“TREVOR,” JAMES called a little over a month later. “We need to hurry or we’ll be late, and I get to meet my new dog today.” There had been a slight delay, and he thought he was going to burst. Trevor had taken him shopping, and James had already gotten not only everything on the list that Leader Dogs recommended he have, but also some extra toys and a new dog bed that he’d already placed in the corner of the bedroom where he wanted Penny to sleep.
They had spent the night at Trevor’s house because it was closer to where the organization’s offices were, and James was starting to learn the house, though they still spent more time at his place than at Trevor’s. James knew that was because it was easier for him, and he wanted to make the effort to try to fit into Trevor’s life and surroundings as much as possible. It was only fair.
Trevor thumped down the stairs. “We’re fine.”
“Yes. But we have a busy day. This morning I’m working with Penny for the first time, and then this evening we have your birthday dinner.” He wasn’t sure if he or Trevor was more excited about the birthday party. “I invited my family as well as yours. I know it’s a lot, but I thought they should all meet. I talked to my mom and dad. They’re looking forward to meeting Margaret and Larry.”
“Is that some kind of code?” Trevor asked as James used his cane to navigate to the door.
“No. I sort of laid down the law and told them that if they didn’t bring their good manners and get over whatever preconceptions they had about you, then they weren’t going to be seeing me very often, and that got my mother’s attention.” James reached the door and turned to Trevor. “Don’t worry. I think Marti had a talk with her as well, and Mom and Dad just want me to be happy. They’ll see that. Don’t worry.”
Trevor was nervous, and James extended his hand, waiting for Trevor to take it. He felt the apprehension washing over him. “It’s my birthday.”
“Yes, and extending an invitation to my family was a nice thing to do. Besides, my mother is all about how things look, so think of the present she’ll bring for you.” James flashed a smile. “After all, birthdays are all about the presents.” He brought Trevor closer and kissed him. “Besides, if you’re good, I’ll have a present for you in bed tonight that will be well worth the trouble.” James wriggled his hips and felt Trevor go hard in his jeans.
“Let’s go see your new set of eyes.” Trevor guided him out to the car and then drove him up to Leader Dogs. James got out and Trevor led him inside, and he could barely sit still while they waited.
“James,” a woman said, and he stood. “I’m Holly. If you follow me, I can introduce you to Penny.”
“Can I bring Trevor?”
“Of course.” She took his arm and gently guided him, giving him directions the entire time until he was in a room and a gentle, wet nose pressed into his hand. “That’s Penny saying hello. She’s a black Labrador retriever and very gentle. Get to know her a little, and then we’ll put her in her harness and you can start working together.”
Holly was a nice person and worked with him a few hours. Even though he’d had a dog before, each one was different, and he needed to learn how Penny behaved just as Penny needed to learn things about him.
“She’s wonderful.”
“Yes, she is, and the two of you seem to work together well. What I’d like to do is bring Penny to your house tomorrow so she can learn it and work with you there. Then next week we’ll bring you in for training. The two of you will work here for the week.”
“I went through the same training when I got Chet so I’m familiar with it.” James was so very excited. He had been looking forward to this for such a long time.
“Then this should go very well.”
James bent down and said good-bye to Penny, who really seemed taken with him. She was too well-behaved to jump up, but she pressed her head to his hand, and James petted her gently. “You’re an amazing girl, and we’re going to be such friends.”
“We’ll both see you tomorrow,” Holly said, and Trevor took James’s arm and guided him back out to the car.
James got in, and Trevor did the same, then started the car and drove back to Trevor’s. James could hardly sit still, he was so excited. “We need to go change for your party.”
“Where is it?”
James chuckled. “I asked my mom, and she helped me make the arrangements at their country club. We have a small private room where we can be as loud and messy as we want. I know it isn’t your first choice of location, but my mom wanted to help, and I took that as an olive branch of sorts.” He wanted Trevor and his family to get along, he really did. And everyone had offered to help. “Margaret is apparently bringing the cake.”
“Okay.”
James hoped Trevor would be happy with what he’d put together for him. He was a little nervous. James pressed the button on his watch to get the time. “We have to be there in an hour.”
“We won’t be late.” Trevor squeezed his leg, and James felt him speed up. Once they arrived at Trevor’s, there was little time for anything other than washing up, changing into clothes that Trevor had helped him pick out, and then they were in the car once again.
James’s mother was waiting for them when they arrived and gave him a gentle hug before greeting Trevor. “Happy birthday. I hope it’s a wonderful one.” There wasn’t a hint of her usual skepticism. “Everything is set up the way James asked.”
“Thanks, Mom,” James said, happy.
“Uncle Jimmy.” Zack hurried over, and James knelt to accept his hugs. “Are there presents for me?”
“You had your birthday a few weeks ago. It’s Trevor’s birthday today. But there will be cake.”
That seemed to make him happy enough.
“Your dad and Margaret have already arrived and are in the room,” Marti said.
James’s phone dinged, and he listened to the message, his lips turning upward into a smile. “Please go on inside. We have another guest who’s arriving, and then we’ll be right in.” James smiled as his mother took charge, herding the others in.
“Who else is going to be here?”
“Brent. I invited him. Didn’t I tell you? I asked Dean to come as well, but he said he had other plans.” James patted Trevor’s hand.
James heard Brent before he saw him, and as he held Trevor’s hand, he felt him tense and knew the second Brent came into view.
“You bought my bike?” Trevor asked with a mix of anger and confusion as Brent came to a stop and the engine died.
“No,” Brent answered.
Trevor let go of James’s hand and moved away. “This is my bike, the one you helped me sell, and you’re riding it, so I’d say that was a fair question.”
“Trevor.” James moved toward where he’d heard Trevor’s voice and bumped into him. He used that chance to wrap his arms around Trevor’s waist. “Brent didn’t buy the motorcycle. I did.”
Trevor stiffened as the words sank in. “You what?”
“Yeah. I bought it.” James held out his hand, and Brent pressed the keys into them. “Happy birthday.” James held the keys in front of Trevor. “I didn’t want to interfere with what you were doing for your business, but I didn’t want you to sell the motorcycle, so I bought it.”
“And you kept that a secret all this time. Both of you?”
“Yes, and it wasn’t easy. I kept expecting you to look closely at the transfer papers, but you never did. If you had, you would have seen that the bike had been transferred to James….”
“And tomorrow we’ll transfer it back to you.” James hugged Trevor. “You need to know that this was a purely selfish act on my part. See, if you don’t have a motorcycle, then you can’t take me for rides on one.”
“You bought this because you want me to take you for rides?” Trevor seemed amused. “Wait… how can you afford to do this? Do you really have that kind of money?”
“Yes. I’m not loaded, but I have enough money, and yes, I wanted this to be our motorcycle,” James whispered, and Trevor slowly turned in his arms.
“I’ll see you inside,” Brent said, and James nodded without thinking.
“Our motorcycle?”
“Yes.” James was about to say more as Trevor silenced him with a kiss, but he was determined and continued after Trevor pulled away. “Think of this as our first together thing. Eventually I hope that maybe we can move in together and really build a life for the two of us. I see this as the start of it, us going down the highway with you driving, me pressed to you, holding on to you, loving you.”
Trevor cupped his chin with his gentle, work-roughened fingers. “I love you, James, and I want the same things. God, I never thought they’d come to me.”
“Me either. Who’d have thought I’d fall in love with a bad boy.” A tear ran down James’s cheek, and he left it without trying to wipe it away. “And that he’d turn out to have a real heart under the rough exterior?” James kissed Trevor again.
The front door banged closed. “Uncle Jimmy, can we have cake?” Zack asked, and James pulled back from Trevor, having forgotten where they were. Apparently Zack had now figured out how to open the front door.
“How about we have lunch first? Can you lead me inside while Uncle Trevor moves his motorcycle?” James took Zack’s hand, and he led him away as the motorcycle engine rumbled to life and then softened as Trevor parked. James stopped at the door, holding Zack’s hand. “Can you open it?”
“I have it,” Trevor said from behind him, wrapping an arm around James’s waist. Then he released him, and Zack’s laughter rang out as he was obviously tickled and he chattered in Trevor’s arms. There was a slight breeze as the door opened, and then Trevor took his hand, telling him what was ahead, guiding him inside. “Thank you.”
“For the motorcycle? You’re welcome.” James was happy that Trevor was so pleased.
Trevor squeezed his hand. “For everything… absolutely everything.”