Taste. Part 9

Chapter 9.

LIL kissed Grier on the lips and shut the cab door with a firm click, after promising to meet later on that evening. He took the concrete steps two at a time, anxious to get back into the warmth of the kitchen. It was cool at seven in the morning, and he was only dressed in lounging pants and a thin T-s.h.i.+rt. He knew it would warm up later, but for now, he was chilled and needed another cup of coffee. He also needed time to reflect on the past few hours. kissed Grier on the lips and shut the cab door with a firm click, after promising to meet later on that evening. He took the concrete steps two at a time, anxious to get back into the warmth of the kitchen. It was cool at seven in the morning, and he was only dressed in lounging pants and a thin T-s.h.i.+rt. He knew it would warm up later, but for now, he was chilled and needed another cup of coffee. He also needed time to reflect on the past few hours.

Just as he stirred in the last spoonful of sugar, Jody and Clark walked in. "Is your boy toy gone?" Clark asked.

Lil nodded.

"Too tired to talk?" Jody teased.

"Why are you guys up so early?"

"Training," Clark said. "I'll be gone until three."

"And you?" Lil addressed Jody.

"I always get up when he does."

"Aww... you're such a good wife."

"Whateverthef.u.c.k."

"Language," Lil scolded. "What kind of professional are you?"

"The kind who would rather be in bed with his man."

"Tell me about it," Lil concurred.

"I'm outta here," Clark said, brus.h.i.+ng Jody's lips with a swift kiss. "See you later?"

"I'll be home by five."

"'Kay. Love you, Jo-Jo."

Jody wrapped his arms around Clark and held him for a second. "Love you, Kit."

Lil sighed when Clark walked out. "You two are poster boys for true love."

"Do I detect a note of sadness?"

"Maybe," Lil shrugged. "I seem to find myself in the middle of a love affair that's going nowhere."

"Did you just say the L-word?" Jody's shocked voice reverberated in the quiet room.

"I know it's ridiculous, isn't it?"

"Lil, come on. You've known him for what? Two days?"

"Three, but who's counting. How many hours did it take for you to fall in love with Clark?"

Jody stared at Lil, remembering his instant attraction to Clark. "Okay, I'm listening."

"Do you remember how I tried to dissuade you from getting involved with Clark?"

"If you'll recall, I jumped on that suggestion."

"Shut up, you dweeb. I need you to talk me off the ledge."

"Obviously," Jody replied. "What does this one have that's so special? Christ, Lil, I know he's gorgeous and all, but will he keep you mentally challenged? He moves furniture, for heaven's sake."

Lil forgot that Grier had mentioned something about being a mover when they'd first met. Since then, he'd learned that Grier was much more than a pack mule, and even if he were, his father owned the d.a.m.n company. None of which Jody knew.

"Let me tell you about my brawny lover." Lil proceeded to enlighten Jody with a ten-minute dissertation into the life and times of Grier Dilorio, leaving out the magnificently appealing lingerie kink. The very thought of Grier in red lace made his pulse jump, but it was n.o.body's business but his.

"Well, s.h.i.+t," Jody said when Lil was done.

"You know, you've developed a real potty mouth since you've moved here," Lil noted.

"I'm around too many jocks."

"My condolences," Lil drawled, leaning over and smacking Jody on the arm playfully.

"Hey, be nice."

"What am I going to do, Jodes?" Lil groaned and buried his face in his hands.

"What do you want to do?"

"Put him in my suitcase and take him back to San Francisco." Lil looked up and grinned.

Jody laughed. "This is really unbelievable. I can't believe what I'm hearing."

"Just because I've been a bachelor all these years doesn't mean I'm excluded from the 'happily ever after' club."

"Lil," Jody said, switching tone. "In all seriousness, what are the chances that Grier will even consider moving? He's got too much invested in this state."

"You're right. It's a lovely fantasy that will remain unrealized."

"Not unless something changes."

"Such as?"

"I have no idea. Keep me posted, though."

"Thanks ever so."

"Do you want breakfast?"

"No, I think I'll try and sleep for a few hours. I'm exhausted."

"Do tell."

"In your dreams, buddy."

"You used to badger me all the time about divulging details of my s.e.x life," Jody protested.

"And, as I recall, you never said s.h.i.+t."

"But you're always so brutally honest."

"Not this time."

"Wow. You really do care about him, don't you?"

"Haven't you been listening to anything I've said?"

"Sheesh... I have no words...."

"Then let's use your immortal 'whateverthef.u.c.k'."

BY THE THE time Grier got back to Elk Grove Village from downtown, it was seven forty-five, and Santino was already dressed and pacing. "Where have you been?" time Grier got back to Elk Grove Village from downtown, it was seven forty-five, and Santino was already dressed and pacing. "Where have you been?"

"Out."

"Well, go and get ready. We have a long day ahead of us."

"Going," Grier murmured. He hadn't a clue how he would survive the next few hours after spending half the night making love. Once all the disclosures were out of the way, he and Lil couldn't keep their hands off each other, and they'd gone another two rounds before falling into a deep sleep, only to be awakened by the alarm clock Lil had set for him.

"Meet someone new?" Santino queried as they finally made their way onto the I-90 west continuing onto the I-94 before merging onto US-53 north heading toward Wisconsin. They were moving a family from Mount Prospect, a suburb near Elk Grove, to Eau Claire, a five-and-a-half-hour drive. Grier wanted no part of it, but he was stuck and had to endure the ride, and the eventual output of energy. Fortunately, the other guys had loaded up the truck yesterday, so all he had to deal with was loading his Harley onto the vehicle, so he'd have it later on when Santino dropped him off at the Taste. He planned to sleep all the way after he played twenty questions with his father, who was more than happy to drive the monster truck, a job he still seemed to enjoy.

"Yes," Grier mumbled.

"What does she do?"

"She's a he, Dad."

"What did you say?" Santino boomed, shocking Grier, who was half-asleep and too tired to realize he was outing himself.

"Oh, f.u.c.k."

"I thought that monkey business was over and done with!"

"Not hardly," Grier said, gearing up for a fight.

"You mean to tell me you're still a queer?"

"Still?" Grier sa.s.sed. "Being gay is like being pregnant, Dad. Either you are, or you aren't."

"G.o.dd.a.m.n it, Grier! I thought you'd put that all behind you?"

Grier bit his tongue, dying to say something vulgar in response to his father's question, but he knew it would only get uglier and give the poor man a good reason to throw him out of the truck, and possibly his house. "Dad, this isn't the time or the place to discuss this."

"When are we going to talk about it? You're hardly ever around."

"I'm never around because I'm working, and when I'm not working, I'm babysitting."

"I know, but you and I never spend time together anymore."

"We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"

"What's wrong with now?"

"I'm beat. I need to sleep, or I'll be useless when we get to Eau Claire."

"Too tired from messing around all night with your guy guy?"

"Let it go, Dad." Grier sighed. He was so not in the mood for this s.h.i.+t. He had no idea why he'd outed himself. Maybe it had to do with Lil and his feelings for him, which were so intense Grier was at a loss. He'd never felt this way for anyone, and knowing that Lil would be leaving in five days was making him say and do things that were reckless. A case in point was this blunder, which was going to make this a miserable ride.

"I'm shutting up," Santino grumbled, "but rest a.s.sured, this is not the end of it."

"Sleepy...," Grier murmured and turned away, leaning up against the window. He was out in a second.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. Santino was true to his word and didn't bring up the subject again. They completed the move in less than two hours, a record for such a large load, but Grier was anxious to get back and moved like a man possessed.

He slept on the trip home, avoiding another round of questions, and had Santino drop him and his bike off at Grant Park before the big truck lumbered back to Elk Grove. Now that he'd had several hours of rest, he could think about the conversation with his dad and was actually relieved that he'd finally brought the subject out in the open. If nothing else, it would start a discussion, and who knew? A positive outcome might be possible, something he'd never antic.i.p.ated.

The booth was packed with people clamoring for their taste of Vinita ice cream, and he squeezed in between Jillian and Jake and got to work. "Where's Luca?" he asked Jillian.

"He's with my mom."

"Isn't he coming?"

"Not tonight. You wore him out yesterday."

Grier slanted a look. "We went to the zoo, Jill. How tiring was that?"

"Who is this Lil person he keeps talking about?"

"He's a friend."