Page 12 of Grind

Ezra smiled and stepped closer, resting his chin on the wet chest. “Sounds like a plan.”

Chapter 4

Frank

Oneyearlater

[Steak or chicken?] Ezra’s message came with a photo of meat at a butcher’s counter and was followed by a selfie that made Frank’s heart skip a beat. The pretty, smiling face was slightly blurred against the background of a mural featuring a field, and Frank could see just enough tongue to remember the sloppy blowjob Ezra had given him two weeks back, at the very end of their last meeting. He was wearing a thin turtleneck Frank had gotten for him when they went shopping around Christmas time too. They’d see each other soon, but it was nice that Ezra got on board with the boyfriend experience Frank had requested over a year ago, after their first night together.

Frank didn’t question whether all the messages, brief calls between visits, and the smiles Ezra always had for him were genuine, just like he didn’t ask how many people Ezra was seeing and when. A part of him hoped Ezra genuinely liked him on some level, even if their relationship was a business transaction, but at the end of the day, as long as he enjoyed himself and was a gentleman about it, everything was fair. Ezra got money, gifts, and, hopefully, a bit of fun, and Frank got to enjoy his company without jeopardizing his work or lifestyle.

Everybody won.

Frank didn’t need to think twice about his answer to the message, since he knew Ezra didn’t enjoy red meat. [Chicken. Can you make some of those spicy potatoes for later too?] Because while Ezra was a pampered kitten, who liked the finer things in life, he actually cooked well and liked to do it. His meals were much better than Frank’s usual fare of microwave dinners, so as silly as it was, Frank looked forward to them just like he did to seeing Ezra and feasting in a different way.

So maybe he was enjoying the fantasy of dating Ezra a bit too much, but he deserved to spend his savings how he wished. Ezra was his one weakness. Since his sister's passing a few years ago, Frank had never gotten out of the habit of being frugal, and it was now a blessing, seeing Ezra wasn’t cheap.

“This is all just old crap, Frank,” Shane said, climbing the mountain of newly delivered electronics and appliances. “Broken microwaves, TVs, general shit.”

Frank nodded, too busy checking Ezra’s new message. He was tempted to send back a shirtless selfie, because it always earned him a flurry of compliments, but with Shane right there, he couldn’t—

[I’m trying out a new recipe. It’ll be something extra special.]

Frank swallowed, letting himself fantasize about Ezra favoring him among all the other sugar daddies and customers and—he didn’t really want to know. And he certainly did not discuss Ezra with Paul after thanking him for thegiftafter that first time. It still felt weird to know they were both sleeping with the same man.

A work glove-clad hand waved in front of his face, forcing him to focus on Shane, who'd approached him unnoticed. “Are you listening? Kids these days. Always on their phones.”

Frank put away the phone to Shane’s mocking tut-tutting. “I heard you, but you’re wrong. We need to look through this. I’m sure we’ll find lots of useful parts. This is literally the point of this junkyard.”

Shane’s handsome features twisted with displeasure, but they’ve been friends half their lives, so Frank had no doubt Shane would get on with the job at hand. Frank had been there for Shane when Shane had gotten out of prison, and had kept in touch while Shane was behind bars and had no one.

“You got really into texting in the past few months,” Shane said, piercing Frank with his bright green eyes. It would have been much easier to avoid his gaze if he wasn’t nearly as tall as Frank.

The day was warm, so Shane stood there in his work boots, jeans, and black tank top, looking like an ad for hot builders everywhere. He even rubbed his glove over the short crew cut and squinted against the setting sun.

But this was work, not a photoshoot.

Then again… could they make a ‘Wreck & Repair’ calendar for some extra cash? Frank’s expenses had skyrocketed since his little indulgence started last year.

“So? I’ve got shit to deal with all the time. Nothing new there. Even arranging this delivery took a few weeks,” he said, playing it cool, because the last thing he needed was Shane finding out he was seeing an escort. Frank would never hear the end of it.

Shane rolled his eyes and stuffed a cigarette into his mouth before lighting it. “Come on, Frankie. It’s been a while. Didn’t want to say anything, since you haven’t really had a life outside of this place for a while, but isn’t it time to tell us what you’re doing every two weeks, when you disappear for the night?”

Frank rolled his eyes and picked up a discarded toaster just to have something to do with his hands. “I obviously go do porn, and then moonlight as a rodeo clown.”

Shane snorted and let out a series of smoke rings. “Come on, Frankie, we’re all adults. Are you getting freaky at some sex club? Maybe I should check which place has events that coincide with your nights off, hm?”

“Sex club? So I accidently bump into mynephewand his guy? No thanks. Some things are best left alone, Shane. Promise it’s nothing that will backfire at you guys.”

“A fuckbuddy then? Are you finally getting some?” Shane winked but didn’t stop staring at Frank with his intense eyes. “Is that who you disappeared with that weekend in the summer?”

Frank smirked and grabbed a cigarette out of Shane's packet… then put it back. Ezra didn’t like him smoking, so he refrained from it on days they were seeing each other.

“It’s nothing serious, and it’s not exactly a secret that I like to fuck from time to time. I’m not a monk.”

Though that weekend together had been about so much more than fucking. To take Ezra away for two days, Frank only saw him once that month, but it had been a blissful three days. He’d rented a cabin by a lake, they had a hot tub, rented a boat and Frank taught Ezra how to fish. When Ezra caught one, the look of absolute joy on his face was worth every cent Frank had spent on the trip. Later that evening Ezra had been so proud to grill the fish for them, and yeah, they were delicious. Despite Ezra’s love of luxury, that weekend he’d been happy in jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie. Not that he needed any clothes when they went skinny dipping.

After the dip in the lake, Ezra had gotten a rash that made him panic so much, Frank had to take him to the pharmacy, but it was fine, all part of the experience. Any time with him was time well spent, and it wasn’t as though Frank could fuck him round the clock, even if he wanted to.