I’m not gay. I’m not gay. I know I’m not gay. The thoughts raced through Edwardo’s mind. He was not, and has never been gay. "I see you've met our seasonal hire, eh Eddie?" Howard delivered Edwardo's usual muffin and jam on a plate. "Michael, why don't you pick yourself something from the case. Safe to say I'm exchanging the usual one coffee for two? I have a feeling you two kids may want to get to know each other a little bit." 

"It's not fair..." Rayan sobbed. His ribs stabbed at him, not appreciating the sudden violent use. Scott immediately set the bowl aside to start comforting him. "Rayan, I know it's not fair. I know this is hard on you." Scott grabbed a tissue to wipe Rayan's face, re

Michael leaned into Edwardo as an unexpectedly strong gust of wind came through. He wrapped his arms around himself and couldn't help the shivering and chattering of his teeth. This was rapidly becoming not fun anymore. How much dignity would he loose if he just went back to the car? Edwardo reacted quickly once he realized the situation his date was in. He pulled off his coat and wrapped it around Michael's shoulders, pulling Michael in close to his side. Once the guys around them had determined Michael didn't speak Spanish, they'd been bombarding him with questions about his colorful companion. One of them got out a teasing remark, which he ignored. "Are you cold?" Edwardo asked Michael in English. "It's kind of chilly tonight." Michael nodded in response, blushing as he gratefully leaned into Edwardo’s embrace. The jacket was warm, hugely oversized, and having Edwardo's smell surrounding him was a very comfortin

Edwardo was broken from his musings by Essie running past him and out her doggie door to the yard, where she promptly squatted and did her business. He couldn’t get her to leave Michael’s side at all this morning, not even for breakfast, so if she was up that must mean… Edwardo spun around to face the living room. Sure enough, there on the stairs was his very small house guest. The clothes he’d been dressed in last night were just as oversized as Edwardo remembered, with the borrowed drawstring shorts going well past Michael’s knees and the shirt hanging loosely off one shoulder. Edwardo’s heart skipped a beat. Michael was beautiful, even looking a bit hungover. Michael stood awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs. Sultry music was playing, some kind of love song maybe? It was in Spanish, so he couldn’t tell. The place was huge! The ceiling vaulted high above his head, and one of the walls was occupi

“I was thinking of one more stop before we go home, unless there’s somewhere you want to go?” Scott was already driving to their next destination. “How would I have anywhere I need to go?” Rayan asked, slightly confused. “Not need, WANT.” “If you tell me where we’re going now, I could answer better.” Rayan’s spirits were higher than they’d been in a long time. It was an enormous relief to Scott, who’d been at his wits end trying to alleviate some of Rayan’s completely justifiable depression. Their next stop was the most important one. Rayan was finally going to get his ring back. Strangely enough, he hadn’t asked about it. Scott wondered why, but he didn’t want to pry too much, and he didn’t want to trigger anything on accident. HE knew where the ring was, and HE knew Rayan was about to get it back,