What the fuck am I doing? He’s on a date for Christ’s sake. He waited in the dim walkway at his front door. Hesitating. He’d told Ruxs, Mark, he was coming. Next thing he knew he was in his truck, roaring down the busy street, headed downtown.
Date From Hell
“Uhn huh.” Ruxs said again for the hundredth time, tipping back his draft beer. It was the only sound he’d been able to get in edgewise. He looked at his watch and back towards the door again. Where is he? He’s better not have lied to me. Ruxs knew that wasn’t the case. They didn’t lie to each other… ever.
“So. Yeah. I was so excited to get transferred to records ya know. Because everyone has to come down there. I get to talk to everyone and get the scoop on everything going on. I consider my department the hub or the communications center.” She giggled and it sounded like nails on a chalk board. “And it’s so easy. I get to leave pretty much anytime I feel like it. Someone puts in their request and I just get to it the next day, sometimes. But I try to be there most of the time. It’s not just me in there. It’s me, and Fowler, and Christianson, and Veracruz, and —.”
“Yeah. I know. I’ve been down there.” Ruxs cut her off, just refraining from rolling his eyes. Why does she feel the need to fill every moment of silence? Ruxs picked up the menu and she followed suit. Maybe she’ll be quiet for a minute.
“I know. I’ve seen you down there.”
So much for wishful thinking.
“I love to see you coming down the hall. You’re so big and have so many muscles.” She practically bounced in the booth across from him. “I was wondering when you were going to get around to asking me out. I mean, geez. A girl can only flirt so hard.”
Really? Did I ask you out, or did you bamboozle me?
She was pretty enough. Sure. But she was a motor mouth and she seemed to be trying too hard. Ruxs was a real laid back kind of guy. He didn’t need someone to work double-time to impress him. He liked easy and smooth.
“Good Evening, Mark.”
Jesus. Just like that. Smooth like butter. Ruxs looked up from his menu at the deep mellow voice that rolled over his body and settled deep inside him. His smile was so large, his partner ended up mimicking him. Green’s smile was wide. His perfect white teeth shone bright in the dim restaurant.
Ruxs jumped up and before he knew it he’d hugged his partner like he hadn’t seen him in weeks. Like he wasn’t with him all damn day. But what was even crazier. Green hugged him back, chuckling softly in his ear. “Hey, bud. You okay?”
Ruxs pulled back, slightly embarrassed. “Yeah. Of course.” He looked around and changed places, letting Green slide into the large booth. He bumped Green’s hip silently telling him to move over. His partner looked curiously at him before sliding over further.
“You could’ve sat by me, Mark.” His date tried to purr but it fell flat with him.
“I’m good.” Ruxs smiled. Now.
Green looked back and forth between them before extending his hand across the table. “Hi, I’m Chris Green.”
She took Green’s hand, but held it like it had shit on it. “I know who you are. You’re his partner.”
“On the force.” Ruxs butted in.
Both of them looked at him like he was an idiot. Which of course he was. Why the fuck did he need to clarify that?
Green grinned that lopsided smirk at him, the one that meant his partner was about to have some fun. Ruxs had fucked up. Green leaned back and propped his arm up on the back of the booth. His fingertips just reaching the back of his neck. Ruxs felt the slightest tug on his very short hair. The slight wink Green gave him with his left eye was only for him to see. “I think that’s what she meant… Mark.”
“It’s nice to meet you officially. I’m Sarah. I didn’t know you’d be joining us tonight, Christopher.”
“Chris,” Ruxs and Green both corrected her in unison.
“He prefers Chris,” Ruxs clarified.
“Oh. Sorry.” She looked extremely uncomfortable, but Ruxs wasn’t all that concerned. Maybe she’d insist that they didn’t need to go out again.
He looked over at his partner. Green looked casual, as always. A simple white T-shirt, a gold cross hanging from a gold link chain rested on his chest. The half carat diamond stud earring was secretly Ruxs’ favorite. His hair was just barely tamed tonight. Loose denim jeans. Green always said his nads didn’t fit in tight jeans. Ruxs didn’t realize that he was just staring and smiling at Green until his partner cleared his throat and pulled his hair again.