Jesus.
Malcolm shook himself hard and pushed open the speakeasy’s front door. He was not going to think about his mom tonight, or his brother, or the distinctly Dickensian vibe overtaking his own life. Malcom needed a break, damnit, and to catch up with his friends and focus on something other than money.
“You came back!” Kyle called from the bar as Malcolm shook hands with Jim. Then he was there, wrapping Malcolm up in a hug.
“What’s this about?” Malcolm laughed. “I called Jim and let him know I was coming.”
“I know. You were gone almost a week, though, and I started thinking you’d defected to the ‘burbs.”
“Please. Like that would ever happen.” A sweeter kind of ache than usual took hold of Malcom’s gut. Knowing he’d been missed felt nice. Malcolm groaned when Kyle leaned back enough to reach up and mess with his hair and struggled to get free. “Dude.”
“You love it.” Kyle smirked. “You deserve it for standing me up at yoga class.”
“Believe me when I say that I missed class more than you know.”
“Mmm. Looks like you’ve been working out anyway.” Kyle eyed his friend up and down in a way that made Malcolm’s shoulders tense. “You’re starting to get skinny, dude.”
“I’ve been running a lot in the last week, mostly to get out of the house,” Malcolm said. “And if you ever tell my mom I said that, I’ll deny it ‘til I’m blue in the face.”
“Your secret’s safe with me. How’s she doing?”
Kyle dragged Malcolm toward the bar and the two of them laughed when Malcolm nearly tripped. Clinging to one another, they kept him upright while they talked about Kim’s recovery.
“I’m glad she’s okay.” Kyle headed back around the bar after Malcolm was seated. “I’ll bet she’ll be glad to ditch the crutches, too.”
Malcolm nodded. “She should be up and around again by the end of this week if she keeps off the bad foot. Jack’s there to help out, though I’m sure she’d fight him for the car keys. Which is funny because you’d think she’d welcome the opportunity to be chauffeured around.”
“Maybe you’re just a shitty driver.” Kyle waggled his eyebrows, then bent and opened one of the refrigerators under the bar. “Anyway, you know I love seeing you, but I’m certain there’s a reason you’re here on a Wednesday night and still in your work duds, no less.” He set a brown paper bag on the bar top.
“I came from the office, doofus. I also invited Stuart for a drink.” Malcolm ignored his friend’s inquisitive expression. “He got my mom out of a jam with the repairs to her porch and I really want to at least treat him to say thanks.”
“Okay, babe.”
Never had Malcolm been so grateful for Kyle’s easygoing nature. Not that Malcolm was lying exactly, but he hadn’t come anywhere close to the whole story. Outside of any kind of favor Stuart had done for Malcolm’s mom, Malcom wanted to see him again in the worst way and talk face-to-face for the first time in nearly a week.
He’d been floored by the story Stuart had told under the shade of the trees growing in his mom’s yard, and not only because of what the man had endured. No, it was the trust Stuart had shown Malcolm. The extraordinary courage and strength and grace he’d displayed while speaking words of pain and shattered dreams, and of his journey to rebuild.
Malcolm often heard coming-out stories in his work at CEC, and of people’s struggles for self-acceptance and love. Every one of his close friends had endured a coming out of their own, and while they ranged from traumatic to almost comically mundane, each had been life changing. None of those stories had struck a chord in Malcolm as deeply as Stuart’s had, however. That fact alone scared Malcolm almost as much as it thrilled him, as did the knowledge that he wanted more contact with Stuart every day.
They’d spoken many times following the porch repairs, often in the evenings after Kim had gone to sleep. Nothing extraordinary had been said during those exchanges and there were no more dramatic reveals. They’d spent the time watching old episodes of The X-Files on Netflix together instead, and Malcolm had looked forward to every call. Those conversations had intensified the pull he felt toward Stuart. Lying in his childhood bedroom and listening to Stuart’s deep, sometimes sleepy voice provide commentary on Mulder and Scully’s adventures, Malcolm had felt less solitary and better connected to the city he’d left behind.
“So, what?” Kyle narrowed his eyes at Malcolm now. “You came in early to give me a pep talk and make sure everything we mix tonight is perfect?”
“Pfft, no. Everything you mix is perfect. I came in because I missed you and wanted to catch up.”
Kyle smiled. “You’re sweet. And, your timing couldn’t be better because Jes is on his way in, too, and Stuart sent me the fundraiser menu along with the beer and wine King’s plans to serve. We can go through the cocktail selection and make sure everyone’s on the same page.”
“Sounds great.”
“Hopefully, your chef leaves his bike at home tonight, so he doesn’t need to play designated driver.” Kyle’s eyes gleamed. “Or maybe you’d do the driving?”
“Oh, hell, no.” Malcolm’s stomach dipped in a giddy swoop. He enjoyed riding behind Stuart far more than he would have guessed. The idea of taking control of the huge machine was actively terrifying. “I’m not driving that beast, assuming Stuart would even let me touch it.”
“C’mon, man. You’re tall enough to handle that bike with some practice. And think about how hot you’d look doing it.” Kyle raised his hands to handlebar level, then mimed twisting a motorcycle throttle, and Malcolm burst out laughing at his exaggerated leer.
“Whatever the hell is going on here, I approve,” a familiar voice called. Gladness thrummed through Malcolm as he turned and met Jesse’s grin. “Welcome back, Maleficent!”
Normally, Malcolm rolled his eyes at the silly play on names, but the genuine delight in Jesse’s face stopped him.
“Hey, Big Money.” He exchanged a quick hug instead and groaned when Jesse tousled his hair yet again. “What is it with you guys and messing with my hair?”
“We like you messy,” Jesse replied with a wink. He looked very blue-eyed and blond in his light wool suit and Malcolm could tell his friend was in a good mood. “That’s from Cam, too. He’d be here to say welcome back in person, but he’s working late tonight.”
Now Malcolm did roll his eyes, albeit with a big smile. “I was gone five days total. Your trips overseas usually last twice as long.”
“And look at how much you all fucking miss me!” Jesse walked around the bar toward Kyle, the impish gleam in his eye shifting and a softer expression falling over his features. “Hey, gorgeous.”
“Hey.” Kyle’s smile made his whole person glow. He stepped into Jesse’s bear hug and they shared a lingering kiss that was by turns sweet and very, very hot.
Wait.
Goosebumps rose along Malcolm’s arms. He didn’t think that way about people and particularly not his friends. Over the years, he’d grown used to the easy affection the men in his life showed one another. Few of the speakeasy guys were as open as Jesse and Kyle, but each was out and proud in their own way and all the couples were as affectionate as they were honest about where they drew the lines between sex and love.
Carter and Riley were wholly committed to one another, just like Will and David, both pairs wired to be monogamous. Kyle and his boyfriend, Luka, considered their relationship more open, even though the times they engaged with other partners were so rare as to be exceptional. And last came Jesse and his partner, Cam, each as free-spirited as the day they had met. They reached outside of their partnership often, both individually and as a pair, but always came back to one another at the end of a figurative day.
They do what feels right.
Malcolm’s heart squeezed as that truth filtered over him. The love that bound his friends wasn’t a single emotion. It had shades and variations, and it twisted all around them with a grace both beautiful and
powerful, like the designs inked into Stuart’s skin. That love extended to Malcolm, too. While his place among the speakeasy crew had always been as a friend to all and lover to none, every one of those men cared about him. They made Malcolm feel like he fit, too, and that it was perfectly understandable that he didn’t want more.
Except maybe Malcolm did want more and simply never noticed until now. Until Stuart.
The rattle of a cocktail shaker broke through the haze in Malcolm’s head. Cheeks hot, he saw that Kyle was setting out trays of sushi rolls and sashimi while Jesse poured drinks.
Kyle gave Malcolm a smile. “Everything okay, babe?”
“Sure.” The smell of nori and pickled ginger made Malcolm’s mouth water and he had to clear his throat around the fib. “What’s all this?”
“Dinner.” Kyle reached for a stack of napkins. “I placed an order after Jim told me you were coming. Figured we’d go over the drinks menu while we eat and get Jes’ take.”
Jesse set a coupe glass down in front of Malcolm. “This is a Southside,” he said of the milky white concoction he’d garnished with mint. “Also known as a gin daiquiri, minus all the fruit, slush and other junk people insist on dumping into a perfectly innocent cocktail.”
“Spoken like a true booze nerd.” Kyle accepted his own glass with a chuckle. “You’ve no doubt guessed that the Southside is on the fundraiser menu, along with the Old Fashioned, a Rosemary Paloma and the ever popular Cosmopolitan.”
“Is it me or are Cosmos a bit out of character for you?” Jesse asked Kyle. “’Sex and the City’ is so not your craft cocktail vibe.”
“I wasn’t a huge fan of the show, but a Cosmo now and then with homemade triple sec is all kinds of nice.” Kyle sipped his drink. “The citrus will pair well with the seafood on the chef’s menu, and the cranberry is a low-key shout-out specific to the New England lobster salad.”
“I like that,” Malcolm said. “Pretty sure Stuart will too, once you explain it to him.”
An hour later, Stuart smiled down at the cocktail menu, his chef’s brain picking out the flavor notes without even trying.
“I like where you’re going with these. I’d drink any one of them too, fundraiser or not, because they all sound fantastic,” he said and rubbed a hand over his beard. He seemed relaxed and almost cheerful tonight in jeans and a Judge Dredd T-shirt and Malcolm loved that look on him. “Not a good idea for me to mix all of them together if I want to make it home in one piece, however.”
Malcolm’s mood dipped a little at the idea Stuart would have to monitor himself yet again. “You rode your bike?”
“Actually, no. I took the subway so I wouldn’t have to worry about a DUI. However, there’s bourbon, tequila, vodka and gin on this menu and my body will not be happy if I drink them all. Gin in particular—it does a number on my head.” Regret flickered across Stuart’s face as he set the menu card down. “I’m so intrigued by these flavors.”
“I’ll make you a tasting flight,” Kyle said. “That’ll give you all of the flavor yet save you the headache.”
Stuart nearly beamed. “Perfect, thanks.” He glanced at Malcolm. “You want to go through them with me, or did you do that before I got here?”
“I’d be face down under the bar if I went through four drinks in an hour, and so would Kyle and Jes.” Malcolm savored Stuart’s laugh. “We each had a Southside, then switched to water. Jes also disappeared into the office and has yet to emerge.”
“He’ll be along in a bit,” Kyle said. He moved up the bar, plucking bottles from the shelves. “He had some calls to make out to the West Coast, but I imagine he’s ready to wrap up.”
“Jes is looking forward to meeting you.” Malcolm pitched his voice lower. Everything in him seemed attuned to Stuart, who was sitting close enough to Malcolm that their elbows brushed. Malcolm didn’t mind a bit, particularly the way Stuart’s woodsy cologne mixed with the scent of the leather jacket. “Jesse’s parents are looking forward to the fundraiser, too. All of the Murtaghs have been CEC donors for years. Jesse’s the one who suggested Carter check out their jobs board back when he was looking to make a career change.”
“And Carter hired you.”
Malcolm shook his head. “Carter’s not my direct manager so, no, he didn’t hire me. He let me know about the job opening so I could apply.”
“Cool.” A thoughtful expression crossed Stuart’s face. “Does that ever get complicated?”
“How do you mean?”
“I know Carter’s technically not your boss. He leads your department though, right? That makes him responsible for the fundraiser’s success, which is your project and an event in which a lot of your friends are participating.”
Stuart raised his right hand and rested his chin in his palm. “Your friend, the senator, is making a speech and your other friends and the staff of two separate establishments are providing the space, food and drink. Hell, I’m responsible for making sure everyone’s belly gets filled and you and I are more friends than business contacts, too.” He quirked a grin at Malcolm. “Guess you guys aren’t big believers in not mixing business with pleasure, huh?”
Malcolm liked hearing that Stuart considered them friends. And even more that Stuart considered their interactions pleasure rather than business.
“You might not believe it, but outside of Car and me working together, this is the first time the crew has truly mixed business and pleasure,” he said. “Not counting Kyle and Jesse, of course.”
“Meaning what?”
As if on cue, Jesse reappeared, mobile phone still pressed to his ear. He stepped up close and patted Kyle’s ass, and the way his hand lingered at the small of Kyle’s back screamed intimacy. Malcolm watched Stuart’s eyebrows rise.
“Ah. So, they’re—”
“More than business partners,” Malcolm replied. “A lot less so since Kyle met Luka, but what they have goes beyond regular friendship. I don’t see that changing, either.”
“Their boyfriends don’t mind?”
“Not at all. Jesse and Cam’s relationship is wide open. They’d also cringe at the word ‘boyfriend.’”
Stuart chuckled and met Malcolm’s gaze. “That definitely sounds complicated, Mal.”
“I suppose it would to someone who doesn’t know them. I don’t always understand every nuance myself. Even so, to us, it’s all very simple.”
Malcolm smiled. Funny. A few weeks ago, he’d gone out of his way to avoid talking about the personal lives of his friends with Stuart. Now, he couldn’t think why it’d seemed like a big deal at all. He liked Stuart’s use of his nickname, too, and the way he said it sent a pleasant zing through Malcolm.
“Jesse and Kyle are the tip of the iceberg, by the way,” he said. “I’ll draw you a diagram someday of all the speakeasy connections, then open the floor for questions.”
“A diagram?” Stuart’s eyes went round. “What is this, a wife-swapping situation?”
“What? No!”
Stuart’s expression turned droll. “Dude, I’m an ex-Mormon and I’ve studied the teachings of Jacob Smith. I know a-a-a-ll about how sister-wives work.”
“Oh, God.”
“I’d like to leave God out of this, if you don’t mind.”
The two of them were still cackling when Kyle and Jesse sauntered up, each bearing a tray upon which a variety of small glasses had been arranged.
“You two sound like chickens with a fresh pan of feed,” Kyle said, a broad smile on his face as he set his tray down in front of Malcolm.
Stuart let out another laugh. “That’s more accurate than it should be.” His dark eyes shone as he glanced from the tray back up to Kyle. His expression shifted when his gaze landed on Jesse.
Jesse, in the meantime, set the tray in his hands down before Stuart and extended a hand. “Jesse Murtagh,” he said. “Kyle’s business partner and partner-in-crime.”
Malcolm had time to notice that Jesse’s smile wasn’t nearly as bright as usual before Stua
rt’s next words pulled the rug out from under him entirely.
“We’ve met, right? At The Cathedral?”
“Yep.” Now Jesse shared a very different kind of smile with Stuart. The sly humor in it made dread pool in Malcolm’s stomach. “I was there with my partner, Cam.”
Stuart snapped his fingers. “The redhead, yeah! I remember you both now.”
“Oh, get the fuck out,” Kyle said with a laugh. He gently elbowed Jesse in the ribs. “Over eight million people in this city. Leave it to you to hire someone you picked up in a gay bar.”
Jesse held his hands up as if in surrender. “Hey, I didn’t hire anyone. That’s on Carter and Maleficent here.” His eyes twinkled as he met Malcolm’s gaze and, somehow, that made Malcolm feel even worse.
“Holy shit.” Stuart’s face lit up. “Tell me there’s history behind a nickname like that.”
“It’s too long to be a nickname,” Malcolm muttered. “And there isn’t any history. Just…Jesse being Jesse.”
“That is both a monumental understatement and entirely true. Okay, drinks.” Jesse rubbed his hands together and turned his attention onto the trays. “Kyle added a raspberry mule to your flight.” He pointed at a glass holding a vibrant fuchsia mix. “He felt bad about not inviting rum to the party.”
Kyle snickered. “The fruit and agave should pair well with your food, too, the duck and Brie in particular.”
“I like that.” Stuart sipped from the glass and flashed a smile at Kyle. “A lot, actually. These will also be great with the zucchini blossoms I’m serving. The acid from the lime and the bite of the ginger beer will balance the ricotta filling very well.”
Jesse made a low noise of appreciation. “I’m going to need a preview of both the food and the drinks if you two keep talking like this.”
Straight Up Page 9