Page 74 of Pretty Poison

“Only if you do it with me,” Felix replied.

Avery rubbed his hands together. “This should be good.”

Jude narrowed his eyes. “Who’s cooking? No offense, Rocky, but I hear it’s not your best gig.”

Rocky couldn’t deny it but flipped Jude off anyway.

Asher raised his hand. “I’ll be doing the grilling.”

“I’ll help you with the seasoning,” Avery said. “There are a few tricks I’ve learned.”

“Wait a minute,” Jonah said. “This sounds like you’ve been substituting my meat with the plant stuff for a while.”

Avery just smiled and shrugged.

“Fine,” Jude said. “I’ll join the challenge.”

“I’ll put Marla in charge to ensure neither of you cheat,” Rocky told them.

She shimmied her shoulders. “Well, I am dressed for such an honor.”

Eddie leaned toward her and said, “I could’ve loaned you my pearl-handled six-shooter to complete your outfit.”

Marla threw her head back and laughed throatily, then kissed Eddie’s cheek. “Oh, I like you.” The marshal’s fair skin flushed a bright pink, making his hair look even whiter and his eyes greener.

“Who forgot to invite Morty Fishbein?” Avery asked.

“This isn’t a Texas-style barbecue,” Felix replied.

Those who were familiar withThe Golden Girlslaughed. Those who weren’t looked at each other in confusion.

“Another Blanche Devereaux reference,” Rocky told Asher.

“Ah,” he said. “I guess we’ll start that series next.”

Asher lit the charcoal in the massive grill they’d purchased that morning at the hardware store. They’d stood in the aisle debating gas versus charcoal when the owner, Sal, pointed out a model that offered both options. Of course, it happened to be the biggest one the store sold, which suited Asher. Rocky wasn’t the only size queen in this relationship. The gigantic grill also happened to be on sale, which made Rocky happy. Win-win.

They’d both loved their joint purchase, but their approach to assembling it was as different as night and day. Even though they were both mechanically inclined, Asher preferred to build things without reading the instructions. Rocky liked to scan the directions from start to finish before taking the pieces out of the plastic. They’d compromised. Rocky read the step-by-step instructions out loud while Asher removed the plastic and laid things out where he thought they’d go. They made a great team.

“Want my help?” Rocky asked when Asher and Avery came out of the house carrying the platters of meat.

“No,” everyone said.

Rocky took it for the good-natured jabbing they’d intended. He hoped to make them eat their words after they sampled his chili.

“How many more people are you expecting to show up?” Dandridge asked when he saw the volume of meat lining both parts of the grill. His voice sounded a little strained, so Rocky glanced over at him. The man’s eyes looked glassy as he stared at the food.

Rocky bumped his shoulder against Dandridge’s to nudge him out of his trance. “Want to help me set out the side dishes and condiments?”

“Uh, yeah, sure,” he said after one last longing look at the meat sizzling on the grill.

Rocky and Dandridge arranged the food on the large, rectangular folding table, another new purchase, while the other attendees launched into an animated discussion about the best side dishes. Rocky never expected it to get so heated, but Asher threw down the gauntlet when he remarked that Trish’s Diner made the best macaroni and cheese he’d ever had.

Marla placed her hands on her hips. “Honey, have you ever sampled my macaroni and cheese?”

Asher blinked, then looked at Rocky for help. Rocky held up his hands and backed away, signaling to Asher that he was on his own. “No,” his husband slowly said, “but I do know your cinnamon rolls are amazing.”

Marla cackled like a villain. “Nice try, darling.”