Free Of Love and Corn Dogs by Parker Williams Page B

you’re acting like a teenager instead of an adult. Suck it up, buttercup. Call him back.”
    Darwin wanted to protest, but he couldn’t deny it. He felt like a teen—gawky, unsure, and more than a little nervous. He sucked in a quick breath to steady himself, then called Ricky back.
    â€œâ€™Lo?’
    He could hear the hum of a machine in the background, and Ricky sounded like he’d been sleeping. “Hey, it’s Darwin.”
    â€œHey,” Ricky replied, now seemingly more alert. “How you doing?”
    â€œDid I wake you?”
    â€œNah, not really.” Ricky yawned, and Darwin stifled a giggle at how cute the noise sounded. “Just dozing in the air conditioning. It’s hotter than hell outside today.”
    Darwin leaned forward to peek at the digital readout on the dash and winced. Ninety-four degrees.
    â€œAre you okay?”
    â€œYeah, just warm. So what’s going on?”
    â€œNot much. I figured I should call you to see what you were up to.”
    Ricky sighed. “Well, let’s see. I haven’t found a job yet. Applied at a bunch of places, but no one has called me back. Beyond that, I’ve been pretty much a homebody. I can’t afford to go out, so I’m sitting at home and playing with Merlin.”
    â€œMerlin?”
    â€œHe’s my kitten. I found him on my way home one night about three months ago. No clue where he came from. He just, poof , appeared on the sidewalk.”
    Darwin bit his tongue. He didn’t want to make Ricky uncomfortable, but damn it, he didn’t want him to be out on the street either.
    â€œIs there anything I can do for you? I mean if you need money or something…”
    He heard Ricky suck in a breath, before he gave his frosty answer. “No, we’re fine.”
    â€œSorry. I just… If you need help, I hope you’ll let me know.”
    â€œThanks,” Ricky said quietly. “We’re really okay, though. But it’s nice that you asked.”
    â€œSo, listen. I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight. With me, I mean. We can go to dinner or something.”
    â€œThanks, but I have to say no,” Ricky replied, his voice tight. “I really don’t have any money to spare right now.”
    â€œMy treat. You bought me drinks at the club, so it’s my turn to take you out.”
    â€œYeah?”
    Relief flooded Darwin. Ricky hadn’t simply said no. “Absolutely.”
    Darwin could hear the smile in Ricky’s voice when he replied, “Okay, sure. I’d like that.”
    â€œI’ll pick you up at seven?” Darwin asked, tamping down hard on the urge to yell he’d gotten a date.
    â€œSounds good.”
    Ricky rattled off his address, which Darwin wrote on his notepad.
    â€œSee you tonight,” he whispered, even though Ricky had already disconnected.
    â€œDarwin’s got a date,” Henley teased. “Do we need to swing by the pharmacy to get you some protection? Wait. Do you even remember how to use it? We might have to pick up some bananas, so I can show you the proper way to put on a condom.”
    â€œYou know how sometimes you say things and they’re absolutely hilarious?” Darwin asked, meeting Henley’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “This isn’t one of them.”
    â€œOuch. Cut down in my prime,” Henley complained, clutching his heart dramatically with one hand. Then he laughed. “I assume you want to go home now, so you can get ready. Where are we picking him up?”
    Panic surged through Darwin. He hadn’t even considered that Henley would expect to drive them.
    â€œDidn’t you have plans for tonight?”
    â€œMeh. I thought about binge watching something on Netflix, but if you want to go out, I’d rather do that.”
    Darwin gave a nervous chuckle. “You go ahead and kill some brain cells. We can take a taxi. I’m not sure how late