4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Saturday morning, Jack prepped the ribs and adjusted the temperature in the smoker.
He didn’t use the appliance enough for his liking.
But barbecue, especially low and slow smoking, was an art.
He tucked the temperature gauge in his pocket and set the alarm for the temperature he wanted, then set about cleaning the house. He wanted to impress Henry.
Sure, they’d said they weren’t out to impress each other, but he knew better.
He didn’t want Henry to see his house in a mess.
His home wasn’t exciting, but why not clean up the papers he’d left around, and dust?
He didn’t spend much time at home and didn’t do nearly enough to make it look lived in.
He thought about the date the night before. Things had been too tense, but once Henry got him to open up, he’d had fun. He’d enjoyed himself. But that was Henry—he knew how to make Jack feel at ease. No pretensions, no need to be anything but himself.
He checked the remote temperature gauge to ensure the heat level was correct and resumed cleaning. The house wasn’t too much of a mess, but was so dusty. Damn. But he was never home. Anna claimed he lived at the shop. Maybe he did.
His phone rang and when he checked the number, his heart sank. He’d wanted Henry to call. Not Dexter. He sighed and answered. “Hey.”
“Hi, love,” Dexter said. “How are you?”
“I’m good, but I’m not your love.” He tossed the rag into the hamper, then headed out to the smoker. “You’re calling me. What’s happening?”
“Well…I’m on my way through Cedarwood and I thought I’d stop by. I’m an hour out and I haven’t seen you since we split. Come on. You know you want to see me,” Dexter said. “It’s been so long and I’m not taking no for an answer. I’m on my way.”
“Dexter—” Before he could say anything else, Dexter hung up. No byes, nothing. Just hung up. Jack gritted his teeth and sent Henry a text.
Call me when you’re on your way.
Did that sound silly? Probably. He didn’t want to come right out and say his ex would be there, hopefully only for a little while, but he’d be at the house. Henry wouldn’t come by. He tried calling Henry, but didn’t get an answer.
Shit.
He tossed the phone onto the bed, then undressed and climbed in the shower.
He had less than an hour before Dexter arrived.
If anything, Dexter would be on time. Jack finished the shower faster than he wanted to then dressed.
He checked the ribs again and hoped he had enough food for three. Damn Dexter.
The doorbell rang. Jack tensed. Trust Dexter to pick today to be early. He strode up to the front door. Henry stood on the porch. “Hi,” Jack said. The tension in his shoulders released. “You made it.”
“You thought I wouldn’t?” Henry offered up a bowl of salad. “I need to get the potatoes from the car.”
“Sure.” He took the bowl and waited at the door. When Henry returned with the second bowl, Jack held the screen door for him. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“You can’t wait for my wit and sparkling conversation?” Henry laughed. “There’s a little bowl with dressing in there. I didn’t know how much you’d want.”
“Perfect.” He placed the bowls on the island. “This is my home. It’s not much and rather plain, but it’s home.”
Henry tipped his head. “You’re tense. I can see it in the lines forming between your brows. What’s wrong?”
He had to tell Henry the truth and deal with the consequences. “Okay, so here’s the thing. My ex-boyfriend called. He’s on his way through Cedarwood and wanted to stop by. We didn’t end on bad terms, and I don’t mind that he wants to visit, but not tonight.”
“But you can’t tell him no because he doesn’t listen?” Henry asked.
“Pretty much.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
We’ll? He liked the sound of that. Jack had expected jealousy, but appreciated Henry’s cool response. “You’re not upset?”
“You have a life, and so do I—and they happened before we met.” Henry shrugged. “It’d be awkward to get mad.”
“You’re too good to be true.” But he liked Henry even more.
The doorbell rang again and Jack closed his eyes. Any other day, he’d happily talk to one of his exes, especially one that he’d parted with on good terms. He liked some of his exes as people—just not romantic partners. Dexter was on that list. But Henry was here.
“Hello?” Dexter swept into the room. “Hello, lovie.” He grinned and batted his lashes. “Where is my man?” He stopped next to Henry. “Who are you?”
“Henry.” He stuck out his hand. “You must be the ex-boyfriend.”
“Ex-partner,” Dexter corrected. “We were pretty tight for a while.” He sidled up to Jack. “People thought we’d get married.”
Jack tamped down his frustration. The only person who’d thought they’d get married had been Dexter. Everyone had seen they were terrible as a romantic couple. “Dexter.”
“So, I see there was going to be a little dinner here.” Dexter turned the bowl of greens around. “Jack, you can cook better than this. You went to school to cook better than this.”
He’d also split from Dexter because he deserved better than this. Jack stepped between Dexter and Henry. God. What kind of impression was Henry getting now? Jack held up his hand. “Dexter, you said you wanted to stop by. You have.”
“I have.” Dexter nodded. “I wish I could stay longer, but I’m supposed to be seeing a friend over in Shelby. We’re heading to the clubs in Cleveland.” He smoothed the front of Henry’s button-down shirt. “You wouldn’t want to club with us? It’s better than boring salad.”
“He made ribs.” Henry smiled. “So, no. I’m more interested in barbecue, but thanks.”
“Ribs?” Dexter rolled his eyes. “Do you know he used to cook for me? He’d make fine cuisine.”
“Dexter, stop.” Jack met Henry’s confused stare. “It was just food.”
“Right.” Dexter sighed. “Do you know we bought this house together? We were going to get married and have a wonderful life together.” He propped his hand on his hip.
“But my life went in a different direction. The distance was too much and he spent way too long at that horrible hot dog shop. You’ll see.
You’ll end up lonely. When you do…come to the clubs in Cleveland. We’ll have some fun.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Henry said, his voice level. “Thanks.”
“Well, I need to go.” Dexter kissed Jack full on the lips. “See you later, lover.” He brushed past Henry and left the house.
Jack waited for Dexter to drive off before he faced Henry.
The embarrassment would eat him alive. He hadn’t thought Dexter would turn the visit into a damn pissing contest. Once Dexter had completely gone, Jack joined Henry in the kitchen.
Henry’s silence bothered him. What a way to spend the beginning of the date! Jesus. He expected Henry to leave, too.
Henry sat on one of the stools and toyed with the plastic on the salad bowl. “It’s funny, exes. They like to come back and show up at the wrong times. They can’t seem to just be your friend.”
“Oh, some can be friendly. I’ve had some.” Dexter was no longer on that list.
“I guess the people I’ve dated are nice enough and I might want to be friends with them, but I don’t really.
It’s too painful in some cases and too awkward in others.
Maybe I just don’t want to be friends because I don’t want to revisit that time.
” Henry shook his head. “I’ve got a couple exes that lived to inflict pain and start drama. I guess I’m tired of their crap.”
“That makes sense.” He checked the heat on the ribs.
“Let me pull these to rest, then we can talk.” He left Henry long enough to open the smoker and plate the ribs on the platter, then covered them in foil.
When he returned, Henry remained at the island.
Jack tightened the foil around the ribs.
“Did it happen to you? An ex who caused trouble?”
“It did.” Henry folded his hands. “Barney. He and I were great together until things weren’t great.
When they were, it was fun. When it wasn’t, we shouldn’t have been in the same room together.
Barney had stock in making people hurt. If you had a hang-up, say you didn’t like your hair being straight and wanted it curly, he’d make fun of you.
I’ve always been thin and can’t seem to put on much muscle.
He’d insult me by saying I wasn’t good enough and I needed to pump more iron.
Stupid stuff. We lived together when it was good, but then I started seeing through his crap and he moved out.
The thing is, when he left, he took all the furniture—even the stuff I had already.
” He shook his head. “He brought his new boyfriend around to show off when he realized I was at the same club they attended. He tried to call the magazine where I worked to get me fired. He claimed I’d done work for a rival magazine, but the one he’d named didn’t exist. The only reason he left me alone finally was that he got married. ”
“Terrible.” He’d thought he’d known some oddballs in his time, but Barney trumped his exes. “Why don’t we eat? We can sit out at the picnic table on the patio. It’s cool out there.”
“Sure. What are we having for drinks?” Henry left the stool.
“There’s beer in the fridge or water or whatever.” Jack carried the food out to the picnic table, then brought out the plates and silverware when Henry arrived with two bottles of beer. “Get what you want,” Jack said. “I’m starving, but you’re my guest.”
“Thanks.” Henry added a small section of ribs, then some salad and a dollop of potatoes to his plate. “It’s nice out here. I’ve got a back yard, but it butts up to another back yard and I can see into the other condos around me.”
He wondered where Henry lived, but didn’t bother to question him. “I’m just glad I have someone to share the evening with. Dig in.”
Henry ate in silence and hid his jealousy as best he could. Jack’s ex was handsome, even if he had acted like a dick. Henry felt so old compared to Dexter. Maybe he should’ve tried to dye away his grays before he came over. He should’ve done some extra workouts.