That made Mike stop from pulling on a flannel shirt.“Okay, now that makes me nervous.If it were just one of them, I’d say fine, but both of them?”
“Just what I was thinking,” Jamie said, handing Mike his work boots.He glanced at the clock.“I need to go, or I’ll be late.”He kissed Mike.“See you back here at four?”
“You got it.”Mike pulled Jamie into a big hug and then a deep kiss.“I’m so glad I married you.”
“I think I am the one who got the better end of that deal.”He looked into his husband’s eyes.“I’ve never met a more patient and understanding person in my life.”
Mike shrugged.“You make it easy.”He gave Jamie another quick kiss, then a swat on the butt.“Get out of here before you make both of us late.”
* * * * *
“Do you think they haveany idea?”Ian asked Salzy and Joesph.
“Ha, if Jamie did, he’d have a cow,” Salzy said, snickering.
Joesph rolled his eyes.“No.Mike would have said something to me this morning if he did.”
“The escargot is all prepped and ready, as is everything else,” Robbie said.
“I’ve got Hasha out by the back door so they can’t walk in,” Joesph said.“I know he won’t budge either.I’ve threatened him with no sex for a month if he does.”
“Do I need to start planning a wedding cake anytime soon?”Christine asked.
Joesph scowled at her.“Has Hasha said anything to you?”
“No, and I wouldn’t tell you if he did.”Christine laughed.
Ian looked down at his phone.“The gang will be here at five thirty.”He looked up.“We need to make sure to keep an eye out for them and open the front door.”
Joesph looked at the dining room of the diner.“I’d like to take credit for those window coverings.Whose idea was that?”
“Mine,” Ian said.“I got the idea from those window decals on the public transport buses.”
“Pure genius,” Joesph commented.“They look just like a street café in Paris.”
“That was the whole idea.I can’t wait for them to see it.”Ian looked at Robbie and then at Joesph.“My biggest worry is how the food will go down.Jamie has a perfect palate, and his father isn’t far behind.Makes me nervous as hell.It’s hard to cook for your boss.”
“I don’t think you have to worry,” Joesph said, patting Ian’s arm.“He’s just happy that anyone would cook for him.Ask Mike about him cooking for Jamie.”
“What?”Christine asked, shocked.“Mike cooked for Jamie?”
Joesph laughed.“Oh yes, he did.He made them omelettes.”
“Okay, that man needs another medal.That takes balls.”Christine shook her head in disbelief.
* * * * *
Mike pulled into theparking lot of the diner, about to drive around back as was his habit, and stopped when he saw that the windows of the diner were whited out.He couldn’t see if there were any lights on.He slowly drove around to where his and Jamie’s new apartment was.
He shut off his truck and got out, walking towards the back door of the diner.The screen door was latched.“Unreal,” he muttered before banging on the door.
“Afternoon, Mike,” Hasha greeted Mike.As usual, there was no real emotion on his face.
Mike noticed that Hasha opened the back door of the diner, but not the screen door.“You going to let me in?”Mike asked.
“Nope,” was the flat answer.
Mike squinted and tried to look around the rather large man.Hasha made sure that the door wasn’t fully open, and Mike couldn’t see anything.“Did Joesph put you up to this?”
