Chapter 81

Back in the kitchen, Barry opened the oven door and lifted out a couple of cookie sheets of roasting carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and garlic.

“Oh, veggies,” Jake said.

“You sound disappointed,” Barry said, looking over his shoulder at a pouting Jake.

“I just thought…with it being my birthday…I wouldn’t have to eat any vegetables.”

“Careful, you’re starting to sound like Jimmy.” Barry well-remembered the way Jimmy had wanted everything done his way on his birthday.

“Yeah, right.” Jake folded his arms over his chest.

Barry stood on tiptoe and kissed his man’s lips. “Trust me, beautiful, you’ll like these veggies. Think of them as oven fries.”

Jake didn’t seem convinced, so even though the veggies needed a few more minutes, Barry plucked a clove of garlic from the sheet, blew on it, and lifted it to Jake’s lips.

Jake opened his mouth and Barry slid the morsel inside, making sure to brush the man’s lips with his fingers as he withdrew.