Taste. Part 17

Grier plopped himself down beside his boy and put his arm around Luca's shoulders. "What's that purple beast up to these days?"

Chapter 17.

"ANYTHING special on your agenda today?" Jody asked over a cup of coffee. It was closer to lunch than breakfast, but Lil had just made an appearance, exhausted after last night's drama. special on your agenda today?" Jody asked over a cup of coffee. It was closer to lunch than breakfast, but Lil had just made an appearance, exhausted after last night's drama.

"I'm waiting for Grier's call."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"No, but I'm sure you will anyhow."

"Where are you going with this?"

"Why does it have to be going anywhere?"

"Lil, come on...."

"I'm trying to be realistic," Lil sighed and took another sip of his coffee. "I know I'm leaving on Monday, which doesn't give us much more time together, and his issues are not going to be resolved in two days. I have to wonder why my feelings and my common sense aren't in sync."

"You're seriously in love with this guy?"

"I am, even though I'm aware of all the pitfalls."

"You couldn't fall for someone less complicated?"

Lil raised an eyebrow. "If it were that simple, I would have been partnered years ago."

"Partner? Now you're really scaring me," Jody teased. "Where's the carefree, man-hopping Lil I used to know?"

"I haven't a clue," Lil said dolefully. "What the f.u.c.k am I going to do?"

"If you were king of the world, what would you do?"

"I'd throw that conniving b.i.t.c.h over a cliff and take Grier and Luca back to San Francisco."

"That might not be such a bad idea."

"You're advocating murder?" Lil looked astounded.

"You lovesick lunatic! Why don't you ask Grier to visit you in San Francisco?"

"I'm not sure he can."

"Have you asked?"

"No."

"You can't win the lotto if you don't buy a ticket."

"Good point."

"Get him away from this environment and show him the City by the Bay. Who knows where it will go from there?"

"He'd never leave Lucanot now with all this upheaval."

"You're not asking for something permanent, just a short breather to relieve the stress. From everything you've told me, he's been working like a dog for everyone but himself. Maybe a new locale will bring a fresh perspective and allow him to make choices he's never considered."

Lil perked up instantly. "That does sound like a good plan."

"It's worth a shot."

"I'll broach the subject and see where it leads."

"Let me know if there's anything we can do. Clark is really worried about you."

"He's sweet to be concerned, but Grier is not a walking stick of dynamite. I honestly believe what happened last night was an isolated incident. You should have seen the look in his eyes this morning. I've never seen anyone so tortured."

"That may well be, but anger issues aren't always predictable. You know as well as I what Clark went through, and he's putting himself in your shoes, and rightly so. That's what friends do."

"And I appreciate it more than you know, but my general impression and gut feelings tell me that Grier doesn't have anger-management issues. Sure, he's upset with Jillian right now, and this unfair situation with Luca, but he's a pretty upbeat guy, considering he's put his life on pause for everyone these last few years."

"And you're confident this sacrifice hasn't turned him into an angry and frustrated individual?"

"I'm not saying he's perfect, Jodes. I'm pretty sure he'd rather take charge of his life, and his son's, but I don't see him going postal on us."

"I hope you're right, Lil, but the truth is you hardly know him."

"I know enough."

"We're not just talking s.e.x, are we?"

"Oh, please... this is so beyond that."

"I'm really glad to hear that."

"Not that the s.e.x isn't f.u.c.king unbelievable."

"Okay, TMI."

"You always were such a prude," Lil said, giggling. "I thought marriage would loosen you up, if you'll pardon the pun."

"You're disgusting," Jody groused.

"I know." Lil smiled. "But you expect that from me, don't you?"

"So far you've been completely unpredictable."

"It's this love bug I'm dealing withfrightening."

"No kidding. Tweet me updates, will you?"

"I don't tweet," Lil said. "Who has the time?"

"Seriously, who does?" Jody agreed.

"Demi and Ashton."

Jody grinned. "I've got to get ready for work. I'll be home around midnight."

"Your hours suck."

"The wonderful life of an ER doc."

"But you wouldn't have it any other way, would you?"

"No."

"Clark deals with the strange schedule?"

"We've learned how to f.u.c.k in our sleep."

Lil choked on his coffee and spat out half the cup. "You could warn a guy you know."

"Gotcha," Jody snickered.

LIL was drying his hair when his phone began to vibrate, and he picked it up quickly after he saw Grier's name on caller ID. was drying his hair when his phone began to vibrate, and he picked it up quickly after he saw Grier's name on caller ID.

"Hey," Lil greeted him warmly. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. Listen, there's been a change in plans. I've got Luca."

"That's cool. Do you guys want to do something?"

"How do you feel about pet stores?"

"I have a cat, don't I?"

"I promised to take Luca."

"You do realize that you'll walk out of that store with some kind of warm and fuzzy creature."

"I'm aware, but he's latched on to this idea like a pit bull."

"Okay. How do we meet?"

"You can take a cab out to the 'burbs, or the Metra blue line. I'll pick you up at the Rosemont station."

"How long is the train ride?"

"About forty minutes."

"And the cab?"

"Over an hour with the traffic, and the fare will kill you."

"Train it is. I'll call you when I'm about to board."

"Lil?"

"What, love?"

"I miss you."

Lil sucked in a breath and let it out really slowly. He wanted to say I love you I love you and want you in my life so badly I can taste it and want you in my life so badly I can taste it, but he held his tongue for once. "I miss you too."

"Hurry."

"I'm almost dressed so I shouldn't be more than an hour."

"Okay."

HE WAS WAS less than an hour, and when he walked down the stairs and out the main entrance of the Rosemont station, Grier and Luca were parked right in front. They were in a red truck, and Luca was hanging out the window waving his arms frantically. " less than an hour, and when he walked down the stairs and out the main entrance of the Rosemont station, Grier and Luca were parked right in front. They were in a red truck, and Luca was hanging out the window waving his arms frantically. "t.i.to Lil! Here we are." Lil! Here we are."

Lil walked a little quicker. He opened the door and was touched when Luca hugged him as if he were a long lost relative. "Hey, little guy. How are you?"

"We're going to Pet Land."

"We are indeed. Get in the back, sweetie."

Grier smiled at him, and Lil noticed that all evidence of last night's trauma seemed to have disappeared, no doubt due to Luca's presence. Seeing father and son so close together was a little overwhelming. They were both beautiful, in different ways, yet so similar, and Lil was struck by this wave of longing to have them permanently in his life. He'd had no idea he could want something this badly, especially when he hadn't even known it was missing.

Grier helped get the harness over Luca, so he was firmly secured in his Britax car seat, which was a permanent fixture in the Silverado 1500. He'd bought the truck a few years ago when he realized he wouldn't be able to haul Luca back and forth on his Harley. That was out of the question for now, and possibly forever. The truck also served to carry smaller items the company didn't want loaded on the giant eighteen-wheelers. It sat five comfortably, and Luca was very much at home in his special spot.

"Are we ready?"