B.A. Tortuga Old Town New (pdf)

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together.
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Which was why he needed to convince Danny to leave with
him, come hell or high water. "Sam says we should look for a
house. Says it's a buyer's market right now."
"Yeah?" Dan looked over, tilted his head. "I've never lived
anywhere but here. College and hospitals, but those don't
really count."
"Well my apartment is way too small for the both of us."
He was presuming a lot. Not that Danny might come with
him; Danny had said that much himself. Kind of. Just that
Danny would want to go in on a house with him.
"Yeah, this place is in good shape." Dan handed him the
salt. "The real question is, do we want to sell for a down
payment and a little cushion until I work out the work
situation or rent it out since it's paid off."
He salted and peppered and thought on it. He didn't want
to be the one to tell Danny to sell his Dad's house. Hell, he
didn't even know if he wanted to anyway. What if Danny
wanted to come back some day? Quinn would. For Danny.
"Maybe we should rent it. Around here we're not as likely to
get someone destructive."
"Yeah..." Danny picked a little. "I don't know. I ... I've
been thinking about something and I could use a little money
cushion."
"About what, babe?" He reached over, took Danny's hand,
looking at him intently.
"I I love my kids, Quinn, I do. But..." Danny shook his
head. "I don't want to do this again. I can't. I'm thinking
about going back to school, teaching grownups. Teaching
somewhere I don't have to hide."
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"Yeah?" His heart raced a bit. "You'd be good at it. And we
don't need your money for the down payment. I've got a
good bit saved."
"My grades were good. I'd have to take some classes to
ramp up, but, yeah. Yeah, Quinn. I'm ... I'm tired of acting
like loving you's a secret. I'm tired of hiding, and this town?
It's always going to be about dying and hurting and hiding."
He nodded, thumb sliding over Danny's hand. "It is. I love
you, babe, and I want to be able to do something about it. I
don't want you hurting."
"You sure you and Rags want me full-time?" Danny's
fingers twisted with his.
"I've never been so sure of anything in my life." It was
true. Hell, he and Sam had planned for him to spend the
night and come back tomorrow, but he'd been so itchy at
having to call Dan and tell him he wouldn't be home that Sam
had waved him out the door.
"Then I guess we need to figure out if my bed or yours is
more comfortable."
That made him laugh, finally relaxing enough to eat.
"Definitely mine. But otherwise, you're the furniture guy."
"Hell, yes. My couch? Fits us both." Rags snorted,
stretched. "And Rags."
"And I don't have a couch. Just an old recliner that has
seen better days." He was grinning like a fool. He knew it. But
damn.
"Good thing I have dishes." Dan started eating, stocking
feet sliding along his leg.
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He jumped a little, grinning over his stew. "Yeah. And you
cook. More than breakfast."
"Yeah. And I have a washing machine..."
"I have a big old freezer." The roast tasted even better for
its lack of turkey and the sweetness of knowing Danny was
willing to throw his lot in with Quinn. He ate it down and let
Rags lick the bowl. "And a dishwasher."
"Ew. Dog germs." Danny was laughing, the lines around
those eyes from happiness.
"But pre-washing. I'll do the dishes, babe." He wanted
Danny to rest up. He? Still had a lot of energy.
"I cleaned my desk out today, gave my notice. I won't be
going back."
He stopped mid-plate-pull. "Are you sure?"
"It's done. My 401K check will be in the mail next month."
"Then we can move you as soon as possible." They could
get to Denver. Get on with their lives.
"Yeah. Yeah, Quinn. You can ... you can take me home."
He would do just that. Take Danny home with him, make a
new place for them together, with a house and plates and
Rags and lots and lots of sex in his big, old bed. He couldn't
wait.***
The past few weeks had been insane.
Insane.
Packing and cleaning and sorting. They'd put the house on
the market, knowing it wouldn't sell until spring, and
goddamn if folks hadn't come through the day it went up and
met the asking price.
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He had until January thirtieth to get shit out and find a
place and decide what to do and ... and ... and ... ?
And Quinn had showed up, determined to drag his ass to
Denver for a few days and house hunt, and chill the fuck out.
"You're going to drive yourself into an early grave," Quinn
pointed out reasonably. "We can put your stuff in storage, if
we need to, until we find a place."
"I know. I've just never been in a position where this
wasn't my house and my stuff wasn't supposed to be here."
He shrugged, grinned. "It's just odd. Lots of change."
"Yeah." Quinn kissed him, tasting him nice and deep. "And
I've never had a house."
He relaxed, scattered thoughts coalescing with Quinn's
kiss. "Our house."
"Yeah. It's like a dream, babe." The last of the load of stuff
they were taking to Quinn's apartment got loaded, and Quinn
goosed him lightly. "You ready? Sam's itching to meet you."
"You sure he'll like me? It'll suck if your best friend
doesn't..." He whistled for Rags, patting the back seat of
Quinn's truck which was way sexier than the one the
sheriff's department let the man drive.
"He's going to love you, babe." They waited for Rags to
pee all over before getting everything closed up and getting
on their way. "I think he already does. Just from the way I
talk. And he's making brisket in the oven. With beer."
"Oh ... Brisket..." He made loud, crude drooling noises,
laughing with Quinn. When he saw the curtains at Old Lady
Barnes' flick, he actually dared to wave.
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Quinn hooted, making an even ruder noise. "That old bat. I
almost feel like that should have been part of the full
disclosure on you selling. 'Beware, nosy old biddy neighbor'."
"No shit. Of course, maybe the wife will like it, make sure
hubby's not stepping out."
"This is true." They hit the highway and Quinn got them
moving, the long drive ahead of them making his hips hurt
just thinking about it. Quinn was great about it, getting him a
special cushion for the truck and all, making frequent stops.
And he had to admit, they passed the time well, sharing
snacks, Dan looking through the paper for houses, both of
them admiring the Christmas lights on the houses they
passed.
Even Rags behaved, not farting them out of the cab, and
the weather cooperated. The roads from Glenwood to Vail
pass were wet but clear, and they never had to stop and put
chains on. Even the semis seemed to leave them alone,
passing without rocking them. Hell, they had time to go to
Quinn's apartment and unload before they went to see Sam.
He chuckled as they pulled up to the huge complex, one
building indistinguishable from the other. "I finally get to see
your apartment."
"I cleaned." Quinn sounded a little worried. Somehow he
figured that must make it worse than the sterile rental house.
"Cool." He grabbed Rags' leash and his suitcase. Christ,
this place was huge. "Show me."
"Yeah. Come on." There was a dizzying array of hallways
and doors and Quinn led him into a white painted living room
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with nothing on the walls and the rattiest recliner he'd ever
seen. "Mostly I just sleep here."
"Yeah?" He looked around. "Doesn't look like you've had
lots of reasons to come home. Least 'til now."
"I tended to come get Rags and go to Sam's." He got a
huge grin. "But this you'll like. Come look."
He followed eagerly, fingers squeezing Quinn's ass as they
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