Chasing the Rainbow (3 page)

              Jody’s felt his eyes widen. “Oh, no. I’d never think that.” He felt Bobby was wrong about them not knowing each other. The little bits of information gleaned over the last couple months of random, fifteen- to twenty-minute conversations had made him feel like he was at least a friend. He didn’t think he knew the guy well enough to loan him his car or anything, but he’d consider him a friend, even if not a very close one.

              “Good,” Bobby said, visible relief in his eyes. Bobby picked up his candied drink and took a drink before speaking again. “About that book signing tomorrow. You were going to say something the other day.”

              Jody’s brows lifted in surprise, pleased Bobby remembered. “I was going to talk to you yesterday but you never showed.”

              “Oh, yes. Sorry. I got called to a job in Kip’s Bay. Emergency thing.”

              “No, don’t apologize. I just… Yeah. I was going to see if, afterwards; you wanted to do…This,” he said with a flourish of his hands around the coffee shop.

              Bobby quirked that full brow again. “You wanted to leave a book signing at the coffee and bookstore you work at to have coffee somewhere else?”

              Jody looked away from the teasing in Bobby’s eyes. “No, well, yes.”

              “Why, Jody. Are you asking me out?”

              “It’s just coffee.”

              “Well, I accept.”

              Jody’s head snapped back in Bobby’s direction. “Really?” His whole body flushed at the lecherous up and down Bobby gave him.

              “Oh, yes,” Bobby said, huskily. “I’d been meaning to ask you. Didn’t know if you’d want to be seen with an old guy like me.”

              Jody shook his head. “Idiot. You’ve got like five years on me.”

              “I thought you were only twenty-five, though that doesn’t really jibe what with you and Iz....” Bobby let that trail off, awkwardly.

              “I look that young?” Jody, asked, ignoring the uncomfortable pause. He hated to say he got that age comment from men more often than not.

              “Baby-face isn’t a bad thing, Jo,” Bobby said, kindly.

              “Yeah, well. How old are you?”

              Bobby’s expression shuttered a bit, but he maintained a kind of “you can’t hurt me if you reject me” squaring of his shoulders. He recognized the posturing of a younger sibling. Aaron was prone to it when his brothers or Jody found a weak spot.

              “Thirty-seventh birthday in three months.”

              “Well, you look good. For such an old guy.” Bobby frowned at the tease and Jody couldn’t help bumping Bobby’s foot with his under the table. The glow it caused in Bobby’s features was totally worth putting himself out there.

              “So we do this?” Bobby asked.

              “Wouldn’t miss it.” Jody would have said more, but Bobby’s phone chimed.

              “Damn. Back to work for me.” They both rose, gathering their things and heading out onto the sidewalk. Bobby turned to Jody. “So tomorrow. It’s a date. We’ll go to dinner. On me.”

              The word ‘date’ made something bloom in Jody’s chest. Or that could be—
Holy shit Bobby’s kissing me.
Just a closed-mouth touch of the lips, Bobby’s hand gently cupping Jody’s neck. Nothing over the top, but a kiss full of more promises than any Jody had ever felt.

              Bobby pulled back and grinned lazily. “See you tomorrow.” And with that, he was off.

              Jody stood for a moment, still shocked, but tingling from that kiss. “Well, Italian men sure move fast.” He voiced out loud something his mother had said a few times. He understood now, and he didn’t think he minded one bit.

              He touched his lips and smiled. Nope. He didn’t mind at all.

Chapter 4

BOBBY DID HIS best to hold his cell phone between his shoulder and his ear, though these days they just weren’t built like they used to be. He was multi-tasking—or attempting to—talking to his mother, signing work orders, and trying to block out the noise of hammering and drilling.

“I don’t understand why you can’t just stop by for a few minutes. Your Aunt Floria is in town.”

              Bobby huffed into the mouthpiece of the phone, making sure his mother understood just how exasperated he was with this conversation. As if being fussed at by his mother wasn’t a pain in the neck already, she had to do it while everything at the job site seemed to be in complete chaos. He wasn’t sure why he’d even answered when he’d seen her name on the screen.

“Ma, if I came to dinner every time one your sisters visited, I’d never eat at home.”

              His mother let out an identical huff on her end of the call. “Well, at least then I’d know you were eating right. Ever since this nonsense with Angie, I can’t imagine how you’re eating.”

              The nonsense. Bobby had broken up with Angie almost four years earlier, but that didn’t deter his mother from thinking he and Angie might just magically be able to work it out. It didn’t help that, regardless of the fact he’d come out to her, Angie seemed to still hang around his family like she may also believe he’d “come to his senses.” Thank God they’d never married, because if they were this bad over the breakup, a divorce would have put him in the loony bin.

              “I eat same as I did when I was with Angie. I cook.” And Angelina DiMarco can’t boil water without setting the kitchen on fire. A truth they’d always kept from his mother, because like all Italian mothers, she’d never have approved of a woman who couldn’t cook. Not that it mattered any more. But bringing it up would be futile.

              “Speaking of Angie…,” his mother started, earning a groan from Bobby. “She’s going to be at the dinner, too. I’m sure she’d love to see you.” He didn’t even react to that news. Angie still seemed to earn (and accept, for some reason) invitations to Gugino family functions like before they broke up. The family hadn’t even extended her this many invites when they had been a couple.

              “Well, she’ll just have to be disappointed, because I don’t want to see her now any more than I did the last eight dinners. Have you considered that I might be declining invitations because she’ll be there?”

              “You were with her for so long, Bobby. We can’t just cut her out.”

              He really didn’t have the energy to argue with his mother over this, and it had always been his policy not to rock the boat. His mother was in her seventies now, so there wasn’t any point butting heads with her. He just wished it wasn’t so complicated.

              “Look Ma, I’m sorry. I just can’t come.”

              “I don’t understand what could be so important.”

              “I’ve got a date, okay? I won’t cancel for Aunt Floria or my ex.”

              Of course that was the moment the entire room had lapsed into some semblance of silence, so Bobby’s raised voice carried. A few of his crew looked up with smirks. The deafening silence on his mother’s side of the call gave him time enough to make eye contact with his brother, who was leaning against the counter beside him, face turning red from holding in laughter.

              “Ma, we’re busy. I gotta go.” He didn’t wait for her to respond, ending the call and dropping his phone on the counter. Carlo guffawed. After snapping at the crew to get back to work, Bobby punched Carlo in the shoulder. Hard.

              “Ow, shit. Don’t take your big mouth out on me.”

              “Fuck off, Carlo.” Bobby didn’t look up from the work orders he was doing his best to focus all his attention on.

              “So. A date?” Yes, his brother seemed just as baffled at the idea as Bobby was. In the two years since he’d thrown himself headfirst into enjoying… Well, being gay, he’d definitely not been anywhere close to being in a relationship. He’d barely call any of the outings “dates.” He’d never even really “dated” Angie.

              “Can we not?”

              “When you gonna bring him to Ma’s? Angie will love it.”

              Bobby shot a glare his brother’s way, but Carlo was too busy laughing to care. Angie? Hell, Ma would trip. He turned his attention back to the work orders. After signing off on a few more, he checked his phone for the time and realized he was running late. He still had to change out of his work clothes and make it to the bookstore.

              “I gotta go. Keep those yahoos on track. If they work an extra hour tonight and get us back on schedule, I’ll give your whole crew an extra day off before the next project,” Bobby said to his brother.

              He’d gathered his things to leave when Carlo put a hand on his arm. When Bobby turned his attention to Carlo, he was uncharacteristically serious. “Hey, Bob. Good luck tonight.”

              Bobby felt the warmth he got every time his brother backed him up. They’d always been closer with each other than with their older brother. John had ten years on them both. Carlo had never given him any shit. Carlo had actually been the first person he’d come out to, and Carlo had just wrapped him in an uncomfortable hug and teased him about the coronary their mother was going to have. He still had a ways to go with the occasional jabs about being frou-frou, but his unconditional support had really kept Bobby going during a pretty intense time.

              “Yeah. Thanks, Carlo.” He felt himself flush as he admitted, “I think this one’s different. I ain’t saying we’re gonna go steady, but… baby steps.”

              Carlo nodded. “That’s good, Bob. Real good.” Then he smirked. “Now go shower, you smell like shit. Aren’t you gays supposed to be cleaner?”

              Bobby punched his brother in the shoulder again, laughed at the whine the big fucker let out. But the big fucker was right. Bobby smelled like shit and he had all of five minutes to spare to get ready. He did not want to fuck this up.

              He couldn’t really figure out why it was such a big deal. Okay, so Jody ticked every one of his boxes. And so what if this was his first real date with a man. Yeah, he’d had drinks or coffee with a few guys over the years, but that was usually just greasing the wheels to get in the other man’s pants.

              Not that he didn’t want in Jody’s pants. The guy was built and adorable; and damn, that ass. But conversation with him over the months had made damn sure that Bobby was aware, for the first time in his life, what a legitimate crush was. He wanted to just spend time with the man, hear his thoughts on those gay romance novels he read. If any girl he’d hooked up with in the past heard him admit that, he’d catch so much hell for all the times he made fun of Angie’s chick lit.

              But this was Jody. And Jody had Bobby tripped up. He felt even more unsure than he’d ever felt as a teen. He’d never been that awkward, fumbling guy with women, because he really couldn’t have cared less whether they were attracted or not. He didn’t chase. He was from a good family; had relatively decent looks, and a solid job, so he’d never really had to do anything to attract them. Then it was all going with the motions.

              This was new, though. Uncharted territory. He had spent the last few years getting his feet wet, getting accustomed to not just being gay but living out loud. He’d not had time, between his family and work, for a relationship.

              That had him coming up short when he finally checked himself in the mirror. A relationship? Was that what he was thinking? Was he ready?

              “Stop. You’re being such a chick,” he chided his reflection. “And now you’re talking to yourself. A hot fucking mess, you are, Gugino.” He decided then that, no, a relationship was not what he was going for. But perhaps Jody deserved to be sampled more than once. That’d be a first.

              Baby steps, after all.

BOBBY ARRIVED AT the bookstore, not surprised to see the line was out the door and around the block. The author of a fairly popular crime series would undoubtedly pull a decent crowd. Bobby had seen some people on the signing’s event page on Facebook who were discussing coming in from Long Island and Philly.

              Bobby realized, though, that he had no clue how he’d possibly make it through this damned crowd. When he ran into one of the girls in a McNamara’s apron, he was told he could go in to purchase a book. The line was for those who’d already purchased one, waiting for the author to sign.

              As he squeezed through the gaggle of bookworms, he kept his eyes peeled for a familiar blond head and was pleased it didn’t take him long to spot Jody. Jody wasn’t in his usual apron, but his ubiquitous cargo khakis and a simple black polo with a pinned on name tag. The black polo was almost form fitting, stretched across well-rounded pecs, tight over biceps that Bobby could sink his teeth in to.

              Jody looked up from the man he’d been speaking with, smiling when his eyes lit on Bobby. Bobby briefly noticed that the man with whom Jody spoke happened to be the author everyone was there to see. Bobby tried to convince himself that the butterflies he felt when Jody locked eyes with him were actually because he was about to meet one of his favorite authors. Mostly.

              Jody frowned, holding up a finger to signal he’d be just a moment before turning to a girl in an apron who’d been trying to get his attention. After a brief exchange, he was off. Bobby realized in that moment he hadn’t brought his own copy of the book he was here to get signed.

              “Damn,” he muttered to himself. He looked at the display for the books and noticed they were already gone. No way was there time to get to his house in Queens and back. With traffic, he’d miss the whole signing.

              “Hey, you,” someone behind him said. Bobby started at the voice and turned to see Jody behind him, smiling. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

              Bobby reached a hand up to scratch the back of his neck. “No problem. Was just thinking.” Bobby eyed the objects Jody was holding out. “What’s this?”

              Jody handed Bobby the takeout cup, clearly a Frappuccino. “I asked the barista your favorite.” His high cheekbones tinted with pink in the sexiest way. Bobby wanted to kiss him again. He wanted to really taste those lips in a way he hadn’t been able to when he snuck that buzz-inducing kiss yesterday.

              “Thanks,” Bobby managed to get out, though his voice was husky to his own ears.
He just got you a drink. What the fuck is wrong with you?

              “You’re welcome,” Jody mumbled, handing Bobby a black McNamara’s bag. “It’s actually me apologizing. I have to cancel on you tonight.”

              “Oh.” That was not disappointment Bobby felt. He had other options for the night, especially since this hadn’t lasted more than five minutes. “Not a problem,” he said, trying to give off an air of nonchalance. Not a problem at all.

              “I guess I underestimated this turnout. I don’t know why. But I’d feel bad ditching my staff early. Can we reschedule? Do something tomorrow night? I’m off the next two days.”

              Bobby wasn’t sure why he agreed. He really didn’t like how out of it he felt around Jody. He was particularly annoyed that he didn’t want to let Jody down by saying no to that earnest, hopeful expression. The one that scared the hell out of him.

              “Excellent.” Jody beamed. The ways his blue eyes flashed and his face flushed with pleasure left him with a boyish glow. Again, Bobby had to fight the urge not to kiss the man in the middle of his work.

              “Okay. Well, I’ll text you in the morning to set something up. Sorry, again.” Jody placed his hand on Bobby’s forearm, giving it a squeeze before turning and wandering off. Bobby wandered back out onto the street and had gotten halfway to his truck in a daze, not knowing why the simple touch had made such a spark of desire flare up inside him.

              His phone went off as he was unlocking his truck. He smiled at the text he’d received from Jody.
Forgot to say you looked sexy tonight.
:)
Don’t forget to check in the bag.

              How could he not smile at that? A fucking smiley face?

              He opened the bookstore bag, extracting the book it held. He recognized it as the book he’d left a copy of at home, the one he’d meant to get…

              He flipped the cover open and felt his eyes widen. There was a neat signature from the author after the words “For Bobby G. Thanks for reading.”

              Bobby pulled out his phone, tapping as quickly with his oversized thumbs as he could.
Thank you so much! You’re the best, J.

He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had ever done something thoughtful for him. Sure, his mother made his favorite lunch for his birthday. But he’d been the one who was expected to remember to be thoughtful when he was with Angie. His brothers hadn’t really ever been very considerate.

              But tonight, the simplest gestures from Jody; remembering to get his favorite Frap and getting a book signed; felt like the nicest things anyone had ever done for him.