Free Microsoft Word - Taxes_and_TARDIS-NR_Walker.doc by Dawn Page B

anyone else thinks doesn't matter. As long as you're both happy, it's no one else's business." And then he grinned at me. "And I can see how much you like him."
    I nodded and gave a bit of a smile. I'd avoided any kind of permanent relationship, any kind of emotional attachment, refusing to see anyone twice for more than a fuck. But Logan was different. I knew it in my bones. I looked at Tim and said, "I told him about my parents."
    Tim blinked. Only he would understand the
    significance of me telling Logan about my family. "Well, shit…"
    I nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I know."
    Just then two hands slapped down on my shoulders
    from behind me. "Look, the prodigal son has returned."
    Marty.
    I turned to face him. "Hey," I said. "How's it going?"
    "Good, good," he replied. "Saul's just getting drinks.
    Who's winning at pool?"
    "I am on fire!" Tim crowed, and the usual jokes,

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    teasing, and general not-overly-intelligent conversations between us began.
    We had a few more games of pool and a few more
    beers and basically spent the afternoon laughing. Until Marty asked the loaded question. "So," he drawled out,
    "when do we meet him?"
    "Who?"
    He rolled his eyes. "The new man. The guy who's kept your company for the last three weekends in a row.
    That we know nothing about."
    "Maybe he's imaginary," Saul joked.
    "Nah," Tim chimed in. "I've met him."
    "You have?" Marty asked, surprised. "What's he like?"
    Tim grinned. "He's a nice guy. He's smart, funny, English. You know," Tim said with a laugh. "If I was gay…"
    I rolled my eyes and pushed his shoulder. "Shut the fuck up." He laughed, and the other two just smiled and waited for me to tell them something.
    I smiled nervously, surprised that Tim hadn't told them something before now, but obviously he hadn't. I took a deep breath. "His name is Logan. And I'm not sure he's ready to meet you guys."
    "Oh, why not?" Marty asked, half joking, half not.

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    "We don't bite. Much." Then he looked at me, somewhat seriously, and said, "Nah, man, that's great. I'm happy for ya."
    I nodded at his ability to lie. He wasn't happy at all.
    "Thanks."
    "So," Marty added, "he must be good in bed to keep you interested."
    I considered telling him to fuck off, and then I
    considered bragging and telling him he was the best I'd ever had, but all I did was sigh instead. "It's more than that."
    "Holy shit," Saul mumbled. He looked in total disbelief at Tim, who grinned and nodded.
    Tim held his beer up and turned to face a room of
    complete strangers. "And it's official!" Tim announced loudly to the entire bar. "Brent Kelly is off the market."
    I glared at him, completely embarrassed. "Yeah, thanks, asswipe."
    I looked at Marty and Saul. Marty's eyes were wide.
    "Is he your boyfriend ?"
    I shrugged one shoulder. "Yeah, I guess he is." I smiled at them. "He's different than anyone else I've met.
    He's quiet and smart. He's got the sexiest accent." God, I was gushing like a school girl.
    Saul grinned at me while Marty looked a little…

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    well, peeved.
    I'd told him before I wasn't interested in him like that, but he just didn't seem to get it. I clinked my beer bottle to his, trying to lighten the mood and wanting to show him we were still good. "Come on, set the balls up," I said, nodding toward the pool table. "You and me."
    He took a pull of his beer and nodded. And the four of us played pool for a while, had a few more beers, and talked utter crap. By the time we left, Marty seemed okay with me, thankfully. I wanted my friends to like Logan. I wanted them to get along.
    So when they asked me to bring Logan along for
    drinks on Friday night, I told them I'd ask.

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CHAPTER 10
    I'd had a few beers playing pool and was
    appropriately buzzed and was lying on my bed when Logan phoned that night, like he said he would. He apologized again and again for the