Luis glanced at Drew, a disgusted look on his face. "I don't remember any of that.
I don't know what possessed me . . . ."
"You don't?"
Turning the proverbial shade of ready-to-throw-up green, Luis rubbed his temples. "Don't shout. I'm right here." He took a few deep breaths, and the normal color of his face returned. "I didn't go out with the intention of getting sloshed. I just wanted to get out of the house. And by the way, where did you go, and why didn't you take your phone?"
"I went shopping. It's been months since I could leave here without a Fort Knox security detail on me. I wanted to surprise you and . . . apologize. I slid back into old, reactive behaviors when you told me about Ronnie yesterday."
Luis massaged his temples some more. "So why didn't you pack your bags and leave last night when he brought me home? To be honest, Drew, I don't think I slept with him, but I could have. Everything that happened after we left the bar is sketchy."
Drew closed his eyes, his chest tight with anxiety. "I don't think you did." He looked at Luis. "First of all, you were so polluted, you could barely walk. And secondly, I think if that had happened, Ronnie would have shoved my face in it. He acted decent toward me, and when I insinuated that maybe something had gone on, he said I was a fool."
"I'll ask him. He'll tell me the truth." Luis looked like a hung dog. "I'm very sorry.
I had no idea he'd be at Tanners. I do remember telling him how mad I was about being forced to ride in their parade. I told him that after that day, I'll be off the Flamin' Dames'
account. My days as their Krewe Daddy are finished."
Relief washed through Drew. "You've done so many things for me, but this has to top them all."
He leaned toward Luis and wrapped his arms around him.
Luis rested his head against Drew's shoulder. "Don't squeeze too hard. I might break or puke."
"I love you. I'm sorry for my behavior. It won't happen again."
"I hope so, because I'm getting too old to abuse my liver the way a teenager does.
And I love you, too. I'd kiss you, but I think that I taste pretty disgusting."
"Your breath could peel paint."
Luis' body shook with quiet laughter. "Don't make me laugh. My head will pop off."
Chapter Twenty-Four
Two weeks later, Luis pulled up to the airport with Drew. He went to get Drew's suitcase from the trunk.
Drew took it from him, anxiety etched on his face like the lines between concrete masonry blocks.
"You're going to be fine. Blair will meet you in Minneapolis, and stay with you the whole weekend."
"I know." Drew looked around, the memories flooding back of what had happened to him the last time he left Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Luis raised his chin with his knuckle. "Don't go there. The past is gone. Look forward. You're going to have a fantastic weekend with your friends. Call me, and we'll have hot phone sex when Blair isn't around." He hugged Drew. "I'll miss you. I wish I could be there. I'll be waiting here for you to come back."
Drew's eyes filled with tears. "I wish you could come too, but I understand.
You've sacrificed enough. You can't give up your job, especially when I'm probably retiring."
"We'll talk about that when you get home."
Someone honked a horn behind them.
Luis shot the driver a dirty look. "Friday mornings are such a zoo. I can't stay parked here. Give Teak and Kevin my love."
"I will." Drew pressed his lips tenderly against Luis'. "I love you."
"I love you, too. See you on Monday."
The horn sounded again.
Luis shot the driver another angry look on his way back to the car. "Keep your shirt on, bub."
Luis drove off, offering a silent prayer that Drew's trip would be fun, but uneventful. "Please don't let him have any seizures."
Blair had taken the trouble to go to his own clinic to get trained in case Drew had one. Luis respected him for the caring ways he treated Drew, and ended up feeling happy, not upset, that they were spending the weekend together.
He drove down the freeway to his office. When he reached the exit in Kenner where Drew had his flat and was kidnapped, he looked up the ramp. He didn't know why. It was like walking on someone's grave. Would he have a vision of what Drew really experienced?
He drove in silence, all the things that needed doing today running though his mind. The Flamin' Dames owned him, body and soul, for the next three days. Their parade was on Sunday afternoon, and Luis couldn't wait to get it over with. His boss had been unhappy with his resignation from their account. They'd had a very candid, uncomfortable conversation about his lack of professionalism. Luis blushed every time he remembered the awkward dressing down. He was lucky to keep his job, and he knew it.
* * * * *
Drew's plane landed in Minneapolis just after noon. He called Luis as they were taxiing to the gate. So far, so good.
After he got off the plane, he followed the crowd to the baggage claim area.
Many of the people wore heavy coats and boots. As he strolled down the moving walkway, he looked out the terminal's windows. The sun shined, and Drew was thankful it wasn't snowing. He and Blair had a five-hour drive ahead of them. The last fifty miles were a two-lane, twisting, narrow highway.
He smiled when he saw Blair waiting at the bottom of the escalator. He got off and gave him a bear hug.
"Damn, it's so good to see you, Drew." He searched Drew's eyes with his own.
The act seemed to affirm that Drew was actually standing in front of him, and by most accounts, no different from the last time they'd seen each other.
Drew grew uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
"I'm fine. I'm not going to flop on the floor like a fish . . . at least, not without warning." He finished with a quirky smile.
"Good to know! Do you know which carousel your bags are arriving on?"
"No, I can't remember my flight number." He opened his electronic tablet, and took out his ticket. They checked the baggage display signs. "Looks like fourteen is the place to go."
As they walked, Blair kept looking at him until Drew had to ask about the imaginary elephant in the room. "If you have a question, ask it, otherwise quite staring at me like I'm a germ in a petri dish."
Blair's face turned rose-red. "Sorry. I'm looking for the head injury. You look perfect."
Drew pointed to the lower, right side of his skull. "It's this area. Luckily, my hair has grown in evenly. If I ever go back to work, you'll probably be able to see some scarring. Until then, I look hunky-dory."
Blair gave Drew a charming smile. "Emphasis on the hunky part." He winked.
"I'm surprised that Luis came around to letting us spend the weekend together."
Drew nodded. "He knows I can't travel alone yet, and you'll take good care of me."
"Very." Blair chuckled. "Just kidding. I won't let a thing happen to you."
Drew looked out the windows while they waited for his bag to arrive. Snow banks lined the curbs, and the wind had kicked up.
"Have I said how much I hate Minnesota winters?" He shuddered. "Are you going to keep me from freezing to death, too?"
"Cold feet and all. I've got your back, and any other parts you're willing to hand over for warming."
He laughed with Blair, enjoying the easiness between them. Although he missed Luis, he knew already he and Blair would have a great time together. He pointed as a slug of luggage approached them.
"That's my bag." Drew reached for it with his left hand.
"Since when are you a leftie?"
"My right arm is still healing. I can't do anything to stress the bones for a couple more months. Same thing with my ankle. I've got to be extremely careful on the ice." He wiggled his left foot. "If I twist this one, I could seriously reinjure it."
"Should we stop at Gander Mountain and get you some ice cleats? They'll look like hell with your dress shoes, but
at least you won't be slipping or falling."
Drew knew Blair was teasing. "Nah, I'll hang onto you. If I slip, I plan to land on you. Cushion the fall, you know."
Blair looped his arm through Drew's. "Come on, we've got plenty of slip-sliding to do."
As Blair drove around the eastern edge of Minneapolis, the Metrodome came into view. The sports center with the white bubble roof fronted the downtown skyline.
"The dome looks like a shackled marshmallow."
Blaire laughed. "I've always wanted to go inside. It looks cool on television."
"It is. Especially when the Saints are kicking Viking ass."
"Or Oakland doing the honors."
Drew fiddled with the adjustments on his seat. "I have to take a nap, or I'll never survive the evening. My stamina just isn't back yet. Plus, all the threats from the gang members and the Sandalio family kept me inside for months. It's amazing to be out like a regular person, but I get tired easily."
"Close your eyes and rest. I'll try to keep us between the ditches."
"That's comforting. By the way, Luis will be checking on me through you. Lie a little, will you? Can't let him think I followed his orders to a T."
Drew gave him a thumbs-up signal. "I'll wake you up when we get there."
* * * * *
Drew opened his eyes when the car came to a stop. He looked around, recognizing the town forty miles from Wescott they used to call The Last Resort. "Wow, I'm sorry for sleeping so long."
Blaire pulled into a gas station. "I gotta empty one tank and fill the other." He winked at Drew. "I can't believe you slept through all the stoplights along the way, too."
Drew felt sheepish, and the need to explain. I guess I'll be doing that a lot this weekend, anyway. "Some of my exhaustion is from not being healthy yet. You have no idea what all I've been through."
"I'll listen if you want to share."
"I really don't. It gives me nightmares. I look the same, except for the scars on my arm and leg, but up here . . . ." Drew tapped his head. "Things aren't working the way they used to. I'm on a lot of medication to control the seizures and tremors."
"Are you going back to work for Kevin?"
Drew shrugged. "I'd like to, but I need to have a conversation with Kevin. If I keep my clothes on, or Sapphire uses heavy makeup, I'll still look like I always did.
Even if they agreed to that, I'd still be screwed because I can't travel or live alone yet.
Sometimes, I can't remember Luis' name." He looked at his former lover. "At the moment, I can't remember yours."
He didn't skip a beat. "Blair."
"You see how it is? Expect that from me all weekend. My short-term memory comes and goes. I doubt I'd qualify to go back in the field at the fisheries and wildlife agency. I may be retiring."
"You're shitting me." Blair looked as stunned as he sounded.
"No, I wish I were." With his hand on the door to get out of the car, Drew looked at Blair. "It's pretty hard to be my age and not know what you're going to do with the rest of your life."
* * * * *
Drew experienced mixed emotions when they reached Wescott's city limits. The last time he'd been here, his truck pulled a U-Haul trailer, and a new job waited for him in Baton Rouge. He'd flipped off the water tower as he drove past that day, and hoped he'd never lay eyes on the city again.
The snow banks must be over four feet high. A thermometer on a credit union building read five degrees above zero. Dreading getting out of the car, Drew pulled his winter coat tighter around him.
Blair broke the silence. "I'm sure glad I got all this polar wear from Kevin. We're going to freeze our asses off this weekend."
"I got a shipment of silk underwear from Teak. I'm not taking it off."
Blair turned on his signal to leave the highway, cutting through the heart of town. "I almost wish you could drive. I'm not very good at winter driving, and his cabin is in the middle of nowhere."
Just another recent casualty in my life. "Take your time. I'm sure he's got everything well-plowed and sanded. You know Kevin. He doesn't leave anything to chance; he takes excellent care of us."
"We'll stop at the hotel first and change. We've got another hour or so before the party gets started."
Drew smirked. "I'm sure this is the first rehearsal where the wedding party has to bring a change of clothes for photos."
Nodding, Blair laughed. "The price we pay for being hot models."
Dead serious, Drew offered his final comment on the subject. "I'm not giving up my long johns. I'll fight to the death over that."
* * * * *
By the time they arrived at Kevin's cabin, Drew was ready for a drink. Fishtailing Blair, Drew's new nickname for him, nearly got them in a couple of accidents. Blair couldn't grasp the concept of keeping even pressure on the gas pedal, and no quick brake action when the car started swerving on ice.
Drew got out of the car. A jolt of anxiety rushed through him, knowing how many questions there'd be tonight. He didn't want it that way. Kevin and Teak should be the center of attention, not him.
Gravel crunched beneath their boots as they walked on the snow-covered parking area. Ice candles lit the path that had been amply covered with sand, for safer traversing. Drew appreciated Kevin's thoughtfulness. Now if he could do something about the damn wind chill.
A warm glow from the cabin lights shone on the white spans of snow leading to the lake. Drew stomped his feet and opened the door.
Teak saw him first. "You made it! We were starting to worry that Blair had run you into a ditch."
Teak embraced Drew. "Welcome back. We are so glad you're here."
"I'm glad to be here tonight, too." He kissed Teak's cheek. "Let's just not make tonight about me. Deal?"
Teak nodded and spoke softly. "You got it."
Drew shrugged out of his heavy winter coat before he embraced Kevin.
"Congratulations, Kevin, you managed to drag my sorry ass up here in the dead of winter. I thought getting nearly killed would have postponed it until summertime, for sure."
Kevin's voice was husky with emotion. "We'd have waited. The only thing that would have made it better was if Luis could be here, too."
Drew broke from the extended hug. "I know. He really wanted to be here, and he sends his love."
Drew looked around the crowded room. "I'd like to say hello to everyone and then, if you don't mind, can we talk privately? I hate to intrude on this special weekend with my personal drama, but I don't know what your plans are, and you should be able to decide whether you want to work with me in the future."
"Absolutely. We'll talk in a little while. I want Sapphire there, since he deals with wardrobe and makeup. Will that be okay?"
"Whatever you need."
* * * * *
Drew was talking to one of the other men when Sapphire signaled for him to come over. His stomach rolled like tumbleweed on an open pasture. The Woodlands Collection was all about beautiful men, and Drew didn't quite fit the bill anymore. He'd tried to prepare himself for the eventuality that Kevin would say, thanks, but no thanks.
With his heart in his throat, he excused himself from his conversation, then went to Sapphire.
"Kevin and Teak are waiting in the back bedroom." Sapphire's usual exuberant voice and expression weren't there.
They entered the room, and Sapphire closed the door softly behind them. Kevin and Teak sat on the edge of the bed. The scene carried more gravitas than Drew expected. Dread filled him.
Drew tried to make light of their somber occasion. "If I hadn't already thrown you an elaborate bachelors' party, I'd say we were having a foursome."
Kevin harrumphed. "That would be more fun."
The comment did nothing to quiet Drew's nerves. "Let's get on with it."
He swallowed hard, hating to display his maimed body this way, knowing it could be the end of his other career, too. Drew leaned forward, and parted his hair with his fingers, below his right ear.
&
nbsp; "If I never go back to work for the agency, and you want me, I don't think you'll be able to see this."
Kevin stood up. "Sapphire, I'd like you to get a look, too. You're the one who has to deal with this the most."
Eyes tear-filled, Sapphire squeezed Drew's other hand and came around to look.
"I don't think this will be a problem. Even with short hair, I think this would be odd to pick up on film. Unless he's going down on one of the guys."
Drew could have kissed Sapphire for adding some levity to the situation. "You'll have to add a note to my shot sheet: sucking cock shots left side only."
Kevin and Teak burst out laughing.
Drew rolled up his shirt-sleeve and exposed his silk top. He fingered the soft fabric. "Thanks for this by the way, Teak. It does a great job, and feels fantastic. I'm not taking this off all weekend."
"Believe me, if I weren't getting married tomorrow, I wouldn't be taking mine off either."
Kevin poked him in the ribs.
Teak rubbed his side. "Ouch. It's true. I'm freezing my ass off up here, and I don't care who knows it."
Drew pushed his sleeve up to his elbow. The surgical scars were still angry red and purplish in several places. He pointed to a spot that was misshapen. "That was the point of impact. The color will even out, and when I get the muscle tone back, most of my arm will look pretty normal, except for this area. It's never going to look a lot better unless I have plastic surgery."
Again, Sapphire gave the wound a critical look. "Has this improved pretty quickly? I'm trying to gauge springtime shoots, and how much makeup it might take."
His remark encouraged Drew. "I've had two surgeries on it. I think it'll look less scary if I get some sun on it and get healthier, but the puckering is going to be there."
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