“Damn.”First things first.Rico called Gene Fraiser, the insurance agent, to let him know about the fire.
“Sorry to hear this, Rico. I’ll make sure to swing by and check it out today. Send me the fire and police reports when you get them.”
“Will do. Do you think this is going to raise our rates?” Being a new business in Brooklyn, they paid so much already.
“I doubt it, unless you had unlicensed people working in your store. You said they don’t know the cause of it yet, so I wouldn’t worry too much.”
“Thanks. I’m a little freaked out.”
“I know. It’s easy for me to say don’t worry, but we will make sure you’re taken care of. Let’s talk later, after I’ve seen the place and surveyed all the final damage.”
“Okay.”
Rico clicked off and continued to pace up and down the street. After about forty-five minutes, the hubbub began to settle down. Curious onlookers, having gotten bored, moved on, and then only he and several of the tenants remained on the street. And, of course, the firemen. During his talk with the insurance agent, Rico had lost track of Adam, and despite his best intentions, he searched the crowd of firefighters and trucks, finally locating him loading a truck with hoses and other equipment. Adam had removed his helmet, and once again that head of red hair drew Rico’s attention.
“Damn,” he muttered to himself, recalling its soft texture between his fingers. How many nights had he spent sliding his fingers through those silky waves, loving their feel and bright color, followed by the rest of those nights buried deep inside Adam’s mouth and ass? Every night during their time together had been special.
Angry for once again letting Adam intrude into his thoughts, Rico set his jaw in a hard line and deliberately turned his back to the street, his heart breaking at the sight of the once beautiful but now ruined storefront.
“Rico, what the hell happened?”
Sean stood beside him, eyes wide with shock, and Rico realized then it wasn’t only him affected by the fire. Sean would be out of work as well, unless and until Rico found an alternative to running the store.
“They’re not sure; all I know is we have to wait and see. I gotta think about what to do for the party we’re supposed to cater.”
“Shit, that’s right.” Sean took off his Mets cap and ran his fingers through his curly hair, then replaced it. “Where’re you gonna find a kitchen big enough to cook for so many people on such short notice?”
“No fucking clue. But I’m not gonna let Judy down. If I have to make everything in the damn kitchen in my apartment, I’ll pull off that dinner.”
“Excuse me, Rico?”
Once again Adam stood before him, and he steeled himself to speak to his ex-lover.
“Yeah?”
How did people do it? He’d never had an issue being with Gideon after they ended their physical relationship, nor had either one of them cared if they’d hooked up afterward with other people. But Rico found it impossible to dismiss Adam. Every time together had been filled with an explosion of passion and desire so bright and alive, he could barely see straight.
Even now, with Adam’s face drawn tight and his shoulders slumped with fatigue, Rico wanted to hold him and kiss away the harshness, remembering the soft paleness of Adam’s skin and how sweet he tasted.
“Uh, from what I’m hearing, someone fell asleep with a cigarette burning, and the bed caught fire. It’s still early on, but that would be my best guess. I can say for sure it didn’t start in your store.”
“Yeah,” he said bitterly. “It just fucked up my life for the next few months. How the hell are we supposed to cook now?”
As if his father stood next to him, he heard his voice in his ear.
Pull yourself up and stop thinking you can’t. Successful people only have time to think about can. What can you do?
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.” Rico stared off into space.
Adam had walked halfway back to the truck when he spun around and hurried back to him and Sean.
“I have an idea. I have to talk to the chief first, but if I can get permission, would you want to come and use our kitchen at the firehouse? It’s big enough, and we have everything.”
Excitement sparked through Rico. “Holy shit, that would be awesome. Do you think you could? It won’t matter that we’re civilians?”
“I don’t want to make any promises, but I bet he’ll say it’s okay. Someone’s always cooking something. Why not do it to help the community?”
