Free Size Matters by Sean Michael Page A

piece of caramel crunch pie left, too.”
    “Oh, rock on. Thanks.”
    He sat, put one of his earbuds in, and checked his emails. There was one from the guy with the pretty voice, thanking him for signing. He answered with—
     
    You’re welcome, man. Good to meet you.
     
    It had been his first book signing, and it had gone okay. The guy with the pretty voice had been good-looking if Allison’s fluttering about him afterward was anything to go by. She’d described him as tall, dark and perfect. His voice had been…liquid velvet was pretty fucking cheesy. Still, it was true.
    Velvety soft and rich and…whoa. Okay. Okay. No springing wood. The guy had asked him out for coffee in that voice…
    His email binged.
     
    Nice to meet you too. I meant it, about the coffee .
     
    Trey chuckled.
     
    I managed to get myself a cup.
     
    Lucien’s reply didn’t take long to arrive.
     
    You’re going to make me come right out and say it, aren’t you? I’m more interested in you than in coffee.
     
    I don’t know you from Job.
     
    Trey wanted to, though. The idea of it both thrilled and scared him. More thrilled, if he were being honest.
     
    Thus the coffee.
     
    He chuckled at that.
     
    I guess so. I have to be careful, you know?
     
    I get that, I do. But if we could do coffee at the place of your choice. What can I do in a public place?
     
    Yeah. I have a good place here. Safe. Folks know me.
     
    There you go. Invite me over.
     
    Earthscape Java on Cornell.
     
    Oh, God. Oh, God, what had he done?
     
    I’ll be there in twenty.
     
    Twenty. That gave Trey time to go home, to bail. He really didn’t want to. He should, though, right?
    “Everything okay?” That was Anthony, hand on his shoulder, reminding him he was in a safe place.
    “Yeah, yeah. I’m meeting someone.”
    “Oh, man. Well, I’ll walk you home whenever you’re ready.”
    Oh, thank God . “You rock.”
    “Of course I do. And I have an all-natural oatmeal biscuit for Happy, that okay?”
    “Oh, thank you.” They were so good to him here.
    “No problem. You need a refill on the Joe?”
    Trey touched the outside of the cup, still half full. “Not yet.”
    “Let me know when you do. And you need anything, just shout out.” Anthony wasn’t going to let anything happen to him.
    “Thanks, man. You are amazing.”
    It was tough, being on his own, but he managed. He really did. He had the little house he’d inherited, he had friends and a personal assistant and Happy. He called his parents at Christmas, but honestly, they weren’t a big part of his life. Their views on his life choices were clear enough. He could either come home, stop being queer, stop writing evil demonic books, and do penance for daring to be born blind or he could sink or swim. He chose swimming, damn it.
    The bell over the door sounded and footsteps headed his way. Trey kept still, listening to his Facebook, waiting for something to let him know it was Lucien with an ‘en’.
    “Guy?”
    Oh damn, Lucien’s voice was even sexier than he remembered.
    “Hey. Have a seat.” Trey closed his laptop and pulled out his earbud.
    “Thank you.” Lucien shook with him. The man’s hand was large and warm, skin soft.
    “Would you like something to drink?” Trey asked. “Anthony is one hell of a barista.”
    “Sure. Can I get you something while I’m at the counter?”
    “I think I’m still good. Anthony has a dog biscuit for Happy, though.”
    “Your dog’s name is Happy? That is awesome.”
    “It is. She’s a good girl.” He reached down, touched her ruff gently.
    “She’s beautiful. I’ll be right back.”
    He listened as Lucien ordered and paid and a moment later came back to sit with him again. His hand was taken, the oatmeal cookie given to him. “Here’s Happy’s cookie.”
    “Thank you. Happy. Happy Girl, Anthony found you a cookie.” He fed it to her then looked back toward the counter. “Thanks, man!”
    “No problem, Trey my man.”
    “Trey? You