Of Love and Corn Dogs

by Parker Williams

  “Thank you,” Ricky said, his voice choked with emotion.

  “You’re very welcome,” Darwin replied, picking up his fork.

  They ate in silence after that. Mostly because Ricky had no idea what to say. He kept looking over at the box of fish Darwin had gotten for Merlin, and no matter how many times he saw it, he couldn’t accept that someone would go out of their way to do something like that.

  “How’s your dinner?” Darwin asked.

  “I like this place,” Ricky said around a mouthful of shrimp linguini. He took a sip of his Pinot grigio, then set his glass down.

  “I’m glad. Do you want to try some of mine?”

  “I’m good, thanks.”

  Darwin frowned, and Ricky found it to be the most adorable pout ever as his date’s lower lip pushed out and quivered dramatically. “I got extra plates so we could try each other’s dinners. Yours smells delicious. Even if you don’t want to try mine, I want to taste yours.”

  A laugh bubbled out of Ricky at the expression on Darwin’s face. “Okay, I’d like to try your scallops, if you don’t mind. I’ve never had them before.”

  Darwin heaped the side plate full of things from his entree, and Ricky grinned.

  “I don’t think all of those are scallops,” he teased.

  “No, but they’re all so good. I wanted to share.”

  As Ricky popped a breaded scallop into his mouth, he glanced over at Darwin, whose smile made him feel warm on the inside. His mother’s words drifted back to him once more. Though this had been their first real date and they had so much to learn about one another, he could see making a home with Darwin. Raising a family. Darwin was the one person he’d been out with that his mother would be proud of. Maybe he should talk to her. But then she’d want to meet him, and wouldn’t that just be awkward?

  ****

  Darwin had to force himself to look at his plate. His gaze kept drifting toward Ricky and the wide green eyes that seemed to be taking everything in. They’d finished their dinner and sat eating a bowlful of spumoni ice cream and drinking a cup of coffee.

  “Did you like your dinner?”

  “Oh my God, I’m so stuffed. I may not have to eat again all week. Everything was so good, but I really loved the pasta. Thank you for encouraging me to get it.”

  “I’m glad. I wanted you to enjoy yourself. I liked seeing it.”

  “So are you ready to put aside the elephant in the room?” Ricky asked, pinning Darwin with a stare.

  Darwin froze. He couldn’t imagine what Ricky meant. Did he know who Darwin was? Or had he been talking about something else?

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Well, every time I try to ask you a question about yourself, you hedge. You turn the conversation back to me. I’d really like to get to know you.”

  It took Darwin a few seconds to calm himself. He pushed his ice cream aside, folded his arms on the table, and met Ricky’s gaze.

  Darwin took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for what would likely be a difficult conversation. “What would you like to know?”

  “Really? So I can ask you anything?”

  Darwin narrowed his eyes. “Well, I don’t know about anything, but I’ll do my best to answer anything you ask.”

  “Siblings?”

  “One. My older brother, Kent.”

  “Parents?”

  “Yes,” Darwin replied, trying to give Ricky what Henley called Darwin’s infuriating smirk.

  Ricky cocked his head. “Yes?”

  “Well, I’m assuming you’re asking if I have them.” Darwin grinned.

  Ricky groaned and rolled his eyes. “Okay, you got me there.”

  “In answer to your question, they died a long time ago.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry. My dad died, too. My mom really misses him. Me and my sister do, too.”

  Reaching out to hold Ricky’s hand, Darwin realized how much he enjoyed this. Conversation. Touching. Just being with someone. Sure, he’d had his fantasies about Roy, but Ricky was flesh and blood, warm and alive. He stroked his fingers over the back of Ricky’s hand, and when he saw the goose bumps, it sent a little jolt through him.

  “Nothing to be sorry for, I promise.” Darwin detected Ricky’s sadness, so he decided to go back to safe topics. “So you’ve got to tell me. How did you end up at Asiago?”

  Ricky grinned. “Would you believe dumb luck? I’d had a few other jobs in restaurants, and I enjoyed them for the most part. But those types of places really didn’t pay the bills. I started putting in applications in other places and decided to stop at Asiago. Their ad said they wanted someone with five years serving experience. All combined, I did have five years, but not in the type of dining they did. When Louisa saw my resume, her eyebrows disappeared into her hairline. She started to say something, probably that I didn’t have the experience, but then she got a call off. She was furious, because it wasn’t the guy’s first time saying he was sick. She fired him and hired me on the spot.”

  The cheeky grin he got had Darwin laughing. When Simon slid the check folder onto the table, Darwin snatched it up, wanting to keep Ricky from snooping. He glanced at the bill, wrote in a three-hundred-dollar tip, and slipped it back to Simon. When he went to the register, he heard the cashier gasp and look over at them, a hand covering her mouth. Darwin gave her a nod. A few moments later, Simon came back to the table, a very wide smile on his face.

  “Thank you so much, gentlemen. I hope you have a very pleasant evening.” Then he strode away, looking very much like he was on cloud nine.

  Darwin grinned and put his credit card in his wallet, then slipped his billfold back into his pocket. He turned to Ricky, his smile lingering, and said, “So, what should we do?”

  A slight frown crossed Ricky’s face. “I should go home. I have to feed Merlin, plus I need to hit the streets again tomorrow. Jobs aren’t easy to come by. Since I was only at Asiago for a few months, it really doesn’t look good on my resume. I know Louisa said she’d give me a glowing recommendation, but I’m guessing people see the fact I quit, and that’s it for me.”

  I’ll get you a job. Tell me what you want to do. The words were on the tip of Darwin’s tongue. Hell, if Ricky wanted, Darwin would buy Asiago for him. But Ricky wasn’t the kind of guy you threw money at. His reaction to the piece of fish for his cat had proven that. And Darwin didn’t want to start their relationship in that way. He wanted Ricky to like him for who he was.

  “Apply here,” he said brightly. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

  “I’m thinking about it,” Ricky replied. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Would you mind if we called it a night?”

  “Yes. I really would,” Darwin answered truthfully. “But I know why, and it’s important, so I’ll ask them to get us a cab.”

  Ricky’s smile lit up Darwin’s heart. It could never be seen as anything less than genuine. Just like the man himself. He waved at the host, and asked if he’d mind calling for them. He said he’d be delighted and headed back to the desk. Ricky stood, picked up his boxes of food, and they left the restaurant.

  The night air had finally cooled off some. No longer sweltering, it provided a welcome respite from the heat they’d been crushed by for the last week. He sat on the bench outside, and Darwin smiled when Ricky took the spot next to him.

  “I had a really nice time. Thank you.”

  Darwin dipped his chin. “Me, too. Thank you for coming with me.”

  They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes. Then Darwin jumped when Ricky took his hand and laced their fingers together.

  “Sorry,” Ricky said, pulling his hand back. “I should have asked if you were out. I don’t want to cause you any problems.”

  The loss of connection speared Darwin. He couldn’t believe how much he missed it already. What are you doing to me? Is it because I’ve been so lonely? No. I can’t believe that. Since you spoke up at Asiago, you’ve been on my mind. Why do I react to you the
way I do?

  “No, no. Definitely out. It just surprised me is all. Could I…?”

  He held out his hand, and joy surged through him when Ricky slipped his hand into Darwin’s. The biggest surprise came when Ricky leaned over and rested his head on Darwin’s shoulder.

  “I really don’t want this night to end,” Ricky admitted, then sighed. “Everything was…perfect. Especially the company.”

  Darwin tilted his head until it touched Ricky’s. He could smell a lemony scent, likely his shampoo or body wash, sharp and tangy. It would be forever linked in his mind with Ricky. He’d give anything to freeze this moment in time.

  “For me, too. I can’t believe how nervous I was about calling you.”

  “Ha! I hoped you would, but if I’m honest, I was equally nervous. I don’t really date much, so I wasn’t sure what the proper protocol is.”

  “None,” Darwin insisted. “You have my number. If you ever want to call me, regardless of the reason, do it.” He was quiet for a minute, then Ricky shuffled a little closer. “I’d like to see you again. Would that be okay?”

  Ricky squeezed Darwin’s hand. “Gee, I don’t know.”

  The light, teasing tone, coupled with the warmth of Ricky’s hand gave Darwin a sense of peace. They sat there, not saying anything until the cab pulled up.

  The whole ride back to Ricky’s apartment, he stayed pressed up against Darwin, as if taking comfort in his presence. Darwin had no complaints at all. The interior of the cab smelled of the food in Ricky’s to-go boxes, a rich, delicious scent that had Darwin’s stomach rumbling.

  “Want to take some of this home?” Ricky asked, chuckling.

  “No. If I get hungry—” He stopped. He’d almost said his cook would warm him up some cabbage rolls. “I’m pretty sure there are some pizza rolls in the freezer.” Another thing he’d never tried, but if Henley hadn’t left him any of Maria’s specialty, maybe he’d indulge himself tonight and eat something from his friend’s stash.

  “Those won’t make a meal for you. I’ve still got two containers of linguini. Take one.”

  He picked one up and held it out toward Darwin. He thought about taking it without arguing, but this could be a couple of meals for Ricky, and probably Merlin, too. Ricky needed it more than Darwin.

  “No, I’m good. Thanks. Shouldn’t even be hungry. I think it’s the smell of the food that’s triggering the Feed Me, Seymour vibe.”

  “You like Little Shop of Horrors? I loved the one with Rick Moranis. He was absolutely adorable in that role,” Ricky said with a chuckle.

  “I liked Levi Stubbs as Audrey II. He had an incredible singing voice.”

  Ricky opened his mouth, then closed it as the cab pulled up in front of his apartment. A strange loneliness swept through Darwin. He didn’t want the night to be over. He wanted… He wanted to sit on the couch with Ricky. Share their favorite movies. Anything to not have to go home to a big, empty house.

  “Can I walk you in?” he asked, trying to hide the sadness.

  “I’d like that.”

  They got out of the cab. Darwin stuck his head into the open window and asked the driver if he’d mind waiting a few minutes. The man seemed ready to protest when Darwin flashed him a one-hundred-dollar bill.

  “No problem at all, sir!” the driver said with a little too much enthusiasm.

  Darwin walked Ricky into the vestibule of his apartment. They stood for a moment, simply staring into each other’s eyes. Then Ricky put his hand on the back of Darwin’s neck and pulled him down into a kiss. It wasn’t anything like the one the night at the bar. This one screamed need and desire as Ricky’s tongue probed Darwin’s mouth, licking, teasing, ratcheting up the desire. When he stepped back, Darwin felt the loss immediately.

  “Good night,” Ricky whispered, then rushed to the elevator.

  He wanted to call after Ricky. Ask him if he could come up. Maybe meet Merlin or have an after-dinner drink. He hesitated, because he’d seen the widened pupils, the desire in Ricky’s eyes. If Ricky allowed him to come upstairs, he wouldn’t want to leave.

  Darwin watched for a few moments after the doors closed and the elevator whisked Ricky away before he returned to the cab and asked the driver to take him home.

  Chapter Seven

  Ricky closed the door as soon as he got into his apartment. Merlin lay on the couch and glared at Ricky when he walked in.

  “Oh, don’t look at me like that,” Ricky groused. “I got something special for you, but if you’re going to be like that, you won’t get it.”

  Merlin bounded off the couch and rushed to follow Ricky into the kitchen.

  “Yeah, thought that might get your attention.” He blew a raspberry at the cat. “You know you’re going to have to listen when I tell you about dinner, right? I had the best time. He’s sweet, charming, and has a quirky sense of humor. And after I put everything away, I’ll give you what he spent good money on to make you happy.”

  After packing the leftovers into the refrigerator, with Merlin’s loud whines chastising him, Ricky took half of the salmon, chopped it up, and put it into a bowl for the kitten. Apparently all was forgiven when he dove into the dish.

  “I almost asked him to spend the night,” Ricky told his cat.

  Ricky walked across the room and slumped onto his chair, going over the thoughts he’d had in the lobby. He’d never asked anyone to stay. On the rare occasions he’d gone home with someone, it had always been to their place, and Ricky always left right after. Until tonight, there hadn’t been anyone who he would ask to stay.

  Darwin had thrown himself into the kiss as though he’d been starving. He’d sucked Ricky’s tongue while holding him tightly. No way could Ricky have missed the need pulsing through the man. When he’d stepped back, he could see desire and a hint of sadness in Darwin’s gaze. Ricky knew he had to get to his apartment before he asked for something he wasn’t sure they were ready for.

  With shaky hands, he extracted his phone and dialed his sister.

  “Do you know what time it is?” she snapped.

  “Um. No, not really. Sorry.”

  Her voice softened when she asked, “You okay?”

  He wasn’t sure. He thought he was, but right now he missed Darwin. His touch. His very presence.

  “I dunno.” He sniffled. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called. We’ll talk later.”

  “Don’t you dare hang up that phone, Richard!” she snapped. “Talk to me. You really wouldn’t want to make me call Mom.”

  He snorted. His mom would be far worse. A dog with a bone had nothing on the woman.

  “I sort of went out on a date tonight,” he admitted.

  “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “I wanted to ask him to stay.” When she didn’t reply, he asked, “Trish?”

  “I’m sorry. I just can’t… You wanted to ask a man to stay with you?”

  “I know, right?” he replied, watching Merlin lick his lips at his treat. “How messed up is that?”

  “I take it you like this guy? Tell me about him.”

  And he did—from their initial meeting, to their night at the bar, to this date, he told her everything. When he finished, she sighed.

  “Oh, Ricky. That’s the most precious thing I’ve ever heard. We’re talking Oprah’s women’s network level romance. He bought food for your cat.” She sighed again.

  “Really? Out of that entire story, you latch onto the salmon he bought?”

  “I’m sorry,” she replied. “Jack used to do sweet things when we were dating. Flowers, little gifts, the whole ball of wax. Then after we got married, he seemed to think it wasn’t necessary anymore. The last time we had a romantic dinner was when we were at Golden Chicken with the kids.”

  “How in the hell is that romantic?”

  Trish laughed. “They had a small fire in the kitchen. It reminded me of a fireplace, so I took it as a bit of romance. Don’t harsh my mellow.”

  Ricky chuckled. Only his sister
would take meaning from a kitchen fire.

  “Do you like him?” she asked quietly.

  “That’s the weird thing. I really, really do,” he replied. “But it’s only been like one and a half dates.”

  “Did Mom ever tell you about her first date with dad?”

  Ricky thought back. “No.”

  “Okay, do me a favor and call her. You’re going to want to hear what she has to say.”

  “But it’s Mom,” he whined.

  “Who will kick your ass if she finds out what you just did,” she teased. Then her voice softened. “Trust me on this one. Call her now.”

  “It’s late,” he reminded her.

  “I know, but Mom needs to hear about your new man, and you need to hear her story. Call me tomorrow.”

  She hung up. Ricky ran a thumb over the screen on his phone. When he saw his mother’s number, he hesitantly dialed.

  “Are you sick? In the hospital? Need blood?”

  “Mom.” He huffed. “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, you’re calling. I figure something must be wrong.”

  He realized he hadn’t talked to her for a few weeks and his stomach tightened. “Sorry. Things have been pretty hectic here. I quit my job before I got fired.”

  “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

  He loved his mother. They were no longer kids, but she would do anything for him and his sister. “I’m fine. Listen, Trish told me to call you and ask about your first date with dad.”

  “Have you met someone?”

  He refused to commit to an answer. “Maybe.”

  “I’m glad,” she replied. “We’ll be talking about him, you know. And I want to meet him!”

  “I figured as much.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  “Oh, God. Not one damn thing that I’ve seen so far.” He retold the tale of Darwin, from their first encounter at the restaurant, to the dinner they’d shared tonight. Afterward, like his sister, she sighed.

  “He sounds delightful.”

  “He is. So about this first date?”

  “Impatient brat. You must get that from your father, because no one on my side of the family is like that.”