Maybe This Time by Shawn Lane

Author:Shawn Lane [Lane, Shawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2016-12-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Win parallel parked his car down the street from the home of the law firm partner who was hosting this year’s barbecue. The guy had one of those big mission-style houses that had a bunch of bedrooms and a long winding driveway to an arched doorway.

The backyard contained a large kidney shaped pool that included a waterfall pouring into it, a Jacuzzi, and one of those big brick built-in barbecue grills. The firm had had their Christmas party the year before at the same house.

“Nice neighborhood,” Randy commented as they got out of the car to head up to the house.

The entire block was made up of mansions. If Win wasn’t careful he would turn a dark shade of green with envy.

“Yeah, I’ll say.”

They’d both dressed in cargo shorts, T-shirts, and flip-flops, though Win’s shorts were khaki and his shirt navy, while Randy’s shorts were green with a sort of periwinkle blue shirt. Win carried a beach bag containing their swim trunks.

Nerves fluttered in Win’s stomach. Most of his co-workers had known about Dean. Hell, even before they’d decided to live together. But after seeing him with someone like Dean, someone like Win, really, was expected. No one batted an eye because he’d never hidden his sexual orientation.

But Randy was…hard to blend in. He was beautiful and rather flamboyant. He’d gone without makeup today, though Win hadn’t asked him. Even without the makeup, his features were delicate, almost feminine, and he moved with an obvious grace most of the lumbering men that would be there would not be capable of. Win included.

Win figured it would be like a butterfly amongst bees. And lots of those bees had stingers. He didn’t want any of them to be cruel to Randy. Plus he hadn’t even told Randy his ex would be there.

“Hey, listen,” he said, stopping Randy with a hand on his arm as they reached the cobbled stone pathway up to the house.

“What?”

“Remember I told you how my ex left and moved to Chicago?”

“Sure.”

“I guess he didn’t like it there or whatever, but, anyway, he’s come back to LA, and someone told me he might be here today.”

Randy showed no reaction to the news, he just nodded. “All right.”

“I’m sorry, I should have mentioned it before.”

“No big deal.” Randy gestured up the pathway. “Shall we go?”

They walked up the path and Win knocked on the door, which was opened by the partner’s blonde trophy wife. She greeted them politely, if not exactly warmly, and told them everyone who had already arrived was in the backyard by the pool.

“What would you like to drink?” she asked, as she led them to the sliding glass doors at the back of the house. “We have beer, wine, margaritas, soda, and lemonade.”

“Lemonade for me,” Randy said.

“That sounds good. Same here.”

“I’ll bring it out,” she said.

* * * *

Later that afternoon, Win was heading inside the house to get a refill on his lemonade. He’d left Randy swimming in the pool. So far things hadn’t been too bad, though a few of his co-workers had openly stared at Randy.

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