Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Austin had two bottles of white wine chilling in the refrigerator and had made up a charcuterie board. The guys were up showering, and as much as he wanted to join his wet men, he had a few other things to do before they were set to leave for their first neighborhood gathering.

"Are you about done up there?" he called up the stairs.

Randy appeared at the top of the steps in jeans and a maroon polo shirt. "Weaver is just about ready," he reported as he came down the stairs.

"I have our things all set to go. I'm really not quite sure what to expect." He bit his lower lip and then stopped, refusing to be nervous. Everyone they had met so far had been nice, and if the neighbors took exception to the way they lived, then that was just too damned bad. They didn't get a say in their relationship.

"It's going to be people talking, an outdoor wine party. Just relax. You've already met a lot of the neighbors, and Weaver's friend Veronica from across the street is going to be there. So this should be fun." Randy was not much of a drinker, so Austin had made sure that the wine he brought was one that he knew Randy enjoyed.

"I'm ready," Weaver said in a striped shirt and tan pants. He looked just as good as Randy, and for a second, Austin thought about chucking the entire party idea and luring his two men upstairs for a private party of their own. "Do you need me to get anything?"

"The wine is in the fridge," Austin said before going to the kitchen and retrieving his contribution to the munchie portion of the event. Then he led the way outside, with the others following him down the sidewalk. Andrew and Dominic's house was two doors down and had a large wraparound porch. Chairs and a table had been set out.

"Welcome, guys," Dominic said in greeting. "The food goes on the table, and there's a cooler for the wine if it needs it." He had glasses out, and Austin opened one of the bottles to pour a glass for Dominic as well as Weaver and Randy. "Are you getting settled in?"

"We are. Austin has really done a lot to start making the place into a home," Randy said, slipping an arm around his waist. "I've started work, and Weaver's official first day was this week. So it's going pretty well."

"What do you do?" Dominic asked, turning to Austin as Andrew joined them.

He had dreaded his question. "I'm still figuring it out."

"Have you ever modeled for book covers?" Andrew asked with a smile. "You have a great look. Granted, I don't think you could make a living from that, but it's something to think about. I had a model some years ago for one of my books, and it helped him get ten-thousand additional Twitter followers at the time."

Austin had never thought about that, but it sounded like fun. "How do you do that?"

"Well, you could set yourself up for custom pictures, or you could sell some images from your backlist… so to speak. They could be loaded onto the photo sites, and designers would pay to use the images." Andrew smiled and sipped from his glass as others joined the group. Andrew made introductions as more food was added to the table. Drinks were poured, and over the next half hour, five more couples joined the group.

Austin didn't know why he stayed near the guys. He wasn't usually self-conscious in any way. As a model, he had been photographed in everything from parkas to bathing suits and underwear. Still, this seemed to be more consequential for some reason.

"Are you having a good time?" Weaver asked in a whisper after refilling their wine glasses. "You're usually so outgoing and the life of the party. Poor Randy is trying to make up for it, and I think his head is going to explode pretty soon. He's usually the strong, silent type at things like this…."

Austin smiled and chuckled. "Maybe I should go rescue him."

"Just be yourself," Weaver said, patting him lightly on the butt. Austin flashed him a dirty look before making his way to where Randy was talking with Doug and Eileen.

"It's a great neighborhood, and everyone has made us feel welcome, except that weird guy across the street," Randy was saying.

"Yeah, what's up with him?" Austin asked, sidling up next to Randy, who lightly hip-bumped him. "I was coming back from the grocery store, and the entire time I unloaded the car, he stood on his porch, staring at me like his eyes were death rays. It was weird."

"That's Steve. He's a real piece of work," Eileen said as Doug nodded. "There were potential buyers before the three of you, and he started calling them names and stuff. Scared the couple off. None of us heard it, but the couple did and so did their realtor. We don't invite him to these or the other neighborhood things and do our best to ignore him."

Austin turned to Randy. "I dare say if he says anything to us, we'll ask Randy here to have a talk with him." Randy was a kind man, but if you threatened his family, he could be frightening as hell. Austin had seen it a few times in New York, and it thrilled him that Randy would stick up for him… but it also scared him a little bit as well.

"Good. None of us have anything to do with him if we can help it." Eileen sipped her wine, and the conversation shifted to the pair of chickens she kept in her backyard. Austin had been fascinated by the pair of birds and their tiny coop on wheels that could be moved around the yard. Apparently, their names were Gwyneth Poultry and Hennifer Aniston. Austin couldn't help smiling.

Randy's arm slipped away, and as Austin glanced around, he found him hugging a handsome Black woman, with Weaver doing the same once Randy backed away. He must have had a look of curiosity that Eileen picked up on.

"That's Veronica. She's a professor at the law school. Her house is right across the street, and they know each other."

"Evidently," Austin said as his men brought her over. "Veronica?" he said with a smile. "I've been hearing about you."

She shook his hand with a huge smile. "Weaver and I have known each other for years. I'd heard that you boys were moving in and would have been over sooner, but I had a family issue in Philly. I'm so thrilled we're going to be neighbors." She slipped her arm around Weaver's waist, and Austin wanted to slap it away. He didn't know where that stab of jealousy came from, and there was no reason for it, but damn, it hit him hard for a few seconds. To try to cover it, Austin sipped from his glass. "I knew that Rose and Gene were selling their house, but I didn't know Weaver and his family had bought it until Rose told me a few weeks ago." She squeezed Weaver. "I can't believe you're all here."

"And we're grateful for your help in getting Weaver the position at the law school," Austin said, trying to be happy for everyone… and he was. He just wished he could be happy for himself too.

"I had nothing to do with that," Veronica said. "The administration was thrilled that he was interested in working with us." She was very pleased, Weaver beamed, and Randy stood there proudly. Suddenly, the wine in Austin's belly wasn't sitting so well. He pasted on a smile and turned away from the happiness parade, wondering if there was a way he could simply sneak out and return home.

Weaver was so glad to connect in person with Veronica once more. They almost instantly began talking about old times and then segued into what he could expect during his first semester. "Unfortunately, the previous instructor has left you with quite a mess," Veronica told him. "He wasn't updating his materials and thought he could skate by. That went on for a while, and he was warned, but he thought that he had allies…." She shook her head. "But there were student complaints, plenty of them… and his tenure had been deferred."

"But they hired me on permanently, I thought" Weaver asked, wondering if he should be concerned.

"Now that I did have a say in," she said with a smile.

"But what does that mean?" Austin asked softly from next to him.

"That Weaver is on the fast track for tenure. His stellar reputation and case history means that he will bring additional prestige to the school. Basically, most professors come up for tenure after five to seven years. The plan is that Weaver will be offered it after three. His experience will stand in for the time."

"I see." Austin plastered on a smile, one that Weaver knew well. He hated that smile because it meant Austin was shutting down and mentally pulling away.

But it seemed Veronica was persistent. "What are you looking for in our little town?" Veronica asked.

Austin shrugged. "There aren't a lot of calls for over-the-hill fashion models," he said flatly. Weaver suppressed a groan and slipped his arm around Austin's waist. He hated how lost Austin seemed and wished he could do something about it. "I've pretty much unpacked and set up the house. So…."

"You could volunteer," Veronica offered. "There are plenty of organizations that could use your expertise. The theater downtown is always looking for help." She grinned as if a lightbulb just went on.

"What's happening behind those eyes?" Weaver asked. "Should we be scared?" He was teasing, and thankfully, even Austin smiled at his joke.

"I think I might have an idea. Is it okay if I look into it and then get back to you in a few days?" Veronica asked. "I don't want to promise anything I can't deliver."

"Sure," Austin said, drinking the rest of his wine in a gulp. "I'll be around."

Veronica stepped away from Weaver, drawing closer to Austin. "I get that this is hard, I really do, and I know you don't know me from Adam, so let me tell you something about myself. I'm a pushy Black woman who's about to get all up in your business."

Weaver chuckled, because she had said the same sort of thing to him back in law school when he'd been trying to figure out his own way forward. Veronica had always been a little pushy, but it came from a place of caring. Weaver had been struggling midway through law school, and it had been Veronica who basically told him to shit or get off the pot. He could complain and grouse all he wanted, or he could buckle down and become a damned good lawyer. Then she had explained everything she was doing just to be able to stay in school, including working two jobs and putting off sleep until the summer. Weaver had shut his mouth and taken her advice, because she'd been right. Law school had been tough, but after that, he had thrived, and he'd taken that work ethic into his career—hell, he still carried it with him, in part thanks to her.

"Okay. You can't do any worse with it than I am." Austin was trying to make light of it, but the joke fell flat.

"That's just it. So you don't have a job or a direction at the moment. It will happen. You're smart, healthy, and you have two men who love you and have your back. That's a hell of a lot more than most folks have. So take up gardening… or a sport. Get out there, be active, and drop the defeatist attitude." Austin seemed shocked, but that was Veronica. She wasn't the type to hold back. "Something is going to come along. Just keep your eyes open, and rather than worry about the time you have on your hands, be grateful for the chance to take a breath and figure out your next steps." She cut right to the chase and made a great point.

Austin was nodding slowly. "I just want to pull my weight and…."

"Hey," Weaver said softly. "You always do." He tilted Austin's head upward, looking into his eyes. "You make both Randy and me happier than we ever were without you. So just give yourself a break."

"Sometimes, I wonder if I'd be better off in New York," Austin said, and Weaver's belly clenched. "But I don't think this has anything to do with geography. I think I'd feel this way no matter where we were living."

"Life changes?" Weaver asked.

"Exactly. Only I wasn't ready for this particular one." Austin patted Weaver on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm not going to run back to New York. We all decided that the move here was best for all of us. I just have to figure out my path. Good things are happening for you and Randy, and hopefully, my turn will come."

Austin was saying all the right things, but Weaver still wondered if that was how he really felt or if he was just trying to make Weaver feel better. He'd even settle for a little bit of both.

Randy peered across the porch while Dominic made him hungry talking about the food that he and Andrew had had on their trip to France earlier in the year. Austin, Weaver, and Veronica were talking, and Austin seemed to be smiling, which was great to see.

"What is he doing here?" Dominic asked, and Randy turned as their neighbor from across the street passed by on the sidewalk, pausing right in front of the house.

"I see all the freaks are in one place."

"What the hell?" Randy asked.

Dominic set down his glass. "That's Steve from across the street from you. Did Doug and Eileen tell you about him?"

Randy nodded slowly, glaring as Steve slowly continued down the sidewalk, watching them as though he expected an orgy to break out at any moment. Randy excused himself and joined Austin and Weaver, putting an arm around each of them.

"What an ass," Austin said softly. Weaver hummed his agreement, but Randy was on guard, ready to pounce at any second if that POS decided to cause any trouble. Austin leaned against his shoulder, and Weaver slipped an arm around his waist.

"You know, we could all kiss. That would probably short-circuit him completely."

"There's no need to antagonize him. He does live across the street," Weaver said.

Randy had to agree with him, though he wished there was something he could do about the guy. Knowing he was there, sitting on that damned porch of his watching their home. It made him angry. "We'll have to see what we can do to make his life a little uneasy."

"He works for the Special Police. They're the crossing guards, and they direct traffic around accidents when it's needed."

"Then I think it's time they got a report on his behavior," Randy said. He watched as Steve continued down the sidewalk, refusing to look away. Steve kept looking back, and Randy met his gaze each time he turned to look.

"Let's rejoin the party," Austin said from next to him.

"Yeah. Does anyone need a refill?" Dominic said from nearby, circulating through the group, refilling glasses, and working to banish the already dissipating gloom. "There are also plenty of munchies, so help yourself. Also, if anyone is interested, Andrew has opened the pool if anyone wants to put on their suit and take a dip."

Veronica set her glass aside and hurried across the street.

"Do either of you want to swim?" Randy asked, pleased when Austin finished his wine and put his glass on the table. He and Weaver headed back to the house to change while Randy spoke to a few more of the neighbors, one of whom, Maria, was part of the community garden nearby and invited him to come down to take a look sometime.

"I think I'd like that. Weaver and Austin aren't particularly interested in gardening, but I'd like to learn if for no other reason than to make our yard nicer. We had a small space in New York where I had some plants in pots, but I've never done anything more than that."

"Cool. Be sure to talk to Andrew as well. He's president of the local garden club and is willing to help out with that sort of thing. Andrew is really into flowers, while I grow veggies. Between us, we can help with just about anything."

"I don't want a fancy yard, but it's pretty plain right now, and I'd like to add some shrubs and things along the fence." He really wasn't sure what he should do and was about to ask more questions when Weaver and Austin returned in their bathing suits, and his mind kind of blew out.

"Damn, you are one lucky guy," Maria said, half under her breath. "Those men of yours are…." Both of them followed his two men around the side of the house with their gazes. Randy found himself smiling, knowing that these guys were his, truly his, heart and soul.

"Yeah, they really are," Randy said.

"Are you going to join them?" Maria asked.

Randy shook his head. "I don't swim. My mom was deathly afraid of water, and she kind of passed that on to me. I was never taught as a kid." He hated talking about it. Admitting any sort of weakness was not something he found easy to do. Maria's kids hurried across the street, waving to their mother as they crossed the immaculate lawn toward the backyard.

"You know you can learn if you want," she told him quietly. "The Y offers swimming for adults. There are plenty of people who didn't learn for whatever reason." It seemed that everyone in the neighborhood was a font of information.

"Did you learn to swim?"

Maria nodded. "My parents had a pool, so I learned when I was four. My mother taught swimming and lifesaving. She still does sometimes. If you wanted private lessons, I could ask her about it."

Randy found himself pausing. It was something he had never really thought about. In New York, it hadn't mattered much. But here, it seemed that Dominic and Andrew hosted at their pool quite often. It would be nice to be able to join Weaver and Austin. "Would you?"

"Sure. Mom loves doing that sort of thing, and adults are so much easier to teach than kids sometimes. They come in motivated to succeed. I'll give her a call tomorrow, and if she's interested, I'll get the two of you together."

"I really appreciate it," he said as Steve approached the front of the house once more. Randy scowled and crossed his arms, meeting the weasel's gaze, almost daring him to say anything. Maria turned away, pointedly showing her back to the street. Randy did the same, relaxing as most everyone else ignored the jerk.

"What a douchebag," one of the guys said.

"Dominic and I invited him to our Christmas party right after they moved in. He and his wife came in, pulled cheap cans of beer out of their pockets, and proceeded to sit in the living room and get themselves drunk. By the end of the evening, I was wondering if they could get home and how they got all those cans in their coats." He shook his head slowly. "We never invited them again."

"I don't blame you," Randy said as peals of laughter drifted in from the back.

Maria went down the back steps and returned smiling. "The kids are playing with their father, Veronica, and the guys." She took a seat near Randy, and he sat on one of the white wicker chairs. "God, it's nice to have a little time to myself." She sipped her wine, and Randy talked a while until others joined them. Then excused himself to wander out back to find his men.

He stood at the closed gate, watching the guys as they played with squirt guns against the kids, who seemed to have the upper hand, judging by the way Austin kept getting soaked. But it was the laughter that made him smile. He had been worried when he bought the house without the others seeing it. He hadn't been familiar with the neighborhood, and yet it looked like they'd hit the jackpot as far as neighbors went.

Austin swam over to the side of the pool, and Randy raised a hand, smiling at him. Austin smiled back, and some of the worry he'd been holding eased up, at least a little. The kids all hit Austin with streams of water, and he turned away, growling playfully as he sprayed them back.