Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(57)

His hands slid along Alec’s arms until he threaded their fingers together. It was easier not to look at Alec when they spoke of something so generous and personal. “I can’t afford to buy you a car that you’d drive.”

Alec laughed at him, definitely not with him, which might have been the only thing to pull him from the trance the confession held him in.

“I’m not driving in the rain to spend the night with you. There’s a difference. That gift benefits me as much as it benefits you. Now, you could say you like it,” Alec encouraged, turning Keyes toward him and away from the truck.

“I do. It’s a lot to take in.” He did love the truck. His uncle was usually the only one who ever remembered his birthday. What seemed a bigger deal to Keyes, and sent his heart racing, was knowing Alec had taken time to think about him to help make this day special. That was huge.

“You’re welcome, and it’s very practical.” Alec’s excited grin helped settle his heart, even if he knew practical would have been covered with an older used vehicle.

The doorbell rang and everything about the teasing, casual Alec changed as he jumped around and started jogging through the house toward the front door. “Don’t go look at the truck until we go together!”

Keyes stayed at the backdoor, again turning toward his birthday present. He propped a shoulder against the doorframe, transfixed by the most spectacular vehicle he’d ever seen. Alec had given him the perfect truck for his birthday. His heart filled with warmth at the unbelievable generosity of his lover.





Count this as another first given to Alec by Mr. Keyes Dixon. Alec loved Halloween and he loved the little trick-or-treaters. It was late in the evening, full darkness had descended well over an hour ago, but the children dressed in their fancy little costumes lingered in the streets. So Alec stayed outside his gate, his empty candy bucket at his feet, and continued handing out his dollar bills. There wasn’t a single moment of the whole night he hadn’t loved. From his badass biker hyperventilating over his birthday present to every version of Marvel superhero and Disney princess imaginable to the hesitant little hands reaching for their treats, Alec sat, enthralled by the whole experience—even the poop emoji he’d seen. Why someone would dress their kid up as poop, he’d never understand, but to each his own, and the little guy had been adorably sweet.

Unfortunately, Key had been right all along. Even though his neighborhood was packed with children, and he’d done everything he could do to invite and entice them to celebrate Halloween by stopping at his house for a treat, the whole street seemed to avoid his home. After the first brave costume-clad youngsters came by, no one else had ventured his way. Alec had stood at the door with his lights all on and watched the sidewalks fill with children and their parents—all bypassing his home.

Alec had whined to Key for about ten minutes before the man had shoved Alec’s oversized bucket of candy into his chest and grabbed a patio chair. He escorted Alec to the end of the driveway, right past the gate, where the children and their parents had no choice but to interact with him. Then Key left, telling him to have fun, and boy, did he.

Tonight marked the exact day Alec had become fully domesticated. Blaine would die if he saw him now. On that thought, he grabbed his phone and took a quick selfie with his empty treat bucket at his feet. He sent the snapshot to Blaine. Alec scrolled through their old text messages and chuckled. Their message history was hilarious. Blaine sent him regular pictures of his pretentious parties, and Alec sent victory pictures of his empty Halloween treat bucket. As far as he was concerned, he was the clear winner in the race of life, beating Blaine hands down.

“Ready to come in?” Key asked from the gate. Alec glanced up and down the sidewalks lining the neighborhood. There were only a few stragglers left because it was a school night or so he’d been told over and over again by the excited little trick-or-treaters.

“Yep,” he said happily and reached for the empty bucket before getting to his feet.

“You have a good time?” Key asked, coming for his chair.

“I did. It was great fun. I wish you had joined me,” Alec said, letting Key take the chair as they walked side by side up the long driveway toward the back of the house.

“They wouldn’t have even stopped on the sidewalk if I was out there with you. I freak ’em out.”

Alec no longer doubted the truth of those words, so he didn’t argue. Instead, he let the magic of the night cement his future.

“I wanna move us to a place that better suits the both of us. A place that the neighbors don’t freak when they see you. Somewhere we’re both comfortable.” Alec side-eyed Key, trying to gauge his reaction, surprised when Key busted out with a hearty laugh.

“There’s no place you and I both fit. You’re the only person who doesn’t seem to understand that,” Key said, hooking an arm over Alec’s shoulder.

“You’re right. I do disagree.” And he did. Wholeheartedly. He saw their differences, but that was what made them stronger. Besides, he was just discovering himself. Who knew how different they truly were. Only time would show Key how right they were for each other. Alec wrapped his arm around his lover’s waist and snuggled in closer. They walked together in silence for three maybe four steps before Alec decided he might as well lay it all out. His decisions also affected Key, and he wanted to be the one to tell him. “I’ll be officially removing my nomination for the federal judge seat next week. I’ve already told my family.”