Caroline beamed at them. “Oh, I think that’s a great idea. It would have to be this morning, because I’m meeting with my ladies at the club at three o’clock.”
“Mom belongs to this group of ladies who do lots of charity work in Atlanta,” Bethany explained to Tommy. She turned back to her mom. “We’re not taking Ben with us, Mom. It’s just you, me, and Tommy.”
Tommy was sitting at the kitchen table, just trying to keep up. He had only the vaguest recollection of their conversation the previous night, so when Bethany had appeared next to him that morning in her pj’s, as bouncy as Tigger, he figured the easiest thing was to go along with it. Still… clothes shopping? Not on his list of fun things to do on a Saturday, but Bethany was pretty determined. He wasn’t quite sure what she hoped to achieve with their shopping trip. Clothes were clothes, right? They surely couldn’t have the effect Bethany was anticipating… could they?
“There’s just one thing,” Caroline said slowly.
Both Bethany and Tommy turned to look at her. Caroline gave a little shrug.
“What doIknow about how a young gay man should dress?”
Tommy smiled. “We dress like everyone else, ma’am.” He was beginning to have a bad feeling about this.
Beside him, Bethany snorted. “Oh, puh-lease! Have youseenmy brother when he goes out on the weekend?”
Caroline gave a gleeful smile. “Well,I may not have much experience in this field, but I know someone who does.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, her thumb sliding over the screen. Tommy nudged Bethany and gave her an inquiring look. Bethany’s shrug and blank expression were no help.
“Danny? You got a minute?” Caroline listened with a grin. “Okay, I’m putting you on loudspeaker, so behave.” She set the phone on the countertop.
Tommy stared at her.Danny?
“Honey, Ialwaysbehave—badly!” Danny’s voice echoed around the kitchen. “Now what can I do for ya?”
“Where would I take a little gay boy shopping?”
Tommy gaped and Bethany giggled. Caroline fired her a warning look.
“Well, that depends. Which little gay boy are we talking about?”
There was a pause while Caroline bit her lip. “That would be Tommy,” she confessed reluctantly.
Danny’s squeal was very loud. “I knew it, Iknewit! Didn’t I tell you, woman?”
Tommy listened to Danny cackling, his face hotter than hell.
“When you’ve quite finished gloating,” Caroline enunciated patiently, “perhaps you can offer us some suggestions.”
“Details, honey, I need details! Now, what are you shopping for?”
“We’re going to help Tommy buy an outfit to snag his man,” Bethany called out across the kitchen.
“Damn. Well, there gomychances.” Danny sighed theatrically. “So who is this person? Tell me something about him. Where will Tommy be meeting him?”
“Tommywill be meetin’ him at Woofs,” Tommy called out. His face, neck, and ears felt impossibly hot. “An’ he works behind the bar there.”
“Ooh, we’re talking butch crowd!” There was a pause. “Tommy? By the time I’m done with you, you’ll have theperfectensemble, right down to the cock ring.”
Oh my God.Breathe, just breathe….
“TMI, dear, TMI,” Caroline interjected when she caught sight of Tommy’s open mouth. “We’re talking baby steps, okay?”
“Gotcha. How about I meet y’all at Boy Next Door at Ansley Mall? That’d be a good starting place.”
“You’re coming too?” Caroline queried.
There was a gleeful cackle. “Honey, I wouldn’t missthisfor the world. How does eleven o’clock sound?”
“That’s fine,” Caroline assured him. “We’ll see you there.” She disconnected the call and then met Bethany and Tommy’s gazes. “This could be… interesting.” Her lips twitched.
