Extra Dirty

by K. Evan Coles

  Dan sulked but nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

  Frank turned his attention to Arthur. “What about you?”

  “It’s mostly done.”

  “Same deal for you then,” Cam said. “As long as Mom and Dad say you guys are keeping up on your work, you can come hang out in the city with me.”

  Arthur scowled. “Do I have to spend it with Dan, too?”

  Cam tried not to roll his eyes. “We’ll figure it out later. Night, guys.”

  Arthur and Dan left the room, bickering about who got to hang out with Cam first. Cam and his father exchanged wry smiles. Cam hoped he hadn’t been that much of a pain in the ass during his teenaged years. He thought of saying so when Maureen walked into the living room.

  “Did you get them down?” Frank asked.

  “In theory. We’ll see if it sticks.”

  “I sent Dan and Arthur off to do their homework.”

  “Oh, good. I don’t have the energy to fight with them tonight.”

  “Cam offered some incentive.” Frank explained Cam’s plan, and Maureen gave him a grateful look.

  “That would be a nice break, especially if you don’t mind taking them separate days. They’re at each other’s throats right now.”

  “Of course,” Cam said. “I don’t mind.”

  In truth, he still felt guilty he didn’t help out more.

  “Do you want any help with the dishes?” Cam asked. Knowing his mom, she wouldn’t go to bed until the kitchen was clean, and she had school in the morning. He needed to head out soon, too, but he could stay for a little longer.

  “Most of them are done, but you can keep me company while I finish up.” Her eyes gleamed, and Cam bit back a curse. Damn it, he’d walked right into an interrogation.

  “Sure,” he agreed.

  He followed Maureen into the kitchen. She’d loaded the dishwasher after dinner so he worked on unloading it while she scrubbed the pans by hand.

  They talked about school for a while before Maureen went in for the kill. “I know you said it’s nothing serious, but who is he?”

  Cam groaned and considered banging his head against the cabinet door. “I saw this bartender at the club for a while, but we called it off. And there’s this guy, Jesse.”

  “I do read the gossip pages, you know,” she huffed. “I know who Jesse Murtagh is.”

  Cam winced. He’d forgotten that he and Jesse had made a brief two-line mention in the society column not long ago.

  She lowered her voice. “He’s very good-looking.”

  Cam huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, he is.”

  “And he’s treating you well?”

  “He’s been great,” Cam said. “He flew me to Nantucket for gnocchi.”

  Her mouth opened in a small O of surprise. “Well, it must be getting serious then.”

  Cam held up a hand and stopped the train about to barrel down on him. “That was our first date.” He struggled to put it into words. “He’s just that kind of guy. And he has the means to make extravagant gestures. That’s all.”

  “Even so, you’re welcome to bring him home anytime,” she said.

  “Mom, no,” Cam said, his tone firm. “Don’t go looking for something that isn’t there. He’s not the settle-down type, and I’m not in any hurry for it, either.”

  A small pang went through Cam at the memory of Jesse pushing him to bring Ben to his parents’ house. He looked around the small, homey kitchen and imagined Jesse in it. Like the rest of the house, it was well-loved. Frank updated it himself when he could, and Maureen had painted some of the dark, dated woodwork, but the old home had seen better days. It was a far cry from the gleaming perfection of the Greenwich Hotel or Jesse’s posh loft.

  And yet, Jesse wasn’t a snob. He liked his luxuries, but he’d never treated Cam like he was any less because he didn’t have a similar upbringing or wealth. He was a bit of a chameleon, too, seemingly able to adapt to any situation. Cam could almost picture him teasing Maureen into letting him help with dinner or asking Frank intelligent questions about his job as an electrician.

  He would handle George’s and Lily’s craziness beautifully, and by the time he was done, he might even eke a grin or two out of Dan and Arthur. If he wanted to, he could win over the whole Lewis family the way he’d won over Cam. But there was the sticking point. Jesse didn’t want that.

  He turned to his mom. “Yeah, don’t go getting your hopes up. There will be no meeting the family. I think maybe whatever we have has already run its course.”

  His mom dried her hands on a towel and frowned at him. “Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

  Cam offered her a wan smile. He wasn’t. At all.

  But he couldn’t do anything about it. He couldn’t change Jesse, and he wasn’t about to try.

  All he could do was brace himself for the inevitable heartache.

  * * * *

  Cam took the train home in a melancholy mood. Frank had offered to drive him to the train station, but Cam had declined. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

  He’d shrugged off his mom’s concern and wished his father a happy birthday. He’d caught a glimpse of them standing in the doorway of the house, watching him walk away. The sight of them, arm-in-arm, made his chest ache. Although he didn’t want a suburban family life with five kids and home ownership, he did want…something. Something more permanent than random hookups and friends with benefits. Someone he could rely on.

  But Jesse didn’t want the things Cam realized he did want.

  The train entered Manhattan, and Cam transferred to a direct line into Brooklyn, fighting the urge to hop in a cab and head for Jesse’s place. But that’s stupid, right? Cam needed distance instead of getting wrapped up even further. Besides, he had no idea what he’d find. Jesse and Kyle in bed together was the best-case scenario. Cam didn’t want to consider the worst.

  Cam pulled his phone out after he took a seat on the deserted train to Brooklyn. The screen showed he’d missed a message from Jesse, and he drew a deep breath before he unlocked the phone and read it.

  How was the day with the fam? Hope Dad had a good birthday.

  Cam wanted to ignore it, but he typed a response and sent it before he could stop himself.

  Good, thanks. And yes, he did.

  He didn’t feel up to making small talk, so he tucked his phone back in his pocket and stared at the poster on the wall in front of him without really seeing it. A guy at the other end of the car started singing under his breath, and Cam tried to block it out. He didn’t have the tolerance for the musically challenged of Manhattan at the moment.

  He couldn’t keep doing this. Shouldn’t continue with Jesse knowing he wouldn’t reciprocate the way Cam wanted. It would be better for both of them if he ended it, right?

  His phone buzzed in his pocket. Against his better judgment, he took it out.

  You seem quiet tonight. Hope everything’s okay.

  Yep. Just got a lot on my mind.

  Let me know if I can help.

  And a moment later, You up for brunch next Saturday with the breeders aka my brother Eric and his wife Sara?

  Cam stared at his screen, dumbfounded. According to everything he’d heard from both Jesse and his friends, Jesse didn’t bring people around his family. Or, at least, not outside the speakeasy. What did it mean that he included Cam in that small circle? The hope that had dimmed in Cam’s chest flared to life again.

  Sure. Where and what time? he asked.

  Still deciding on the restaurant. Somewhere near Rose Hill so the pregnant lady doesn’t have to travel far. 11 a.m.

  Cam replied with a funny lump in his throat and a stupid smile on his face.

  I’ll be there.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Who’s coming today? The DJ from that club you like, right?”

  “Right.” Jesse offered Sara his arm. They were headed to Pineapple in Murray Hill. Eric had gone ahead over an hour before to scout out a table and save Sara and her ba
by bump from standing in line. “The DJ’s name is Cameron, by the way.”

  “Okay, and what’s Cameron like?” she asked.

  “Eric didn’t tell you what I told him?”

  “Eric told me you were fooling around with the DJ at that club you like.” She flashed him a smile. “So, how about you give me some useful information about the man?”

  Jesse smirked. “Okay, fine. He goes by Cam, and he’s funny and smart, has a good sense of humor—all that fun stuff.”

  “He’s also extremely easy on the eyes.” Sara chuckled. “I saw the paparazzi photo of you two, Jes.”

  “Of course you did.” They paused on the curb and waited for the light to change as cars whizzed by. “In the interest of full disclosure, Cam’s twenty-five and, in a strange twist of fate, knows Carter’s kids.” He met Sara’s glance. “He’s a music teacher and works at the school Sadie and Dylan attend.”

  “A teacher? Huh.” Sara hummed. “He must be as poor as a church mouse.”

  Jesse burst out laughing. “Girl, that is rude.”

  “I didn’t mean it as an insult!” Sara protested. “School teachers aren’t paid all that well, even at private schools, and there’s no way in hell your guy’s salary could ever compete with the Murtagh money machine. That level of disparity can’t be easy on a guy’s ego.”

  “Mmm, I see your point, but we don’t talk about money.”

  Sara arched an eyebrow at him. “At all?”

  “Not explicitly, no. Cam’s got two jobs, so it’s not hard to infer he budgets. He also lives way the hell out in Brooklyn and has mentioned having roommates. Yes, you heard right, I used the plural of ‘roommate’.”

  “Don’t be snotty.”

  “I totally am not.” He shrugged off Sara’s teasing, and they crossed the street. “I was in college and younger than Cam the last time I had a full-time roommate, though, and I can’t imagine having one now.”

  “Maybe they’re more than roommates?”

  He smiled. “I have no idea. A few of them are female, and Cam’s not into women, which rules them out, and the males appear to be either involved with the females or go outside of the habitat to mate.”

  “You make it sound like a wilderness show on public television,” Sara observed with amusement.

  “That’s the impression I get from Cam whenever he’s talked about them, which isn’t often. At any rate, I think he’d have mentioned a live-in boyfriend by now.”

  “Sounds like you haven’t slummed with the cool kids in Brooklyn.”

  “Not as of yet, but I’m thinking that should change.”

  Sara furrowed her brow. “Oh? Why is that?”

  “I’ve been footing the bill on dates with Cam, in part because I know he doesn’t have unlimited funds. I also like nice things, good food and excellent booze and have the money to buy them.” Jesse waved a hand at himself as Sara eyed him. “I know I’m a spoiled brat, Sara, and I don’t mind spending the money.”

  “I’d imagine Cam doesn’t mind, either.”

  “Why would he? My point is we spend all our time here in Manhattan in my habitat. Cam’s met my friends and been to my place but never said anything about returning the gesture.”

  “Maybe he’d rather be here and doesn’t want to admit it.” Sara looked up at him. “You can’t deny your habitat’s loaded with a lot more toys, Jes. It could be Cam enjoys being a spoiled brat, too.”

  Jesse frowned. It seemed likely Cam appreciated his sometimes opulent lifestyle, but that didn’t bother him in the least. The idea Cam might be hesitant to tell him certain things did, however.

  “What’s got you thinking so hard?”

  “That thing you said about Cam liking the spoiled-brat lifestyle. He’s pretty independent. I can see him wanting to take me out and maybe spend time in Brooklyn for a change.”

  Sara gave Jesse a pointed look. “You realize hanging with Cam in Brooklyn means you’ll be expected to enter places frequented by twenty-somethings, right?”

  “Yes. I’ll also be honest and say I have no idea about such places and what one does in them.” He grimaced.

  “I’m sure you’ll do okay, old man,” Sara replied with a laugh. “Be yourself and leave your wallet in your pocket. It’s not like you don’t go out and do perfectly average things. We’re about to gorge on comfort food in a glorified shack, for crying out loud.”

  “That’s one of the reasons I invited Cam along with us today,” Jesse admitted. “I get the feeling he thinks it’s normal for me to drop a ton of cash no matter what I’m doing. Like I don’t know how to just be.”

  “Whose fault is that, Big Money?”

  “Mine. I came on kind of strong at first because I wanted to wow him.” He laughed at Sara’s mimed gagging. “I know it sounds gross, but fuck it, we had fun.”

  “I’ll bet you did, honey.” Sara sounded reflective. “You like this guy, don’t you?”

  “Sure, I do. I like everyone I date.”

  “Duh.” Sara chuckled. “Are you sure he’s not different from everyone you date? It’s not as if you bring your girl and boy toys around to meet Eric and me outside of the bar, and it sounds like you’re working hard to get to know him.”

  “I want to get to know Cam because I like him as a friend, not just a boy toy. And bringing him to meet you and Eric has as much to do with the Crockpot strapped to the front of your body as anything else.” Jesse enjoyed Sara’s cackling. “Your words, not mine, babe.”

  “And wholly apt.” Sara ran the palm of her free hand over her belly through her white tunic.

  Jesse grinned. His sister-in-law’s odd observations about her pregnancy never failed to amuse him, especially now that she’d entered her second trimester and her baby bump was obvious. She and Eric did spend less time at Under, and he didn’t feel bad at all for exploiting that as his excuse to bring Cam to meet them. In truth, Jesse wanted Cam to know more about his life because he had grown more and more curious about Cam’s.

  “Seriously, Cam’s been to Under, but you and Eric haven’t for weeks. Once the photo landed in the gossip pages, I knew I’d have to go a different route if you were going to meet each other before the arrival of your spawn.”

  “I’m not much in the mood for bar hopping these days, it’s true.” Sara frowned. “I think Eric would be, but his migraines have been pretty bad since the deal in London started.”

  “He mentioned that. I’m sure it has to do with keeping weird hours because I’m five hours ahead.” Jesse made a mental note to check in with his brother. Eric had started experiencing migraines during college but had only recently resorted to taking medication in a bid to control them.

  Sara nodded. “I’m sure you’re right. I don’t miss going out and we’ve got to get used to having a baby in the house anyway. However, there are days I’d kill for a mojito. A real mojito swimming with rum,” Sara clarified when he chuckled.

  “I’ll bring you one as soon as you’ve delivered the spawn,” he promised, then paused. “Or whenever it is you’re all clear to drink alcohol again, anyway. You just say the word.”

  The crowd outside the restaurant stretched down Lexington Avenue and around the corner, and he breathed a sigh of relief to see Eric sitting on a wooden bench near the head of the line. He blinked at the realization Dylan Hamilton sat beside Eric, and the party waiting ahead of them included Carter, Riley and Sadie, as well as Carter’s ex-wife Kate and Carter’s mother, Eleanor Hamilton.

  “Holy crap on a cracker,” Jesse muttered a second before Dylan spotted him and jumped to his feet with a yelp.

  A laugh rolled out of Jesse as Dylan dashed toward him, and he bent and scooped up the little boy the moment he got close. “Dyl Pickle! What the heck are you doing here?”

  “Mommy called this morning and told Dad that Grandma wanted to meet us for bruh-lunch!” Dylan told him. Jesse smiled at his careful, two-syllable mangling of ‘brunch’.

  “Cool! I’ll bet your dad was excited to hear th
at.”

  Dylan glanced at the party waiting by the door, then turned back with a gleam in his eye. “He swore kinda loud,” Dylan said in a lowered voice. “Then Ri took away Dad’s coffee cup and told him to get in the shower.”

  Jesse fought like hell to keep a straight face while Sara disguised her laugh with a hasty cough. “It’s a good thing Ri knows how to handle your old man, huh?” he asked. “Hey, you remember Sara, right? She’s married to Eric over there.”

  “Hi.” Dylan smiled at Sara, who waved. Then he spied her belly and his eyes went wide. “Whoa, you’re having a baby!”

  The two chatted amiably over Jesse’s shoulder while he led the way to the line to join the others. He and Sara greeted everyone before she moved back and joined Eric on the bench and Jesse exchanged a high five with Sadie and one-armed hugs with Carter and Riley around Dylan. His friends looked stressed, and Riley’s body language was uncharacteristically tense.

  “I found something of yours,” Jesse joked. He handed Dylan off, and he didn’t miss the gratitude that flashed in Riley’s blue eyes. Carter’s parents didn’t approve of Riley’s part in co-parenting the Hamilton kids, and now that Jesse had the opportunity, he wanted to find a multitude of ways to subtly tell Eleanor Hamilton she and her opinion could go fuck themselves.

  Dylan kissed Riley on the cheek, and Riley’s entire person softened. “Hungry, buddy?”

  “Starving,” Dylan agreed. “Can I go talk to Sara until we eat? She told me she’d let me feel the baby kick.”

  Riley grinned. “Absolutely. Be gentle and don’t touch unless Sara says it’s okay.”

  “Where’s Robert?” Jesse asked after Riley set Dylan down.

  “Away on business, the lucky bastard,” Riley replied in an undertone. He and Carter were on good terms with Kate’s boyfriend, and the four socialized over regular meals with the kids. “Didn’t know you’d be here today.”