Christine laughed.“Brothers.Just like brothers.I didn’t see it at first.”
Salzy smiled broadly.“Yeah, brother.”He slung an arm over Jamie’s shoulder.“We’re family.”
Chapter Sixty-One
Mike double-checkedthat he had cut and chopped everything needed for dinner.Feeling satisfied and more at ease, he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the shower.Everything is as ready as I can make it.
After showering and blow-drying his chest hair, he pulled on a purple polo-style shirt and black shorts.It was comfortable, and he realised that Jamie had never seen him in civilian clothes.He’d either been in uniform or PT attire.And while Mike was comfortable with that, he had decided that maybe Jamie would appreciate him making the effort to dress up.
* * * * *
“And just what are youwearing?”Joesph had been sitting, working on his laptop.“Oh, no, you don’t!Go back to your bedroom.I’m coming,” he said, jumping up from the chair.
“What?”Jamie stood, frozen in place.“What’s wrong with this?”
“Oh, honey,please.”Joesph turned Jamie around by the shoulders.“Yes, this is nice, but you need...nicer.”Joesph pushed Jamie into his bedroom.
“I don’t have time for this,” Jamie complained, sounding whiny, like a spoiled teenager.
“You do have time, now hush.”Joesph went to Jamie’s closet and pulled out the purple button-down shirt and the pair of black skinny jeans Jamie had gotten on his shopping excursion.“This.And those nice black boots that you hardly wear.”
“I don’t wear them because they hurt my feet.”Jamie started to pull off the new polo shirt.“Do you think it’s okay if I get so dressed up for a casual dinner?I mean, I don’t want to come off as too...eager?”
Joesph held out the new shirt.“No, I don’t think that, and you want to make a good first impression.And it’s not like you’re going to be walking or hiking, so wear the boots.”
“Uh, it’s not like we’ve never met.”Jamie took the shirt that he thought he’d never buy.
“This is your firstrealdate.”Joesph was holding the jeans and looking at Jamie’s underwear.“Hmm...Let me think, here.”
“What?”Jamie asked as he buttoned up the shirt.“We did go out to dinner that one time.”
“Do you have some other type of briefs?”Joesph scowled.“Yes, you did have dinnerout, but he’s invited you into his home, and he’scookingfor you.Put in some effort.”
“Now it’s my underwear that concerns you?”Jamie huffed.“I think I have a pair of regular briefs if that’s what you mean.Okay, valid point.”
“Show me.”Joesph nudged Jamie over to the dresser.
