Blurb:
All Trick Davis’ needs are being met. He’s settled in
comfortably at Scarcity Sanctuary and loves working at the shelter with Daniel.
He’s working through his past trauma with Tommy and has met a wonderful man,
Dante Farrell, the cook at the shelter. And one of the best things-- Dante and
Dillon keep trying new chocolate recipes. Just because he loves, no really loves chocolate. Along comes a
kid named Mike and all their lives are thrown into chaos. Who threw this kid
away, literally? How will they be able to learn anything when Mike can’t hear
or speak?
excerpt
He pushed the door open just a little and peeked in just in time to see Dante throw a metal container at the wall. It bounced off, and Trick gasped and backed away. Maybe later would be a better time to take the washers to Dante. He'd never seen Dante show any emotion, much less temper.
Before he'd gotten very far he heard the door open behind him and Dante saying, "Trick?"
Busted.
He turned back around and faced Dante, wishing he could stop this stupid shaking. He wasn't scared of Dante, but he couldn't stop the freakin' tremors. What the hell? He'd never had them before, and he'd been in much worse situations, God knows.
"Uh, yeah, hey. I was, um, I was bringing you the washers, but..."
"I freaked you out. Sorry, man, really. Come on in. I won't hurt you." Dante seemed ashamed of his behavior, his head down, his eyes not meeting Trick's.
"I didn't think you would. I'm not afraid of you, Dante. You helped me out there. I was gonna thank you and give you these." Trick held out the washers. "These are right, aren't they?"
Dante reached for them, and Trick let the package go too soon, and it fell on the floor between them. Dante pulled away, his face closing even more. Trick realized that he thought Trick had been afraid to touch him, and that's why the thing had fallen.
Dante started to turn, and Trick just couldn't let him think that, feel that way. Quickly he picked up the package and caught Dante just inside the kitchen door.
"Dante...please...wait."
Dante stopped walking and just stood without turning around to face Trick. His back was like a wall, keeping Trick away. Trick wasn't allowing it. He walked around the man and stood in front of him. He held out the package, and when Dante reached for it without looking at him, Trick pulled it back. Dante's head came up at the move, and Trick smiled at him. Dante frowned.
"I don't know what you thought out there, why you left so quickly, but I'm really not afraid of you. I like you, Dante. I've been trying to make friends with you, but you won't talk to me. I thought you just thought I was a punk kid or something. That's okay." Trick reached out and took Dante's hand and placed the package of washers in it. "I just wanted to thank you for standing up for me out there, and well, you calmed me down a little."
"You're not."
Trick looked up at that less than forthcoming statement. "Not what?"
"Not a punk kid. You don't look at me like I'm a freak. I stay away from people because they make me feel ugly and..."
Trick was stunned. "You've got to be kidding. You're gorgeous." He slapped his hand over his mouth, and his eyes were probably doing that bugging out thing. He hoped Dante didn't flatten him. Why had he said that? Yeah, he'd thought it, but now the man would be afraid of !
Trick heard the loud snort from Dante as he took the package and went to put it on the counter before moving to stir something on the stove, then peek into the oven. He saw Dante nod, and then he was looking over at Trick.
"Is Soldier your boyfriend?"
Trick stood, shocked for a moment, for two reasons. One, the idea of Soldier being his boyfriend, and two, the idea that Dante would ask him something like that. So the man knew he was gay, or he looked like he'd have a boyfriend? The idea didn't seem to bother Dante, but Trick still couldn't believe he'd asked.
"Uh, no. Ew. He's one of the men who run the house where I live now. His boyfriend is Dillon, or his partner really. They're probably a little old for the boyfriend label." Trick grinned a little at the idea of calling the two men boyfriends.
"Hey, watch it, young man. Who says I'm too old for a boyfriend?" Soldier's voice was right behind him. Oops. Trick turned quickly.
Soldier's arms opened, and Trick walked right into them. He'd almost gotten used to the hugs that were abundant at the house. He'd never been one to want one, but today it was just what he needed. Soldier was good at it, too. His strong arms crushed Trick to him and held on for a few moments. Trick felt the shudders melt away.
"You okay?" Soldier murmured to the top of Trick's head.
"Yeah, now." Trick pulled back and turned to Dante. "Dante, this is Soldier. Soldier, this is Dante...I don't know your last name, I'm sorry."
"Farrell. Dante Farrell, nice to meet you, sir." Dante moved to shake Soldier's hand.
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