Taste. Part 29

"What's wrong?"

"Mommy and t.i.to t.i.to A are going to get married, and A are going to get married, and he'th he'th going to be my daddy. I don't want him to be my daddy, going to be my daddy. I don't want him to be my daddy, t.i.to t.i.to G." Luca was breathless, stumbling over his words and whining pitifully. "Can't you marry my mommy, G." Luca was breathless, stumbling over his words and whining pitifully. "Can't you marry my mommy, pleath pleath?"

Oh G.o.d. "I don't love your mommy that way, Luca."

"But you love me, right?"

"Yes, very much. Where are you?"

"In the garage with Bianca."

"Why is she in the garage?"

"t.i.to A A thed thed her litter box her litter box wath wath yucky." yucky."

The f.u.c.ker! "Haven't you been cleaning it every day?"

"Yeth."

"Then I don't understand why it smells."

Luca started to cry. "He'th not not nith nith like you or like you or t.i.to t.i.to Lil." Lil."

No, he's not, Grier admitted to himself. Ali was always so fastidious, almost neurotic about cleanliness and order. He could easily picture his brother losing it over a kitten, or a child's mess, for that matter. What the h.e.l.l was Jillian thinking? Didn't she see what was going on, or was she so intent on marrying a Dilorio she'd overlooked the obvious? Ali was the ultimate metros.e.xual and clearly not stepfather material, not now or evermore. Grier admitted to himself. Ali was always so fastidious, almost neurotic about cleanliness and order. He could easily picture his brother losing it over a kitten, or a child's mess, for that matter. What the h.e.l.l was Jillian thinking? Didn't she see what was going on, or was she so intent on marrying a Dilorio she'd overlooked the obvious? Ali was the ultimate metros.e.xual and clearly not stepfather material, not now or evermore.

"Luca, you need to stop crying. I'll be home soon, and I'll talk to your mommy about Bianca. I'll fix this."

"Before he'th he'th my daddy?" my daddy?"

"Way before."

"Before That.u.r.day That.u.r.day?"

"Why?"

"We're going to the church on that day."

What the h.e.l.l? "Listen, buddy. I need to hang up now, but I want you to call me again tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you, Luca."

"Me too," he sniffled. "Much."

Grier disconnected and tossed the phone over the side of the bed. "Motherf.u.c.ker!"

"What's wrong?" Lil said. "Is there a problem?"

"My f.u.c.king brother is being a d.i.c.k about the kitten."

"How?"

Grier recounted Luca's story while Lil listened sympathetically. "He's a p.r.i.c.k, and poor Luca doesn't know how to deal with him," Grier concluded.

"Why doesn't he tell Jillian?"

"I have no idea. Maybe she agrees with Ali."

"Poor kid."

Lil sat up and pulled Grier into his arms. "Speaking of cats...."

"You forgot yours," Grier finished the sentence.

"Uh-huh."

"Hopefully, he'll understand."

"I was a little preoccupied," Lil rationalized.

They kissed and when they pulled apart, Grier asked, "Can I put you in my duffel and bring you back to Illinois?"

"Would you if you could?"

"h.e.l.l yes."

"Seriously?"

"I've obviously failed to show you how much I care."

"It'd be nice to hear it."

"I do care, Lil. Very, very much."

"Good to know," Lil said breezily.

"Are you p.i.s.sed?"

"Not at all." Lil didn't give Grier any time to react to his curt reply. He headed for the bathroom, relieved himself, flushed, and stepped into the shower stall, turning on the hot water full blast. He knew he was being touchy, but he couldn't help himself. It had been years since he'd openly voiced his love for anyone, and he was more than ready to make the leap into a committed relations.h.i.+p, yet the stubborn man in his bed was not. Or if he was, he didn't know itjust as bad.

GRIER'S eyes remained fixed on the bathroom door, trying to understand what just happened. Lil looked hurt, no matter how he tried to brush him off, and he had a feeling it was his fault. Why? He had no clue, and right now, his brain was filled with thoughts of his son and nothing else. He dialed his father's number. eyes remained fixed on the bathroom door, trying to understand what just happened. Lil looked hurt, no matter how he tried to brush him off, and he had a feeling it was his fault. Why? He had no clue, and right now, his brain was filled with thoughts of his son and nothing else. He dialed his father's number.

"Dilorio," Santino yelled into the receiver.

"Dad."

"Hey, what's up?"

"Has there been any change in plans for this stupid wedding?"

"They've moved up the date."

"Are they crazy?"

"Why are you being so s.h.i.+tty about this?"

Grier sighed so loudly he was sure Santino could smell his breath all the way in Elk Grove. "We need to talk, Dad."

"You've already said that. Let's talk now."

"This is not something I can discuss over the phone."

"Then we'll do it when you get back."

"I need to stop the wedding."

"Why would you want to do that?"

"It's a mistake."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I know something which might affect the way Ali feels about her."

"Grier, you're making no sense."

"I know. Will you pick me up at the airport on Friday? I'm going to try and catch an earlier flight."

"Whatever you want."

"Do we know any retired judges?"

"Bob Sterling down the street."

"I didn't know he was a judge."

"What the h.e.l.l is going on, son?"

"I'll explain on Friday."

"You'd better make it good because right now you're the one who sounds a little crazy."

"Sorry, Dad."

"Call me when you land."

"Yes, sir."

Grier's next call was to American Airlines. After getting all the information he needed, he threw the phone on the mattress and headed for the bathroom. It was so hot and steamy it felt like a sauna. "You trying to cook yourself?" he asked when he stepped into the shower stall.

"Hey." Lil smiled, apparently recovered from his sulk. "Let me do your hair?"

"Sure."

"Is everything okay?"

"No. I need to change my flight."

Chapter 29.

"WHY are you changing plans?" are you changing plans?"

"Things are f.u.c.ked up at home."

"I see." Lil's reply was like a blast of cold air in the warm enclosure.

"Listen." Grier held Lil's arms and drew him close. Shampoo ran down his face, but the risk of it getting in his eyes was obviously trumped by his need to explain. "I have to take care of this before anything can move forward."

"You're preaching to the choir, love."

"What the h.e.l.l does that mean?"

"I know what's important to you."

"You are." are."

"Am I? Is this thing we have as important to you as it is to me?"

Grier silenced him with a fierce kiss, cutting off his breath. Lil could tell there was a desperate quality behind the aggressive move as Grier's tongue sought entry, sweeping through every crevice and possessing him thoroughly. The feel of the day old scruff tickling his mouth, and the stiff c.o.c.k rubbing against his own swollen shaft added a certain element to the encounter, which made Lil weak with l.u.s.t. The need for this enigmatic man was so powerful it knocked away his negative thoughts.

"You're the most important person in my life, next to Luca." Grier said, practically incinerating him with his fiery expression. "Hear me?"

"Yes," Lil breathed. "Grier?"

"What, Lil?"

"Nothing," Lil sighed and gave himself over to his feelings. f.u.c.k the words. Actions spoke louder, and he could certainly feel feel how much Grier cared. The "I love you" would come in due time, and when it did, it would be that much sweeter because he hadn't begged for it. how much Grier cared. The "I love you" would come in due time, and when it did, it would be that much sweeter because he hadn't begged for it.