Page 28 of This Time Around

“Let’s erect a statue to honor his sainthood,” Milo said sarcastically.

“Okay, I can see that you’re still not a fan.”

“Nope, and that’s not likely to change. So, moving on,” Milo prompted. “Did you stay away for so long because you were ashamed, Andy?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “I put so much pressure on myself when I left town to make something big of myself. I was so sure that I was heading to the majors, and the little kids in this town would collect my baseball cards and ask me to sign them when I came home for a visit. There might even be a parade in my honor. And you,” I said, lightly poking his chest. “I couldn’t wait to make you sorry you broke up with me. I was going to drive into town in my sports car and act like I didn’t recognize you.”

Milo snickered. “This sounds like a really cheesy rom com, Andy. You couldn’t come up with better musings while stoned?”

“It wasn’t all that it’s cracked up to be,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders. “Some people write Pulitzer award-winning novels or songs to change a generation, but not me. I imagined revenge fucks.”

“Oh, I see how it is,” Milo said, grinning from ear to ear. “Fantasy Milo came up with sexy ways to make you remember him.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“So, now we’ve ventured into porn,” Milo teased. “Was there cheesy music? Did I show up at your door looking for a cup of sugar?”

“Something like that. Anyway, all I ended up making of myself was a big mess. I disappointed my family, and it hurt to see that in their eyes, so I avoided it by not coming home.”

“They might’ve been upset about the choices that you made, but they would never stop loving you, Andy. They—we—missed you so much.” Then, as if to lighten the somber mood, he said, “I’m going to need a demonstration later of what happened when Porn Star Milo showed up at your door asking forsugar. For now, let’s hear the story about your recovery. Tell me about your local NA chapter and meetings.”

“We meet each week for a few hours, and then get a bite to eat afterward. We talk about something other than our addictions and share some laughs. I’ve made some great friends, and I’d love to introduce you someday if you’re willing.”

“Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Except Coach. He won’t be getting a Christmas card from Milo Miracle, I can promise you that.”

“Fair enough,” I agreed.

“About that food…”

I leaned in for one more grateful kiss before I set up my sandwich shop on the other side of the stove from Milo so that he wouldn’t get burned from the steam coming from the small griddle. Milo hummed happily as he watched me put together our sandwiches then brown them to perfection.

“You are the panini king,” Milo said after his first bite. “And your mom’s ham and bean soup is still the best I’ve ever had. This is so damn good.”

“You want another sandwich?”

“Heck no, but I need to get one of those for my house. I bet you can make all kinds of things on there? French toast, waffles, and sausage and egg sandwiches on an English muffin. Yum.”

“Still a foodie, I see.”

“I haven’t changed that much in fourteen years,” he said sheepishly.

“You’ve changed a lot, Milo. I really like what I see too.”

“I haven’t shown you anything yet, baby,” Milo said suggestively.

Oh, but he had. Milo showed me he could be trusted with my secrets and my heart again. Eating panini and soup in my kitchen while wearing nothing but jeans and goofy grins was the happiest I’d been in fourteen years.

As much as I would’ve liked to spend the night at Andy’s house, I had responsibilities at home that I couldn’t ignore.

“Here, pretty kitty. Daddy’s home,” I called out when I came through the back door. Andy raised a brow at the cajoling voice I used on my cat. “I’m late and she’s pissed. Therefore, she’ll make me work for it. I’m hoping not to die in my sleep tonight.”

“What about me?” Andy asked then flushed with embarrassment from assuming he was spending the night. As much as I wanted to feel Andy’s arms around me all night long, he’d revealed a lot of things to me that I needed to process. I preferred to do that alone.

“We’ll know more when she decides to come out of hiding and greet you.” I walked further into the living room. “Where’s my pretty baby? Come let Daddy pet you.”

“My dick thinks you’re talking to it,” Andy said.

“I’ll sweet talk it later,” I told Andy then went in search of my feline.