the Marine long to realize he might have finally gone too far with his ‘games’, and then he’d started calling Joshua’s cell phone. The calls had escalated to almost every hour, Joshua turning paler each time it rang and then finally shutting it off, until Tom decided it was time to pay a discreet visit to Midway Park, ostensibly to retrieve HisJosh’s wallet, but in actuality to explain the facts of life to Ken Egan.

  Egan laughed. After all, he was 6’2” and Tom was a mere 5’8”.

  He stopped laughing after Tom decked him with a single punch, but he jumped to his feet, his fists raised. It took another couple of punches before he finally realized the wisdom of staying down.

  “You can have him!” he spat through a mouthful of broken teeth. “He’s a lousy lay anyway! I’ve had blow-up dolls who were more active sex partners! You wouldn’t believe what I had to do to get him to move that ass of his!”