“I think we could hang that in the store,” Marta said. “Behind the counter, next to a big photo of you.”
“Well, if your manager won’t hang it inyourstore,” Morgan said. “I’ll hang it in mine.”
I looked at him. “You’d do that?”
Morgan shrugged. “Proud of you,” he said. “I know you couldn’t come visit it that way, but…”
“It’s the thought that counts,” I agreed. “We’ll see.”
“But first,” Chris said. “We’ll celebrate.”
25
Morgan
“To Devin,”Alex said, holding out his beer bottle across the table.
We’d managed to get the van out of the mud with only a little swearing and two lengths of rope, and now we were all showered, dried off, happy and relaxed at a diner in town with, Chris insisted, the best vegetarian menu in the state.
An off-beat chorus ofto Devinwent around the table, bottles and glasses clinking, Devin blushing so hard I could almost feel the heat coming off his face from where he was sitting beside me, squished into the corner of the booth—his favorite spot.
“What am I eating?” Alex asked, a vegetarian chili cheese fry already halfway to his mouth.
“I think the chili is made of nut mince,” Marta said. “It’s good, I could eat this all the time.”
“I’ll have to learn to make it,” I said. I’d been thinking the same thing, this wasdelicious, and I’d heard the sound Devin made at his first bite.
I’d have to learn to cook for him, but I figured he’d forgive me for an experiment or two that went south.
“You’d do that for me?” Devin asked quietly.
“I don’t wanna embarrass anyone,” Chris said, sipping his beer. “But I think Morgan has a crush on you.”
“Gosh, do you think so?” Devin asked, eyes wide. “That doesn’t sound right. He’s so handsome and smart and kind, what would he want with lil ol’ me?”
I laughed, but I knew that was my cue.
“Oh, I dunno. Cute butt, for one,” I said. “Big heart. Pretty eyes. Great sense of humor. The nipple piercings are hot.”
“You just want me for my butt,” Devin said, grinning at me, love shining in his eyes.
I hadn’t lost him. He hadn’t lost me.
“Wait, hold on, back up,” Julie said. “Devin has pierced nipples?”
“Oh yeah,” Devin grinned. “Me and Marta got them done at the same time. Didn’t she tell you?”
Alex choked on his beer.
“Martahas pierced nipples?” he coughed, Chris thumping him on the back.
“Tell the whole diner,” Marta said, rolling her eyes. She wasn’t embarrassed at all. “That’ll make us popular.”
“I just… you’re… you seem so…” Alex spluttered, gesturing wildly at her. “Devin I could believe, he looks all sweet and tiny but experience tells me the sweet ones are kinky.”
“Could you…not,” Chris said, squeezing the back of Alex’s neck before he took his hand away.
Alex turned a broad grin on him. “Am I embarrassing you?”
