Dreams and Reptiles (Foggy Basin Season Three)

Prologue

Francis

Pride events are wonderful ways to celebrate community and let loose.

I never expected, however, that attending the inaugural Pride event in Foggy Basin, California, would be life-changing, or that it would be the catalyst that led me from a year of miserable hermitry into a very public role as patron of the arts in Small Town, America.

Nor did I imagine that it would bring my greatest love into my life.

When you leave your house, you never anticipate that you will return a changed man, but sometimes, you do.

My cousin Derek and I had worked a booth for his real estate company during the day, and when it was time to break down, we grabbed food from some of the other booths and watched the drag show.

I was beginning to worry I’d been slipped some sort of mind-altering substance because I was just so damned happy!

Everything tasted amazing, the DJ played my favorite songs, and even the weather was perfect.

I blew all the money in my wallet tipping the drag performers when they came through the crowd, and Derek even had me shouting my trademark affirmations.

“You are radiating confidence, girl!”

“You are beautiful inside and out!”

“Way to achieve your dreams!”

When I ran out of money, I turned to Derek to find him smiling at me.

“What?”

“My Francis is back.”

I rolled my eyes at him, but from the moment we’d climbed out of the car that morning, I’d felt energized, and everything that followed had been a total blast.

“Your Francis needs to dance.”

The entire park had devolved into a wildly enthusiastic dance party, and I wanted that energy.

I grabbed Derek by the hand and led him into the middle of the crowd.

I threw my hands in the air and waved them like I just didn’t care.

I danced with equal frenzy when the “Wobble” came on as I did when they played Sylvester, and when ABBA filled the evening sky, I thought my heart would burst with happiness.

Then one of my all-time favorites came on.

Derek and I screamed at each other when the trademark synthesizers filled the air, and Annie Lennox’s intoxicating voice ran across my skin, bringing goose bumps in its wake.

I was lost in my own singing and dancing world when I felt breath on the back of my neck.

I spun around to find the gorgeous smile I’d discovered earlier in the day.

Kendall the Firefighter was dressed as a civilian now, in a pair of tan cargo shorts, a loose white tank, and a pair of old checkerboard Vans.

He never would have caught my eye if I’d seen him anyplace else without meeting him first, but that smile, oh how it did things to me.

He had a red Solo cup in one hand, yet he managed to keep his rhythm without spilling a drop.

I couldn’t help myself. We’d had such a fun exchange in the booth earlier, and I’d had a blast watching him and his fire buddies take pictures with old ladies—more than a few tried to grope him, and he’d brushed them off with humor and grace—and play with all the kids.

He was an unrepentant flirt, and honestly?

I didn’t care. What better way to end this perfect day than to get a little freaky with a fire boy?

I moved in a little closer and kept singing.

He was singing too. He raised his arms, and I dipped down, patting myself on the back for all the barre workouts I’d been doing.

My grand plié game was en pointe. Then I turned and backed up nearly against him.

He didn’t move away. The hand that wasn’t holding the Solo cup rested on my hip, and we moved together.

I had a brief panic that this fire guy and I were about to be grinding on each other in the middle of a family-friendly circle, but no…

There were at least thirty other folks getting close, kissing, touching, and having the kind of fun that Pride brings out in you.

I even saw Derek providing the filling of a sandwich between two of the other firefighters, laughing as they took turns kissing his neck.

Go Derek. It’s your Pride Day.

The Eurythmics faded into the song “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House.

Kendall pulled me in close for a bona fide middle school slow dance, only he held me right up against his body.

Damn. He smelled sweet, like cinnamon and sugar.

I linked my arms around his neck and let him lead the dance, which involved a little fancy footwork even.

At one point, he put his Solo cup between his teeth, took me by the hands, spun me out, and into his body with my back against his chest. He removed the Solo cup, drained it, and then shoved it into one of his pockets without losing a beat.

“So tell me, Saucy Cousin,” he said close to my ear. “What do you think of our little town?”

“I might be a little bit in love with it.”

“That’s good.” The brush of his lips made me shudder. “Maybe I’ll get to see you again.”

I turned and linked my arms around his neck again.

“Yeah?” My heart pounded so hard in my chest I thought for sure he’d feel it, or maybe he’d just think it was the bass from the DJ. He was only two inches or so taller than me, but his arms felt like a fortress. I kinda liked it.

I should have asked before I acted, but I was floating on a happy cloud. Nothing to blame for lack of inhibitions other than finally being out of the house.

I leaned in and spoke against his lips. “Till next time then.” I kissed him with my full body, and the moan this man moaned… it was a mixture of surprise and lust, and it only took a moment before he grabbed hold of the back of my neck and pulled me flush against him.

I couldn’t tell if he noticed me flinch, because a second later, his phone buzzed in his shorts. He pulled away to look at it and muttered an apology.

“I can’t… Damn. I gotta go.”

My head was spinning as he shoved his phone back in his pocket. He took my face in his hands and ran his thumb over my lip.

“I hope you come back, Francis.” He pressed one more kiss to my lips, then he joined the other firefighters running out of the park toward where they had parked the truck. A minute later, they were pulling on their gear, and the firewoman started the engine.

“I hope everything’s okay,” Derek said as he joined me. “You… Whoa. You okay, there, Loverboy?”

I’d pressed two fingers to my lips and had my other hand on my chest.

“Pinch me.”

He did. It hurt.

“Not that hard. And don’t give me that look, Mr. Fireboy Sandwich. Pretty sure one of them left a love bite, there.” I touched his neck and shook my head, but really I was cheering him on, and he knew it.

Derek grinned. “Fireboy Sandwich, dude. What is this life?”

I grinned back.

The two of us devolved into giggles and hugged each other. I squeezed him tight.

“Thank you for voluntelling me to come today. I had the best time.”

He squeezed me back and patted my shoulder. “Thank you. It was so much more fun with you here. Can we enter into a pact?”

He linked arms with me, and we started walking toward Pints and Pool and the room we’d rented upstairs.

“A pact?”

“Yeah. A pact. You promise not to hide anymore, and I promise to help make your dreams come true.”

I sucked in a deep breath. Was I ready?

I thought of that kiss, the cinnamon-and-sugar stubble that probably left my face red, and the sweet taste of frosting on his tongue. He must’ve had water in that cup because he didn’t taste like booze. Just sweet, sweet temptation.

“Let’s do it. Let’s dream a little dream.”

“Little,” Derek snorted. “Go big or go home, cousin.”

He was right. I needed to think big. Big arms and a big smile… But more importantly, it was time to take some big steps.

Foggy Basin, I hope you’re ready for Francis Liang.