“But thank god you’re there, Colin!” David insisted. “You’re a progressive prosecutor. You’ll see that these guys get help. That’s important to this city.”
“Yeah, I am a progressive prosecutor. I favor treatment over punishment. So do Esther and Norm. But that title is getting harder to wear by the minute. The conservative assholes lurking in this country’s legal system are actively gunning for prosecutors like us. They’d rather fill prisons than hospitals.”
“You’re safe in Charlottesville,” David told him. “And so are Esther and Norm.”
“Yeah?” Colin shot back. “Why so?”
“Because you have a secret weapon,” David said with a quick grin.
“What might that be?”
David pointed to himself. “You’re lookin’ at him,” he said. “Tell me: what is this city’s most powerful political force?”
Colin smiled and nodded. “Yeah, yeah. I get that!”
“I’m a voting member of the Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia,” David said, leaning toward Colin. “And head of the Policy Committee. And that will outclass any coldhearted prosecutor lurking in the weeds—you can take my word on that.” He tapped Colin’s arm. “And it will also kick the crap out of anyone who might be gunning for you.” He pointed at Colin. “You find them, I’llget rid of them.”
“Aren’t they justbadass!” Nate said to Joshua, gesturing to their husbands. “Gives me goosebumps.”
“Your husband does wield some power in this town,” Colin informed him. “Not many people in this city, even people with clout, want to go up against UVA or risk losing out on the money they’re constantly handing out.”
“I know,” Nate replied. “But David doesn’t like to throw his weight around.” He glanced at Colin and winked. “Not the wayyoudo!”
“Hey!” Colin protested.
“We don’t have to throw our weight around,” David told him. “We just have to get the UVA Board of Visitors on board with our ideas.” He spread his hands and grinned. “Finesse trumps brute forcealmostevery time.”
“God, I can’t wait to get to Ireland,” Colin muttered, lowering his head into his hands. “This fucking political shit is wearing me out. I’m so goddamned sick of it!”
“Colin,” Joshua said, his voice low. “You love this city. The work we do -allof us - can’t help but elevate Charlottesville’s reputation. Show the world that we’re more than just the place where Unite the Right marched and a young girl died.”
“I’ve been defending this city for over a decade, and you’re right. Idolove Charlottesville. But lately, I’ve begun to feel as though our love affair has grown a bit one-sided.”
Joshua wrapped his arm around Colin’s shoulder and laid his other hand on his arm. “We got help for a guy who fought in three combat deployments! A guy who would be sitting in jail right now rather than in a hospital room if not for us.” He tilted his head toward David. “As the professor here would say: ‘Shut up and take the win’!” He smiled and kissed his husband’s cheek. “I’m fucking proud of us!”
“I’d rather just be fucking,” Colin rumbled into his ear.
“I can arrange that too.”
Colin leaned back, grinning, and arched his eyebrows. “Yeah?”
“Whenever you’re ready, counselor.”
Colin shot to his feet. “Great dinner, guys, but we’re heading home.”
“Uh-huh,” Nate teased. “I saw that look, Colin Michael.”
Colin smirked and drew Joshua out of his chair.
“You just can’t wait to haul that sweet, Jewish boy into bed.”
“Get that vacation time scheduled, David,” Colin called back as they moved toward the door.
“It’s already in the works.”
“You too, Nate!”
“Go home and fuck your husband, Colin!” Nate yelled from the dining room.
