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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Battle of the Boyfriends Chapter 2
Fandom: Romani Detective original fiction
Pairing: Hah.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,564
Summary: The boys’ battle heats up and Andrej’s patience is wearing thin.
Author’s Note: I hope you’re getting a laugh out of this, despite Zek’s dread and angst. There are links to both sides of the argument in brackets after the specific items have been mentioned, should you be interested. I didn’t go into detail about them for fear of wrecking the humor. I can over explain a thing to death given the chance.
Continued from here.
“What the hell?” James stared at the Post-It note stuck to the cover of the book – right over the hot cowboy’s six-pack – that had been left on his desk.
Here’s your book back, narco. Thanks for the loan – Z.
“That asshole,” he growled. Snatching the book off his desktop, he angrily made his way up to homicide. Preferably to commit a homicide.
“Incoming irate redhead,” Trish called from her position near the doors leading into the homicide division. “And for once, it isn’t me.”
“Where’s Reyes,” James demanded, coming to a halt near Rollins’ spot by the door.
“Where he’s supposed to be,” Trish said, pointing to where the two men stood, staring in their direction. “With Andy at their desks.”
Growling, Rosewood stomped off towards the huddled detectives. “God damn you, Zayne, what the hell?” James slapped the book onto the top of Andrej’s desk and glared at the Texan. “What are you playing at? This isn’t even my book!”
“It’s not?” Jake reached between James and Zayne, lifting the book off the desk. “Who did I borrow it from then because you’re the one who gave it to me.”
“I what?” James stared at his partner in confusion. “I’ve never seen this book before. Why on earth would you even want to read it, Jake?”
Trish draped her arm across the blond narco’s shoulders. “He’s trying to better understand his partner,” she joked. “Either that or he has this unresolved issue with cowboys.”
“Don’t we all,” Hilary muttered.
“What she said,” James grouched. “Although I’m about to resolve my issue with cowboys right now.”
“Jay wait,” Andrej said, putting a restraining hand on James’ arm. “Stop this, both of you. The book is mine.”
“It is?” Jake made a face. “Did I borrow it from you then?”
“No, you got it from me,” Hil said. “I stole it out of Andy’s desk when he wasn’t here one day. I couldn’t resist the cover.”
“That would explain a lot of things,” Andrej mumbled.
“Okay, I’m so fucking confused right now,” James said. “Why was your book on my desk, Andy? And I’d ask why the only two straight people involved in this conversation were reading a gay western novel but I’m honestly not sure I want to know.”
“I read it for the same reason straight guys love to watch girls kiss,” Hilary said. “Two pretty people together is hot, no matter what the combination.”
Jake shrugged. “I was curious.”
Zayne lifted his eyebrows and grinned. “How curious, pretty boy?”
“Reyes,” James snapped. “Keep your hands off my partner. It’s bad enough you got them on my boyfriend.”
“That’s your fault, narco,” Zayne said. “You didn’t have to invite me into your bed, you know.”
“Okay,” Zeklos interrupted again. “We are not having this discussion again. And we are absolutely not having it here.”
“Aw,” Trish teased. “I’m still wondering how that happened without the city imploding.”
“I’ll get the deets out of Reyes,” Hil whispered to Trish. “Then we’ll talk.”
“Look,” James said, trying his best to ignore the conspiring women. “I know you’re pissed at me for yesterday but this is crossing the line.”
“How so?” Zayne sat on the edge of his desk and folded his hands in his lap. “How is this any different than you posting a hurtful comic, putting my name on it, and leaving it for all of my co-workers and my boss to see?”
“Because this is information not everyone has,” James said. “You, on the other hand, everyone already knows about the reputation you have, cowboy.”
“Are you two finished,” Andrej asked, weary although it was only quarter past eight in the morning.
“Oh no,” James said, waggling a finger in Zayne’s direction. “We are far from finished.”
“Bring it, baby,” Zayne said, making a ‘come on’ gesture with his hands.
“You just wait,” James threatened, stomping off towards the exit.
Jake looked at the homicide detectives surrounding him. “In the belly of the beast,” he joked. “I probably should go, but I wanted you to know that was a good book, by the way. Very steamy.”
Andrej slumped into his chair while Zayne started throwing out various forms of vengeance for discussion. Trish and Hilary, as usual, were only feeding him ideas instead of curbing the ones he already possessed. This was not going to end well.
xx
James hadn’t been kidding with his threat that this absurd war was far from over. When Andrej and Zayne returned to the station near the end of their shift, the first thing they ran into was Hilary and Trish. Judging by the amused looks on their faces, the game was indeed afoot.
“Please tell me that the narco hasn’t been in here again,” Zayne growled when he saw the women.
Grinning, Trish pointed at the bulletin board. “Oh, he has, and he’s nailed your personality, Reyes,” she said.
“Although,” Hilary added, “I can’t exactly blame you for being pissed this time.”
“The ginger doesn’t know shit about my personality,” Zayne seethed. Narrowing his eyes at the girls, he stalked off to go look at James’ most recent gift to the homicide bullpen.
“Please tell me it isn’t horrible,” Andrej pleaded. “I cannot live with them feuding like this.”
“Tell Reyes to take a hike until they’ve made up,” Hilary suggested.
“You do realize that means he’ll be on your doorstep, right, Maxwell?” Trish lifted her eyebrows in suggestion.
“Shit,” Hil groaned. “You’re right, if he can’t stay with Andy, he’ll come to me. New plan: make him sleep in his own bed for a change.”
“I’m going to kill him,” Zayne yelled from the other side of the room. Ripping the comic off the bulletin board, he stomped back towards where everyone stood, gathered around his desk.
“See,” Trish said. “Told you it was accurate.”
As soon as Zayne’s forward momentum slowed, Andrej took the comic out of his partner’s hands and sighed. It wasn’t bad, not nearly as harsh as it could have been, but it wasn’t good either. [2] Again, everyone who knew Zayne knew he had a tendency of being quick to anger, James included, but that wasn’t any reason to legitimately make him angry.
“It’s great, isn’t it,” Trish laughed. “He even scratched out the witch’s name and wrote yours in, Reyes.”
“That’s not funny, Trish,” Zayne spat. Glowering, he turned on his partner. “Are you going to do something about this or am I going to have to go postal on the narco?”
“I want nothing more than to tell you both to cease and desist and have it work,” Andrej said, rubbing the back of his stiff neck with a hand. “However, since neither of you will admit to being wrong about anything, ever, it is futile to even try and intercede.”
“That’s not true,” Zayne said, hurt creeping into his voice.
“It is,” Andrej insisted. “If Jay asked me to tell you to stop, would you?”
“Hell no,” Zayne said, waving his hands wildly in the air. “He started this.”
“I think you made your point, Andy,” Hilary said, rolling her eyes.
“Does this mean you’re not going to stand up for me?” Zayne’s eyes were wide and wary.
“No,” Andrej clarified. “It means that you and Jay must work this out on your own. I cannot be your arbitrator any longer. It is… too hard on me.” Too hard on his heart, actually, but that would only fan the flames of Reyes’ already self-righteous anger towards James. Last night, alone with a fuming Zayne, had been one of the most difficult nights he’d had in a long time.
“What he means is that it’s time to grow up,” Trish said. Turning and seeing Rosewood strolling towards them, she pointed a finger in his direction. “That means both of you. Man the hell up and act like the adults you are.”
“No doubt,” Hilary agreed. “There are more important things to deal with than your petty grievances.”
“Like what,” James and Zayne asked in near unison.
“Like does Reyes ever bottom,” Trish threw out.
“And who gets stuck in the middle,” Hilary added.
“Who sleeps in the wet spot,” Trish asked.
“Not to mention the most burning question of all: why does Zeklos put up with all this insanity,” Jake Hansen laughed.
“You are supposed to be on my side here, Jake,” James snapped.
“I am,” Jake grinned. “But right now, it’s the number one question on my mind.”
“I think it’s time to go,” James grunted, poking his partner in the shoulder.
“But you just got here,” Jake grinned. “I know because I followed you.”
“You’re enjoying this, too, aren’t you,” Zeklos asked Jake. “From the looks of it, you’re in league with these two here.” He hooked a thumb in the direction of the female detectives.
“Nah,” Jake said. “Not quite that amused yet. Just making sure my partner has an alibi on the off chance Reyes turns up missing.”
xx
Due to Zayne and James’ childish quarrel, Andrej had insisted Zayne drive himself to work for the time being. Not that he took issue with Reyes in the passenger seat, but the Texan’s incessant bashing of the redhead was wearing on Andrej’s already frazzled nerves. It was becoming increasingly difficult to drive, listen to Reyes, and not run the car off the freeway. That Zeklos had begun deciding which overpasses would make for the biggest crash only further proved he needed time to himself.
Because James wasn’t acting any more mature.
While Reyes had Zeklos’ ear, James had Andrej’s phone number. Where Zayne was continually yammering on about every grievance he had against the redhead, James was in turn texting Andy about every annoying thing the cowboy had ever done. Zeklos was on the edge of kicking them both to the curb and saying to hell with it all.
“What’s the matter, papi?” Elias leaned over the bar and squeezed Zeklos’ arm affectionately. His warm, coffee colored eyes glowed amber in the room’s low lighting. “I’ve never seen you drink more than one beer at a time, and tonight you’ve had two glasses of whisky.”
Sighing, Andrej looked up and gave the bartender a half smile. “Didn’t I ask you not to call me that?”
Elias shrugged. “Maybe,” he said, noncommittal. “Why are you here tonight and not with your handsome redheaded amigo?”
He fiddled with the damp napkin sitting under his half-empty glass of whisky. “Have you ever wanted something so much that it hurt?”
A seductive smile spread across Elias’ pretty face. “Yes, papi, I have.”
Andrej prayed he wasn’t referring to their past relationship. “Have you ever gotten that thing and then realized it was causing you more pain to have it than to not?”
Laughing, Elias slid a bottle of water across the bar. “I think you’ve had enough, your English, she is worse than mine.”
As much as he wanted to be angry at that observation, Zeklos figured Elias would know better than anyone. “I’m sorry,” he said, taking the water and uncapping it.
“It’s okay,” Elias said with a little flip of his hands. “But I know what you mean. Sometimes what we want most isn’t what we need, sí?”
“Sí,” Zeklos replied, making a face. “I mean, da, no – yes. I mean, yes, of course.” Maybe he had drank too much whisky. The occasional Romanian word or phrase slipping into his vocabulary was normal, but when did the Spanish start to creep in? “I think I need to go home, Eli.”
“Be careful,” he said. “Not only driving, but with whatever it is that has you so out of sorts. I don’t like seeing you less than confident, bello.”
“Thank you,” he said, reaching across the bar and giving Elias a chaste kiss on the cheek. “For not being angry with me and for listening.”
“It’s what we bartenders do,” he said, winking.
And there had been other things that particular bartender had been good for, Zeklos thought as he drove home. He hadn’t realized how much he missed Elias’ calming presence until tonight. He made mental note to stop by and see him more often. But he’d have to leave Reyes at home. The last time the two had met…
Andrej’s phone rang, cutting the thought off before it could finish itself. “Zeklos,” he said.
“Reyes,” Zayne drawled back, chuckling. “I’m looking for something and I can’t find it.”
Not surprising considering how unorganized his partner was. “What are you trying to locate, Zayne?”
“You, for a start,” he said, the tone of his voice sharpening. “You said you’d be right behind me and I’ve been home for two hours now.”
“And you are only now noticing I’m not there?” Reyes had a laundry list of faults, but being unobservant wasn’t generally one of them.
“No,” Zayne snapped. “I’ve known you weren’t here, but I figured you stopped for gas or food or who the hell knows what. I didn’t expect you to be two hours late.”
He thought he was ready to come home right up until Zayne started yelling. “Zayne, please, do not shout at me while I’m driving. I’m on my way home now, I needed to make a stop and clear my head.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Reyes muttered.
He shouldn’t, seeing as he was half the reason Zeklos needed to stop. “What are you looking for?”
“Oh,” Zayne said, anger dissipating as he was distracted again. “When I was digging around in your books the other day, I saw one with a title of ‘Something the Best Man’. I don’t remember if it was marrying or kissing or what, but I remember the cover…”
Andrej rolled his eyes as he came to a stop at the light. “It is Kissing the Best Man,” he said. [B] “And it’s on my nightstand in my room. Why do you need my book?”
“Revenge on the narco,” Zayne said.
He could hear Reyes moving through the house, feet scuffing along the carpeted floors. “Ah-hah, there it is. Are you finished with it? Because if you’re not, you’ll have to get it back from you know who later.”
Zeklos wasn’t sure if he was going to want to read it after it had been surgically removed from Reyes’ backside, but he could always splurge on the e-book if it came to that. “Zayne, please drop this ridiculous argument you are having with James.”
“No,” Zayne said. “He started it and I’m bound and determined to end it.”
The light turned green and Zeklos accelerated. “Fine,” he said, not thinking it was fine at all. “But from here on out, you’ll need to acquire your revenge books from another source. Mine are officially off limits.”
“You are such a spoilsport,” Zayne teased. “Hurry home, I miss you.”
And I miss the way things were before, Andrej thought. “I miss you, too, Zayne. But I wish you and Jay would make up.”
“Eventually, baby,” Zayne said. “But you can’t rush this.”
Turning onto the freeway onramp, Zeklos gauged the height and decided it wasn’t high enough to cause sufficient damage if he went over the edge. Maybe he could drive his boys out to Hoover Dam and threaten them from the bypass? It was a thought. Pressing down on the gas pedal, he headed home.
The drama ends here. (For now…)
Fandom: Romani Detective original fiction
Pairing: Hah.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,564
Summary: The boys’ battle heats up and Andrej’s patience is wearing thin.
Author’s Note: I hope you’re getting a laugh out of this, despite Zek’s dread and angst. There are links to both sides of the argument in brackets after the specific items have been mentioned, should you be interested. I didn’t go into detail about them for fear of wrecking the humor. I can over explain a thing to death given the chance.
Continued from here.
“What the hell?” James stared at the Post-It note stuck to the cover of the book – right over the hot cowboy’s six-pack – that had been left on his desk.
Here’s your book back, narco. Thanks for the loan – Z.
“That asshole,” he growled. Snatching the book off his desktop, he angrily made his way up to homicide. Preferably to commit a homicide.
“Incoming irate redhead,” Trish called from her position near the doors leading into the homicide division. “And for once, it isn’t me.”
“Where’s Reyes,” James demanded, coming to a halt near Rollins’ spot by the door.
“Where he’s supposed to be,” Trish said, pointing to where the two men stood, staring in their direction. “With Andy at their desks.”
Growling, Rosewood stomped off towards the huddled detectives. “God damn you, Zayne, what the hell?” James slapped the book onto the top of Andrej’s desk and glared at the Texan. “What are you playing at? This isn’t even my book!”
“It’s not?” Jake reached between James and Zayne, lifting the book off the desk. “Who did I borrow it from then because you’re the one who gave it to me.”
“I what?” James stared at his partner in confusion. “I’ve never seen this book before. Why on earth would you even want to read it, Jake?”
Trish draped her arm across the blond narco’s shoulders. “He’s trying to better understand his partner,” she joked. “Either that or he has this unresolved issue with cowboys.”
“Don’t we all,” Hilary muttered.
“What she said,” James grouched. “Although I’m about to resolve my issue with cowboys right now.”
“Jay wait,” Andrej said, putting a restraining hand on James’ arm. “Stop this, both of you. The book is mine.”
“It is?” Jake made a face. “Did I borrow it from you then?”
“No, you got it from me,” Hil said. “I stole it out of Andy’s desk when he wasn’t here one day. I couldn’t resist the cover.”
“That would explain a lot of things,” Andrej mumbled.
“Okay, I’m so fucking confused right now,” James said. “Why was your book on my desk, Andy? And I’d ask why the only two straight people involved in this conversation were reading a gay western novel but I’m honestly not sure I want to know.”
“I read it for the same reason straight guys love to watch girls kiss,” Hilary said. “Two pretty people together is hot, no matter what the combination.”
Jake shrugged. “I was curious.”
Zayne lifted his eyebrows and grinned. “How curious, pretty boy?”
“Reyes,” James snapped. “Keep your hands off my partner. It’s bad enough you got them on my boyfriend.”
“That’s your fault, narco,” Zayne said. “You didn’t have to invite me into your bed, you know.”
“Okay,” Zeklos interrupted again. “We are not having this discussion again. And we are absolutely not having it here.”
“Aw,” Trish teased. “I’m still wondering how that happened without the city imploding.”
“I’ll get the deets out of Reyes,” Hil whispered to Trish. “Then we’ll talk.”
“Look,” James said, trying his best to ignore the conspiring women. “I know you’re pissed at me for yesterday but this is crossing the line.”
“How so?” Zayne sat on the edge of his desk and folded his hands in his lap. “How is this any different than you posting a hurtful comic, putting my name on it, and leaving it for all of my co-workers and my boss to see?”
“Because this is information not everyone has,” James said. “You, on the other hand, everyone already knows about the reputation you have, cowboy.”
“Are you two finished,” Andrej asked, weary although it was only quarter past eight in the morning.
“Oh no,” James said, waggling a finger in Zayne’s direction. “We are far from finished.”
“Bring it, baby,” Zayne said, making a ‘come on’ gesture with his hands.
“You just wait,” James threatened, stomping off towards the exit.
Jake looked at the homicide detectives surrounding him. “In the belly of the beast,” he joked. “I probably should go, but I wanted you to know that was a good book, by the way. Very steamy.”
Andrej slumped into his chair while Zayne started throwing out various forms of vengeance for discussion. Trish and Hilary, as usual, were only feeding him ideas instead of curbing the ones he already possessed. This was not going to end well.
xx
James hadn’t been kidding with his threat that this absurd war was far from over. When Andrej and Zayne returned to the station near the end of their shift, the first thing they ran into was Hilary and Trish. Judging by the amused looks on their faces, the game was indeed afoot.
“Please tell me that the narco hasn’t been in here again,” Zayne growled when he saw the women.
Grinning, Trish pointed at the bulletin board. “Oh, he has, and he’s nailed your personality, Reyes,” she said.
“Although,” Hilary added, “I can’t exactly blame you for being pissed this time.”
“The ginger doesn’t know shit about my personality,” Zayne seethed. Narrowing his eyes at the girls, he stalked off to go look at James’ most recent gift to the homicide bullpen.
“Please tell me it isn’t horrible,” Andrej pleaded. “I cannot live with them feuding like this.”
“Tell Reyes to take a hike until they’ve made up,” Hilary suggested.
“You do realize that means he’ll be on your doorstep, right, Maxwell?” Trish lifted her eyebrows in suggestion.
“Shit,” Hil groaned. “You’re right, if he can’t stay with Andy, he’ll come to me. New plan: make him sleep in his own bed for a change.”
“I’m going to kill him,” Zayne yelled from the other side of the room. Ripping the comic off the bulletin board, he stomped back towards where everyone stood, gathered around his desk.
“See,” Trish said. “Told you it was accurate.”
As soon as Zayne’s forward momentum slowed, Andrej took the comic out of his partner’s hands and sighed. It wasn’t bad, not nearly as harsh as it could have been, but it wasn’t good either. [2] Again, everyone who knew Zayne knew he had a tendency of being quick to anger, James included, but that wasn’t any reason to legitimately make him angry.
“It’s great, isn’t it,” Trish laughed. “He even scratched out the witch’s name and wrote yours in, Reyes.”
“That’s not funny, Trish,” Zayne spat. Glowering, he turned on his partner. “Are you going to do something about this or am I going to have to go postal on the narco?”
“I want nothing more than to tell you both to cease and desist and have it work,” Andrej said, rubbing the back of his stiff neck with a hand. “However, since neither of you will admit to being wrong about anything, ever, it is futile to even try and intercede.”
“That’s not true,” Zayne said, hurt creeping into his voice.
“It is,” Andrej insisted. “If Jay asked me to tell you to stop, would you?”
“Hell no,” Zayne said, waving his hands wildly in the air. “He started this.”
“I think you made your point, Andy,” Hilary said, rolling her eyes.
“Does this mean you’re not going to stand up for me?” Zayne’s eyes were wide and wary.
“No,” Andrej clarified. “It means that you and Jay must work this out on your own. I cannot be your arbitrator any longer. It is… too hard on me.” Too hard on his heart, actually, but that would only fan the flames of Reyes’ already self-righteous anger towards James. Last night, alone with a fuming Zayne, had been one of the most difficult nights he’d had in a long time.
“What he means is that it’s time to grow up,” Trish said. Turning and seeing Rosewood strolling towards them, she pointed a finger in his direction. “That means both of you. Man the hell up and act like the adults you are.”
“No doubt,” Hilary agreed. “There are more important things to deal with than your petty grievances.”
“Like what,” James and Zayne asked in near unison.
“Like does Reyes ever bottom,” Trish threw out.
“And who gets stuck in the middle,” Hilary added.
“Who sleeps in the wet spot,” Trish asked.
“Not to mention the most burning question of all: why does Zeklos put up with all this insanity,” Jake Hansen laughed.
“You are supposed to be on my side here, Jake,” James snapped.
“I am,” Jake grinned. “But right now, it’s the number one question on my mind.”
“I think it’s time to go,” James grunted, poking his partner in the shoulder.
“But you just got here,” Jake grinned. “I know because I followed you.”
“You’re enjoying this, too, aren’t you,” Zeklos asked Jake. “From the looks of it, you’re in league with these two here.” He hooked a thumb in the direction of the female detectives.
“Nah,” Jake said. “Not quite that amused yet. Just making sure my partner has an alibi on the off chance Reyes turns up missing.”
xx
Due to Zayne and James’ childish quarrel, Andrej had insisted Zayne drive himself to work for the time being. Not that he took issue with Reyes in the passenger seat, but the Texan’s incessant bashing of the redhead was wearing on Andrej’s already frazzled nerves. It was becoming increasingly difficult to drive, listen to Reyes, and not run the car off the freeway. That Zeklos had begun deciding which overpasses would make for the biggest crash only further proved he needed time to himself.
Because James wasn’t acting any more mature.
While Reyes had Zeklos’ ear, James had Andrej’s phone number. Where Zayne was continually yammering on about every grievance he had against the redhead, James was in turn texting Andy about every annoying thing the cowboy had ever done. Zeklos was on the edge of kicking them both to the curb and saying to hell with it all.
“What’s the matter, papi?” Elias leaned over the bar and squeezed Zeklos’ arm affectionately. His warm, coffee colored eyes glowed amber in the room’s low lighting. “I’ve never seen you drink more than one beer at a time, and tonight you’ve had two glasses of whisky.”
Sighing, Andrej looked up and gave the bartender a half smile. “Didn’t I ask you not to call me that?”
Elias shrugged. “Maybe,” he said, noncommittal. “Why are you here tonight and not with your handsome redheaded amigo?”
He fiddled with the damp napkin sitting under his half-empty glass of whisky. “Have you ever wanted something so much that it hurt?”
A seductive smile spread across Elias’ pretty face. “Yes, papi, I have.”
Andrej prayed he wasn’t referring to their past relationship. “Have you ever gotten that thing and then realized it was causing you more pain to have it than to not?”
Laughing, Elias slid a bottle of water across the bar. “I think you’ve had enough, your English, she is worse than mine.”
As much as he wanted to be angry at that observation, Zeklos figured Elias would know better than anyone. “I’m sorry,” he said, taking the water and uncapping it.
“It’s okay,” Elias said with a little flip of his hands. “But I know what you mean. Sometimes what we want most isn’t what we need, sí?”
“Sí,” Zeklos replied, making a face. “I mean, da, no – yes. I mean, yes, of course.” Maybe he had drank too much whisky. The occasional Romanian word or phrase slipping into his vocabulary was normal, but when did the Spanish start to creep in? “I think I need to go home, Eli.”
“Be careful,” he said. “Not only driving, but with whatever it is that has you so out of sorts. I don’t like seeing you less than confident, bello.”
“Thank you,” he said, reaching across the bar and giving Elias a chaste kiss on the cheek. “For not being angry with me and for listening.”
“It’s what we bartenders do,” he said, winking.
And there had been other things that particular bartender had been good for, Zeklos thought as he drove home. He hadn’t realized how much he missed Elias’ calming presence until tonight. He made mental note to stop by and see him more often. But he’d have to leave Reyes at home. The last time the two had met…
Andrej’s phone rang, cutting the thought off before it could finish itself. “Zeklos,” he said.
“Reyes,” Zayne drawled back, chuckling. “I’m looking for something and I can’t find it.”
Not surprising considering how unorganized his partner was. “What are you trying to locate, Zayne?”
“You, for a start,” he said, the tone of his voice sharpening. “You said you’d be right behind me and I’ve been home for two hours now.”
“And you are only now noticing I’m not there?” Reyes had a laundry list of faults, but being unobservant wasn’t generally one of them.
“No,” Zayne snapped. “I’ve known you weren’t here, but I figured you stopped for gas or food or who the hell knows what. I didn’t expect you to be two hours late.”
He thought he was ready to come home right up until Zayne started yelling. “Zayne, please, do not shout at me while I’m driving. I’m on my way home now, I needed to make a stop and clear my head.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Reyes muttered.
He shouldn’t, seeing as he was half the reason Zeklos needed to stop. “What are you looking for?”
“Oh,” Zayne said, anger dissipating as he was distracted again. “When I was digging around in your books the other day, I saw one with a title of ‘Something the Best Man’. I don’t remember if it was marrying or kissing or what, but I remember the cover…”
Andrej rolled his eyes as he came to a stop at the light. “It is Kissing the Best Man,” he said. [B] “And it’s on my nightstand in my room. Why do you need my book?”
“Revenge on the narco,” Zayne said.
He could hear Reyes moving through the house, feet scuffing along the carpeted floors. “Ah-hah, there it is. Are you finished with it? Because if you’re not, you’ll have to get it back from you know who later.”
Zeklos wasn’t sure if he was going to want to read it after it had been surgically removed from Reyes’ backside, but he could always splurge on the e-book if it came to that. “Zayne, please drop this ridiculous argument you are having with James.”
“No,” Zayne said. “He started it and I’m bound and determined to end it.”
The light turned green and Zeklos accelerated. “Fine,” he said, not thinking it was fine at all. “But from here on out, you’ll need to acquire your revenge books from another source. Mine are officially off limits.”
“You are such a spoilsport,” Zayne teased. “Hurry home, I miss you.”
And I miss the way things were before, Andrej thought. “I miss you, too, Zayne. But I wish you and Jay would make up.”
“Eventually, baby,” Zayne said. “But you can’t rush this.”
Turning onto the freeway onramp, Zeklos gauged the height and decided it wasn’t high enough to cause sufficient damage if he went over the edge. Maybe he could drive his boys out to Hoover Dam and threaten them from the bypass? It was a thought. Pressing down on the gas pedal, he headed home.
The drama ends here. (For now…)
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no subject
Date: 2016-08-26 02:02 am (UTC)Andy really needs to teach them a lesson or three.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-26 04:39 pm (UTC)Hopefully you'll be amused by Andy's (and the girls') idea to put them in their place!
no subject
Date: 2016-08-26 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-08-26 05:41 pm (UTC)