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.I think I'm good." Deuce grinned and winked."I know guys who would be heaven, trust me."Trey cocked his head and looked, for a moment, like one of the puppies."Really? You've got gay friends?" It sounded like a foreign concept to Trey.Deuce checked to make sure Trey wasn't kidding -- he didn't seem to be."Of course.Not all of my friends are gay, but most are, I'd say.At least, almost all of my acquaintances.Guys I've met at parties or events, guys I've hung out with, couples that have been 'couple friends' when I've been dating someone.""I haven't dated." Trey said it matter-of-factly and without a trace of sadness or regret."I was married for eight years.We had couple friends, but they were straight.And most of my buddies are firemen.Really straight.""And you're only.sort of straight?" A little confirmation in direct words was always a good thing.Deuce could read signals, could play games, and could figure things out, but he'd found that clear statements were usually the best way to go about the important things.Trey gave Deuce a rueful-looking smile."Nah, I figured out the hard way that there was no 'straight' in the equation, sort of or otherwise.I won't go as far as saying it fucked up my marriage, because Holly and I did that all by ourselves.But I probably should have realized earlier that 'bisexual' wasn't really bisexual.I did get a kid out of it, though.""That's more than a lot of us can say.I myself just got a huge complex about where to put my hands when slow dancing.It's amazing how the early agony can stay with you." One mislaid hand on a girl's butt and Deuce still couldn't stop a shudder when power ballads were played at wedding dances."It's good you got it figured out, though.And you still don't date?""I didn't say I don't date.I said I haven't dated." Trey grinned, all straight white teeth and the hint of a small dimple in his left cheek."At least, not the kind of date you mean.Get someone's number, call and ask them out kind of date.""But you have interest in dating?" Deuce wasn't going to let that sort of thing go by without making sure."I guess so.What do the kids do on dates these days?" Trey sounded as if he really wanted to know."Mostly eat and dance." Deuce grinned."A lot of wine bars, a lot of night clubs.I prefer the dinner and a movie kind of date, but going dancing is okay.I've gotten past the all night rave type events, though." He was far too old for dancing half the night and then staying up the rest of it trying to get his body back in balance.Trey shook his head."I've been to raves.Not as a partier, though.When I worked at Station Four on the water, we were always getting calls for the old SeaCliff warehouse.Some poor kid would OD, or get roofied, or drink enough to drown his internal organs.""Uh-huh.I've seen it.And really, aside from the nearly naked guys, there was never enough to hold me there.I didn't like the music that much, and they never started until after my bedtime." Deuce gave Q a pet."Like I said, I prefer the dinner and something type dates, generally.Or afternoon things like ballgames or hikes.Cup of coffee and talking, wandering around places; that sort of thing."Trey spoke quietly."I, uh.I kind of like museums and stuff.My mom took me to a lot of them when I was little.My brothers always ran around and made lots of noise, but I liked how peaceful they were.She ended up leaving my brothers at home and just taking me.We could maybe do that sometime." He paused for a moment as if reviewing what he'd just said."I mean, if I was ever going to go on a date.That's where I'd like to go."Deuce gave him another smile, letting this one grow hot."Yeah.We can do that.I'll ask you, once I figure out this schedule of yours.Or you can ask me.I'll say yes, if that makes it easier.""I guess it doesn't matter." Trey looked up and smiled back, a cross between shy and interested."Long as I know you'd like to go.And that reminds me." He reached around to tug something out of his back pocket."Here's a pocket shift calendar.I'm the green numbers."Deuce leaned forward to take the card and brushed his fingers along Trey's."Thanks.This'll be a real help, 'specially after I move in.I'll know what nights not to worry when you don't get home."Trey didn't let go immediately, looking as if he enjoyed the contact."I don't go out that much.If I'm not home, I'm at work.And there's the little matter of Lacey.She'll be with me for a few days at a time.""Cool.I look forward to meeting her.Do you want me to clear out while she's with you?""Nah.She's a good kid.Reads, mostly.We go out to dinner, and I'll take her to a movie now and then, but she never asks for stuff and is totally fine with staying home, too.I hope it lasts, because I hear really bad shit about teenage girls from the older guys at work." Trey looked uncomfortable just thinking about it."I'm sure you'll handle it just fine when the time comes." Deuce thought for a moment."If she's into it, we can get her into training the dogs.Doing things like agility or fly ball, when she's older.For now just learning how to teach them commands might keep her interested.""Oh, she'll love it.She's been asking for a pet since she was five.I'm sure she'll go home and ask her mother if she can live with me full time.That'll be another reason for Holly to call me up and yell.""She can yell at me -- I'm a real prick when women start getting shrill at me.But not when Lacey's around, promise." He'd have to remember to watch himself when the child was over for the weekend -- not so much his language but his subject matter.Deuce glanced around at the puppies."Are we missing one?""There's one here." Trey picked the sleeping one out of his lap."And there are two over there, disguised as one big lump.Come on, I'll help you collect them and bring them inside." He cradled Six in one muscular forearm and reached for another puppy."Thanks." Deuce watched him with the dogs and nodded to himself.Things were going to work out just fine, he thought.It was getting more promising by the minute, really.Dinner, a room to stay, and possible dates.things were fine, indeed.SixFuck, fuck, fuck.Trey muttered profanity and nonsense words to himself as he checked the stuffed artichokes in the oven.It had sounded like such a good idea at the time.Invite Deuce to stay, bring the dogs, sure you can meet Lacey, come on over for dinner, oh by the way, if we ever go out on a date, I love museums.And hey, here's a shift calendar so you know exactly when I'll be at work and when I'm home.When the hell did Trey get so desperate?He'd been doing fine since the divorce.That was two years ago already, and life had gone on
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