1.
Mike realized he might be a bit of a technophile when he kept playing with the voice-response GPS system in the 2012 Lincoln MKT.
Scott laughed at Mike, when he asked for the third time where the nearest bar was.
“It knows where the McDonalds’ are,” he said. “And it has a satellite photo of where we are. This thing’s amazing.”
“It’s technology.”
“I’m not an engineer, I’m a mage.”
Scott smiled at him. “Does your family know?”
“I haven’t seen my sister in about two years. I looked her up on the internet a couple of months ago.” He was quiet for a minute. “I was looking for my father’s obituary.”
“He died?” Scott sounded concerned.
“No. I was looking to see if he did.”
“Your sister would have told you, right?”
“Maybe? My father and I don’t get along anymore.” He sat back in the seat. “That’s why me and Phil left home to join the Circle. Well, I left because he didn’t like the fact that I’m gay.”
Scott pursed his lips and concentrated on driving for a few minutes. Mike looked over at him; now he’s thinking that I’m bringing him into a war. “He might not even come, knowing I’m there.”
The GPS chimed, “Bear RIGHT…Connecticut route 2 west…Norwich/Hartford.”
“Can we stop at the next McDonald’s?” Mike asked, holding his crotch and squirming.
“You just want the GPS to tell you how to get there.”
“That too.”
Again, Scott laughed.
2.
In the early afternoon, they pulled in front of a white house with red shutters and accents. Mike heard dogs barking. “Dammit, they have a dog.”
“Sounds like more than one,” said Scott as he followed Mike out of the car. Mike stole a glance at his lover, and saw that he looked worried and scared. Mike took Scott’s hand and kissed him gently. “I’m just as nervous as you are,” he said quietly.
“People are usually kind to guests,” Scott said, as if repeating a mantra.
Still holding Scott’s hand, he guided him to the front door. Mike took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The dogs went wild, getting closer to the door.
Then the door opened. A slightly heavy-set blond woman with blue eyes stood behind the screen door, peering out at him. “Mikey?”
Mike smiled a bit. “Hi, Evie.”
She threw open the door and two black labs bounded out, barking excitedly, but not attacking. Mike flinched as Evie threw her arms around him and hugged him. “I’m so glad you came, Mike!”
Mike broke from the hug, seeing Scott petting one of the dogs. “This is my boyfriend, Scott Angrier.”
Evie smiled at him and held her hand out to him. “Nice to meet you. I’m Evelyn, but everyone calls me Evie.”
“Hi, Evelyn,” Scott said. Mike saw most of the worry float away, and felt his own nervousness ease.
“Well come inside. Blackie, Midnight, in!” She held the door open for the dogs. They went in, and looked up at Mike expectantly. Mike let one of the dogs sniff his hand and the dog bumped its head against his hand. “They’re big wanna-be lap dogs,” she said with a light laugh. “Did you two eat lunch?”
“Yeah,” said Mike.
“A Wings Over,” added Scott.
“That place is awesome.” Evie led them through a cluttered living room, and then into a dining room. The dining room table was huge with a white linen table cloth on it, and a pair of orange candles with autumn accents. The dining room had a door leading out to a small enclosed porch. Off the dining room was the kitchen, separated from the dining room by a small island.
“This is a nice house,” Mike said.
“It’s ours for the next twenty-eight years, six months, and eight days.”
Mike laughed. “You’re counting down?”
“I have a widget on my computer.”
Both men chuckled.
“I couldn’t ask for better, though,” she said, and went to the kitchen. “Want anything to drink?”
“Do you still have Coke?”
She shook her head. “I have to go to the store after I pick up the kids from school.”
“Better to go today than tomorrow,” said Scott. “Grocery stores will be madhouses.” Evie motioned to the chairs and they sat down, while she took out a plate and put some cookies on it.
“Yeah, I have the week off from work, so I can go any time. It’s a 24 hour Wal-Mart so I can go at 3 a.m. if necessary.”
“Not on Black Friday,” said Scott.
Evie laughed, “C’mon, that’s where the fun is!”
“No way,” said Mike, taking one of the cookies as soon as she set down the plate. “Milk?”
“You haven’t changed,” she said, and pulled down a cup. “Scott?”
“Sure, why not.”
She started getting the milk for them. “So what do you do for a living now?”
“Now? I…I’m a magician.”
“Really?” Her eyes sparkled for a minute.
“No, I don’t do parties.”
“How do you make a living at it?”
“I teach, sometimes at the university but I had my own Academy for a while there.”
“You teach magic?”
“It’s a real course, Evie,” he said patiently.
“I believe it,” she said, sitting down. She smiled at Scott. “You look kind of familiar.”
“I work in Paragon,” Scott supplied.
“Are you one of those heroes – wait! I know where I saw you from. You are one of those heroes.”
Scott blushed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Call me Evie, please! Wow, a real hero!”
Mike beamed as much as Scott did. “He’s special, all right.”
“How did you — nevermind, nevermind. We probably have to keep your identity secret.”
“No, I don’t wear a mask,” Scott said.
“You can tell us all about yourself at dinner. You’re staying for dinner, right?”
The two men looked at each other. Scott shrugged. Mike said, “Sure, if you want.”
“Yes! I haven’t seen you for so long, Mike, and you’re the only brother I have left.”
Mike looked down at the table cloth, studying the thread count.
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