Too Fucking Right
Ricky spent the morning at the hospital doing rounds and the afternoon sitting through lectures and new patient intakes. He’d gone straight from the hospital to The Other Team Sports Bar & Grill for his even shift. Cooking at the bar was a relief after the day he’d had. It gave him a place to keep his hands busy and his mind free.
For the past two weeks, things had been awkward between him and Alex. Not bad, just unnatural—weird. With only one week left before “event,” he asked himself the question he’d asked himself every day since Alex popped the question: Why?
The only answer he could think of was that Alex was using him as a way to rebel. Ricky would be the bad boy Alex brought home to his uptight parents. Ricky rolled his eyes. Did it really matter? He’d committed to going, and unless Alex told him he didn’t want him there, Ricky was going to make an appearance—even if the event had disaster written all over it.
Jay Lincoln, the owner of The Other Team, walked into the kitchen. He was taller than Ricky, but not as tall as Alex. Even so, he was more imposing. He’d been dating Dr. Grace, Ricky’s mentor and attending, for a while. Dr. Grace had helped Ricky to get the job at the bar. He was grateful to both of them for the chance—even if he’d almost blown it less than two weeks in when he’d been caught half-naked in the storage room with Alex. Jay had been really cool about it. He hadn’t even told Dr. Grace.
Jay was self-made. He managed every day to run a successful business without a college education or rich parents to back him. The fact that he was discreet only added to Ricky’s admiration.
“So,” Jay said. He smoothed back his short hair. “You ready for next week?”
What did Jay know? “Did Alex say something to you?” Maybe Alex had sent Jay in as a way to rescind the invitation. “Look, if he doesn’t want me to go…”
“Calm down,” Jay said. He shook his head. “Alex hasn’t told me anything. Harvey said something in passing, and I probably should’ve kept my mouth shut.”
“Oh.” He’d forgotten about his conversation with his mentor a week earlier. The doctor and Jay had been going through their own relationship trouble at the time, and Ricky had shared his insecurities about the party with Dr. Grace in an uncharacteristic gesture of solidarity. “I’m fine about it.”
“I can see that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ricky flipped two burgers on his grill and shifted the toasted buns to the warmer corner.
“Nothing. You’ve just been a little tense the last couple of shifts.”
“I’m fine,” he repeated.
Jay put up his hands. “Okay.”
After Jay left the kitchen, Ricky plated the burgers, lifted the fry basket to let it drain, and then dressed the burgers. When he finished, he added the fries and a pickle spear to each of the plates. The meals were for Alex’s table, and Ricky’s stomach fluttered with anxiety. They’d been so cautious with each other lately. He wondered if he’d feel angry or relieved if Alex backed out of taking him to the party.
He opened the door between the kitchen and bar. Alex was standing near a table with Tucker Thompson. The easy way they talked and laughed made Ricky’s chest squeeze. He knew he didn’t have to worry about Tucker—the young man was completely committed to his partner Todd, but Alex…
Alex had wanted Tucker from the first time they met. Ricky knew he’d been a consolation prize, or worse, a place holder. Someone to fill the void until something real came along. Jesus. Why did it even matter? It wasn’t like Ricky wanted more. Right? So then why was he going to “meet the parents”? Did Alex want there to be more between them? His gut knotted. Did he want there to be more between them? Maybe.
Alex laughed at something Tucker Thompson said, and Ricky’s mood darkened even more. “Order,” he barked.
Alex’s eyes widened at Ricky’s sudden appearance, and Ricky heard him tell Tucker, “That’s mine.”
Damn straight, Ricky thought possessively. Too fucking right. Then another thought occurred to him: How in the hell was he going to get through the next week?