God brought the piece closer and read the sexy cursive script along the long shiny barrel. In God We Trust.
God looked into Day’s eyes and Day could clearly see, hear, and feel every bit of the appreciation his lover had for his gift. These weapons were worthy of the man in front of him. Day felt only slightly selfish for choosing this particular gift for his partner of five years, because he would reap most of the satisfaction every time his body reacted to God holstering those magnificent weapons close against his body.
“Come here, Leo.” God’s rough drawl interrupted his nasty thoughts.
God sat on the bed and pulled Day in between his legs. “I want to tell you before we go downstairs and celebrate our partnership with our friends and family that I love you more than I ever thought possible to love someone. Before I partnered with you I was a shell of a man going through life, simply existing. I felt like I was nothing special… but you believed I was someone worthy of your love. You’ve given me purpose, sweetheart; purpose to live. You saved me and I’ll love you and only you forever for it.” God leaned in and kissed Day softly. “This is for you.” God held the box out to him.
Day quickly ripped open the shiny green paper and lifted the lid off the velvet box. “Oh my god.” Day’s hand went to his mouth as he stared inside the box. Day frowned and looked up at his man. “How the hell did you find this? Where did… How did you?” Day was at a complete loss of what to say. He picked up the album like it was a newborn fresh from the womb.
“An original first pressing of Coltrane’s Giant Steps,” Day whispered in awe, lifting the vinyl record while inspecting the condition of the cover. Tears formed in his eyes as he stared at the song titles on the back, remembering the smooth notes of every single cut. “I’ve looked all over for this. For so many years. I swear I don’t even remember telling you about this. Jesus Christ.” He looked into God’s eyes, looked at the marvel that was his life partner. “My father used to play this for my mom and dance her around the living room.” Day’s voice caught on his feelings. He held the mint-condition record close to his chest and closed his eyes at the reminiscences. “All his albums got consumed in the fire. I was able to replace every single one he’d lost over time… except this one. I wanted this album so bad.” Day smiled through the tears that fell from his eyes at the memory of his father. “She could never stay mad at him when he played this record. He loved her so much, until the day he died, baby.”
God pulled Day into his arms and held him tight, letting Day release all the feelings he was having at that moment into him. “And I’ll love you forever too, sweetheart.” God released him and gently took the cover from Day’s fingertips and withdrew the rare vinyl. He walked over to Day’s player and placed it on the turntable, slowly dropping the needle on the outer edge.
At the first melodious crackling sound of the needle gliding over the grooves in the record Day clutched at his heart as memories of his father twirling his mother around invaded his soul. He could hear his father’s deep voice singing off-key in his mom’s ear while she flung her head back and laughed in his arms.
Day finally had his love for life. His partner in every possible way. He looked into God’s soulful eyes and told him on a breathless whisper, “Dance with me.”
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“Alright Syn, don’t waste my fucking time. Let’s see what you got.”
Syn turned and looked at his hopefully future Lieutenant. God’s gruff voice could really intimidate a man. Add in the guy’s build and tattoos, and he intimidated most men ... but Syn wasn’t most men.
He’d put in for an immediate transfer from his precinct in Philadelphia when he heard a vacancy opened up on the most notorious task force in the Eastern U.S. A task force headed up by Lieutenant Cashel Godfrey – known as God, and Lieutenant Leonidis Day. A quick-witted snarky bastard who wasn’t afraid to cut you to the quick if you got in his face. The dynamic duo were both promoted to the rank of Lieutenant a couple years ago after having been Detectives for only five years. Being promoted so quickly had been unheard of – before they were recruited by the Mayor of Atlanta to head up their own task force made up of some of the toughest SOBs this side of the Mississippi. The new rules for God and Day were the same as before ... there were none.