Chapter 23

“What’s that?” Joe said.

“Mike and I are a gay couple,” I said, “and if that makes you uncomfortable, we need to know it up front.”

What happened next surprised the shit out of me. Joe bent down and kissed Donnie thoroughly. He straightened up, grinned, and said, “Does that answer your question?”

“Pretty much,” I said.

“How well do you guys know Asheville?” Mike said.

“A little,” Donnie said. He had a kind of silly grin on his face after the kiss.

“I’ll go get the printout,” I said.

I went inside, found the MapQuest printout on the kitchen table where we’d left it, and took it to the deck.

“We’re going to be at that first address by eight tomorrow morning,” I said, handing Donnie the printout.

“Better make it nine, babe,” Mike said. “Remember, we have to stop by the hardware store and pick up a lot of supplies.”