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Blood coursed through his veins, the thrum of each heartbeat sounding in the back of his ears. “Craig, Robert, you guys are right on time.”

Craig stepped forward and handed Jeremy a bottle of red wine. “I wanted to bring something and figured red wine would be safe.” He squinted his eyes and inhaled audibly through his nose. “That smell…are you cooking Mom’s roasted chicken?”

Jeremy’s heart squeezed. “You bet. The scent—“

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“Brings me right back to dinner at my house.”

“Exactly.” Jeremy beamed at Craig whose smile had spread across his face.

Robert turned to Andrew. “I’d love a tour of the place. Let these two gab about growing up and old memories and shit.”

Andrew grinned. “Sure, let me show you around.”

When they were gone, Craig turned to Jeremy. “Right now I’m thirteen and it’s the beginning of fall. Let me guess, red bliss potatoes and carrots simmering with chunks of garlic and chicken grizzle. Rosemary and cayenne pepper rub on the chicken itself, and sautéed green-beans with sliced almonds—“

“And a hint of butter,” Jeremy finished for him, his heart pounding. How he wished in that moment they really were thirteen and standing in Craig’s kitchen. To have that chance again and do it right this time.

Scents of the meal enveloped him. Roasted chicken, rosemary, baked potatoes, each smell bringing him back to a time before he had experienced loss. “It’s great to see you Jer.” He walked the couple of steps to his friend, embracing him in a hug. Feeling Jeremy in his arms once again, surrounded by the nostalgic aromas, filled him with contentment. Without pulling away, Craig joked. “The night my mom taught us how to make this was a pivotal day in my life.” Finally, slowly, he released Jeremy and cleared his throat, his gaze trapped by Jeremy’s piercing eyes. “Let’s go into the kitchen,” he said softly. Jeremy nodded and led Craig from the living room.

In the kitchen, Craig opened the oven and inhaled. “Yup, that’s it, Jer.”

Jeremy interrupted his absorption with the food. “The look on your face tells me you are excited to eat.”

Craig looked up. “Are you kidding? I remember every single time mom made this for us. How much longer?”

Jeremy laughed. “Maybe thirty minutes.” He poured Craig a glass of wine. “Would you like some? We have a bit of a selection. Andrew went a little nuts and bought five different bottles.”

Craig walked over to the counter. “Hm, let’s see. Ah, this will do.” He picked up the bottle of Rosemount Shiraz. “How about you?”

Jeremy nodded, lost in the blue of Craig’s eyes. Over the years, every time he looked at the sky on a brilliant autumn day, he thought of those eyes.

Craig poured two glasses. Jeremy watched him, listening to the faint rattling sound of the bottle neck clinking against the glass. His hand is shaking. Is he nervous? Craig handed the glass to Jeremy, maintaining eye contact with him the whole time. As Jeremy reached to take the glass from him, their fingers touched and Craig dipped his glance to the point of contact.

Jeremy raised his glass and they clinked. “To renewed friendship.”

“To renewed friendship.” Craig touched his glass to Jeremy’s, holding Jeremy’s gaze the whole time.

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With his heart still pounding, Jeremy took a sip, savoring the momentary bite of the tannin in the wine, and the subtle but fruity flavor of the grape. He set his glass down on the counter, and looked at Craig. Seeing him in his kitchen, standing before him in the flesh, in the deliciously smooth flesh, with mounded muscles, not too big, but very masculine, gave Jeremy the urge to grab him, to kiss him and erase fifteen wasted years.

He took another quick sip of wine, grateful for the relaxing burn of it in his veins.

Craig set down his glass too. A shy look came over his features. “You know, somehow it doesn’t feel like any time has passed.”

Jeremy’s cheeks heated and he suspected they had become flushed. “I know what you mean, but at the same time it seems like too much time has passed.”

Craig remained silent for a moment and Jeremy witnessed the red hue creep into place on his face and neck. “Yeah. That too.” He cleared his throat and asked a question which threw Jeremy off balance. “How long have you and Andrew been together?”

Jeremy took another sip of wine. Craig’s eyes were focused on him and his face contained an expression Jeremy couldn’t quite discern; something between tension and curiosity. Jeremy stood still, dropping his gaze to the floor, and then turned back to the oven. “About eight years. We met soon after I moved here and have been together ever since.”

When Craig spoke, his voice sounded subdued. “Well, he’s lucky to have you.”

Jeremy turned to face him, making sure he smiled He didn’t like this line of conversation, but didn’t want to say or do anything that might make Craig uncomfortable. “Yes, Andrew is a wonderful man. I’m lucky to be with him too.” His voice sounded forced, as if he were trying to convince Craig. Talking about Andrew with Craig was the most uncomfortable topic he could imagine. And he didn’t want to ask Craig about Robert. However, avoiding the topic would seem suspicious. “How about you and Robert?”

Craig’s face went from flushed to crimson. “We’ve been together for eight years as well.”

The comment had been delivered plainly, no emotion to show pride or pleasure and Jeremy couldn’t help but feel relieved. “Sounds like the two of us have been travelling the same path.” He laughed awkwardly, the tension between them like a third person in the room.

“You mean moving to the city and getting into relationships at the same time?”

Jeremy smiled. “Yeah. Kinda weird huh?”

“Weird? More like serendipity.” Craig’s voice trailed off, as if he had just gone miles away in his mind.

Jeremy’s breath caught in his chest. Serendipity? Yes, I can see that. “But we ran into each other again. When Boris called you over to us, I recognized you right away.”

Addressing their reunion helped to relieve his stress.

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“Me too.” Craig’s voice became animated. Jeremy was relieved to have brought the conversation around to the two of them. “I’ve thought about you a lot over the years, but…um…lately, you’ve been popping into my mind more often than usual.”

“Really? You’ve been on my mind as well.” Jeremy recalled the several times Craig had crossed his mind over the past couple of weeks. To be honest, the past couple of years. He took a step closer. “I’m so glad things worked out the way they did.”

Craig took a step closer to Jeremy. “It’s funny how things work out.” Silence filled the room until a sizzling broke through the quiet between them. “I think the chicken’s telling us it’s dinner time.”

Jeremy laughed and turned to the oven, grabbing his oven mitts and placing the hot pan on the stove top, inhaling deeply, the rich scent of chicken, rosemary and garlic filling the air. “Perfect!” When he turned, Craig was standing next to him, shoulder to shoulder, smelling the delectable meal along with him. He froze on the spot as one additional scent registered in his senses. “You’re wearing that fragrance again. What’s it called?”

“Huh? Oh. Acqua Di Gio. I love it. Such a clean, fresh scent.”

“May I get a closer whiff?”

“Sure.” Craig lowered his arms and lifted his chin.

Jeremy turned to face him and leaned in until his nose brushed against the silky skin of Craig’s neck. The cologne filled his senses, bringing him back to Saturday night and their embrace, the one where Craig held him tightly. His cock began to lengthen inside his pants as he continued to breathe in Craig’s scent.

The sound of the timer going off broke the moment and Jeremy straightened. He turned to the skillet on the oven and shifted the beans about. Through his peripheral vision he detected a slight movement. He peeked, trying not to seem to be doing so, and spied Craig reach for the crotch of his pants and tug. He’s adjusting himself.

The realization that Craig was aroused caused conflicting emotions to war inside his head. He knew he shouldn’t feel excitement, but he couldn’t deny that he did. The curiosity about Robert was eating away at him, so he allowed Craig’s physical reaction to fuel his courage to pry. “Robert seemed proud of you the other night. Andrew tells me he wouldn’t stop talking about you Saturday night.”

Craig stiffened. “Robert’s a good guy. He takes his work seriously and he views opportunities like Boris’s party as good business. I think he’d like me work for Boris permanently.”

Jeremy nodded. “Well, Boris also seemed impressed with you. Somehow I get the sense you don’t want to work for him though.”

“You can still read me after all this time. I guess I still wear my feelings on my sleeve, huh?”

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“You never managed to hide your feelings, no. But you dodged my question. Do you want to work for Boris?” Jeremy leaned back against the counter, looking at Craig with unwavering eyes.

“No. Boris wants me to work for him and wants to pay me a lot of money too, but I’d only be doing one kind of work. I’d become bored. Right now, I get all sorts of clients and the challenge of meeting their needs pushes me creatively. Plus, my friends and I started the business together. The thought of leaving seems like abandoning a child.”

Jeremy’s blood flowed faster as he listened to Craig talk his job and how his salary didn’t factor into how he lived his life. Craig hadn’t changed one bit in all these years.

He still followed his heart and did things he believed in. He was more interested in being happy, exercising he creativity, and remaining loyal than following the draw of the almighty dollar.

He admired the characteristic, the one he questioned in Andrew. Craig’s passion reminded him of how his friend always used to fight for what he believed in. He took another sip of his wine, wondering if he would have allowed himself to continually cave into Andrew’s desires if Craig had been around to remind him of how he used to be. “I totally understand what you’re saying. You always stood by what you believed It’s one of the things I loved about you so much.”

Craig stared at his feet. When he lifted his head, he wore a soft expression filled with affection. “No one’s talked about my beliefs with admiration in a long time. You always boosted me up whenever I doubted myself.” Craig snapped his mouth shut. When he spoke, his voice was timid. “I can’t believe I just said that.”

Jeremy smiled. “Robert doesn’t tell you he’s proud of you?”

“Not really. No.”

A surge of protectiveness swelled inside Jeremy. Just a few admissions from Craig and he already decided he didn’t like Robert. I’d never treat Craig like that. He’d always know how proud I am of him. “You’re running low on your wine. Need a refill?”

Craig lifted his glass, allowing Jeremy to pour him some more, and walked to the oven to take another whiff of the chicken.

* * * * *

Andrew hesitated before answering. “Two-point-seven million”

Robert let out a long whistle. “Wow, steep. I’m guessing the mortgage is hefty.”

Robert sized Andrew up as he walked around the guest room. He was tall, about an inch shorter than himself and had smooth, tanned skin. The jeans he wore hugged his body in all the right places, revealing thick thigh muscles and a hard, round ass. His 74

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sweater clung to his body, accentuating broad shoulders which tapered into a flat midsection and a muscled waist. He was sturdy and big, but well formed. Handsome and financially successful. Robert thought Andrew looked tastier than the smell of the meal from the kitchen. This is a guy who would be a perfect match for me.

He checked himself in the bedroom mirror to make sure he presented well, before turning to Andrew, giving him his most charming smile. Given his line of work, he needed a ten-million dollar look, and his success with clients proved he had perfected his. “The other night, I admired your reasons for becoming involved in portfolio management. People need a solid financial advisor who can steer them through the ups and downs of the market. They get scared when the market dips and need someone who can help them through the rougher times. You must be proud of the help you give people.”

Andrew looked surprised. “Yes, you described the exact reason I love what I do.

You have no idea how glad I am to be able to talk about this with someone who understands what I do.” Robert’s ears perked up. Jeremy doesn’t understand your work.

“Whenever I have a client who calls me about a dip in the DOW or NASDAQ, the most important thing for me is to make sure I understand their concern, look at their investment horizon, and help them to realize what their best decision is. I can’t tell you how many calls I’ve received where people thank me for seeing them through difficult times. Those calls make the more cut-throat aspects of the job tolerable.”

Annoyed by Andrew’s melodramatic sentiments, Robert shoved his hands into his pockets and clenched his fists to release energy. At least he had passion. Passion could be redirected under the right circumstances, resulting in high yielding portfolios, which translated into lots of bank. “How about Jeremy? What does he do?”