Gambling On Maybe (2 page)

It wasn't until Stephen was merging back onto the freeway that he realized Zach had said, "See you later!" and not

"Goodbye."

Oh, boy.

13

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

Zach didn't pay much attention to the double takes and outright stares shot his way as he strode confidently up the steps to the 12th Precinct police station and through the doors. In one hand was a bright pink plastic container and in the other was his very favorite Balenciaga satchel in signature sea foam green. Okay, so not only was it his favorite, it was also his only. It'd cost him nearly two months rent, but oh so worth it.

Now, where to find his knight in not-so-shiny armor? He paused in front of the first desk he saw and gave the woman behind it a beaming smile. "I'm looking for Stephen Miranda?"

The only change in her expression was the subtle lift of one brow.

Undeterred, Zach shrugged, still smiling brightly. "That's okay. I'll find him myself!" He turned to traipse off.

The desk officer must have had visions of him twirling through the station leaving glitter in his wake and who would clean that up? Because she huffed a sigh and held up a hand.

"Hold on there, twinkledee. Second floor, ask for Sergeant Miranda at the desk."

Zach's eyes widened. "Oooh,
sergeant
is it? Thank you!"

He saw her roll her eyes as he hurried off, but he didn't see any point in letting other peoples' negative attitudes affect his own. So he waved cheerfully over his shoulder as he stepped onto the elevator.

It wasn't that Zach didn't know what people thought of him. It was that he didn't care. He didn't imagine they lost any sleep at night worrying what the silly little fag in the 14

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

fabulous Dolce scarf thought of them. Why be something he didn't like just to make people he didn't know comfortable?

Besides, who couldn't use more glittery goodness in their lives?

Speaking of someone in desperate need of some sparkleE

Zach spotted his Officer Hotness standing by a desk with his back to Zach and, ugh, his aura just spoke of not nearly enough shiny people sharing their happy with him. Well, that was about to change!

Zach had been thinking about Stevie, aka Officer Hotness, ever since he'd dropped him off and the poor guy had all but begged to be brought upstairs and let out of his sad little box.

Zach had almost done just that, but something had stopped him. If he knew anything, it was when to listen to his instinct, or the Universe, or whatever you wanted to call it. And last night his Universe had told him to wait.

Not a word he was good with.

But, nonetheless, he'd let Officer Hotness leave, looking for all the world like a stunned, disappointed, yet sort of ridiculously sexy puppy who'd just had a bone taken away from him. Zach stifled a giggle.
Bone.

He reached the desk, hopping up onto it and reaching out to tap him on the shoulder with one finger. "Officer, I'd like to report a crime."

Stevie turned, his green eyes widening in surprise. Zach beamed, tossing little waves of greeting to the other officers, who were all looking at him sort of like he might be a bomb that needed a squad or something.

"What are youE?"

15

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

Zach set his Balenciaga on the desk beside him and held up the pink container. "This is evidence." He urged Stevie to take it, nodding. "Be careful; it's delicious."

Heavy, black brows knit. The man had some serious frown wrinkles forming. "It'sEwhat?"

"Delicious!" Zach grinned and peeled off the cover, gesturing. "I hope I made enough for everyone."

Stevie glanced into the container, where two dozen gorgeous, perfectly made, obscenely fattening doughnuts sat in neat rows.

"You made these?
You
did?"

Zach laughed and shrugged one shoulder. "Okay, so maybe that was a little fib. I bought them, though. And the container's mine! Plus I made it all the way over here still in time for breakfast!"

"It's almost noon."

Zach took the container and set it on the desk. "Exactly!

Here, guys, help yourselves." He gave the box a little push in the direction of the other officers, who were eyeing it like it was a wee baby lamb in the midst of a ravenous wolf pack.

He turned back to Stevie and smiled. "Hi."

Instead of a smile and a "hi" in return, Stevie caught his wrist, tugged him down off the desk and began pulling him toward an office a few yards away. He frowned, glancing back over his shoulder. "ButEmy bagE" Stevie gave him an arch look, and Zach sent a sheepish one back. "Well, it
is
a room full of policemen, so I suppose it'll be fine."

16

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

The office door shut behind them, a little harder than necessary. Zach smiled and looked around. "Is this your office?"

"Yes. What are you doing here?"

Zach wandered over to the bookshelf, hoping to find some pictures in frames, a few fiction novels, something to tell him what kind of life his officer led outside work, but there was nothing personal. He spotted police manuals, awards for service and bravery, but nothing to give any clue about who Stevie was.

He glanced back over his shoulder. "I brought you doughnuts. With a 'gh' because the Dunkin' way is just bad grammar."

Stevie shook his head, like he was dizzy. If this were a cartoon, he'd have stars around his head or something. "Well, I mean I see that, butEwhy?"

Zach turned to face him. "You don't know why?"

Stevie shrugged. "Not really."

"Aww, that's so sad, Stevie. I brought them to say thank you and because I wanted to see you again." He plopped down in the chair, crossing his legs. "I like you." His smile was a little bit sly. "And I know you like me."

Stevie didn't try to deny it, but the way his gaze flicked to the window and the other officers outside it, told Zach that he was most definitely not out of the proverbial closet. He hadn't expected him to be. He stifled a twinge of pity. Stevie didn't need his pity. The poor man needed his help.

Not to mention his kisses. Lots of kisses.

17

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

"You can't be here. I'm sorry. It was very nice of you to think of me and all, butE"

Zach stood up, moving closer. He told himself not to be hurt by the way Stevie took a step back. Zach might never have been anywhere near the closet—he'd always been this gay, for reals—but he could sympathize with the fear that kept someone like Stevie there.

"It's okay, Stevie. Come over when you finish yourErounds? Beat? Well, whatever, when you get done. Mm-kay?"

Stevie frowned and shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Nonsense! It's one of my better ones. Trust me." Zach beamed and resisted the urge to kiss him. "You'll come by. Be hungry. I'll order something fabulous and pretend I cooked it." He laughed and tugged open the door, then strolled for the elevators on the opposite side.

He paused to grab his bag off the desk now occupied by a rotund, middle-aged man. "Thanks for watching it for me, gorgeous," he murmured with a wink. The man choked and his ears went red as Zach slid the bag over his arm and headed for the door with every eye in the room on him as he did.

Just the way he liked it.

It was around seven that night when he got a phone call from Officer Hotness—he didn't ask how Stevie had gotten his phone number since the man had major resources at his disposal—telling him he didn't get off until ten, and saying he understood if Zach wanted him to forget coming over.

18

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

As if! With his propensity for long, late nights and sleeping until noon, ten P.M. was pretty much normal dinnertime anyway. Which Zach cheerfully told his officer. He had a feeling Stevie had been equal parts disappointed he hadn't gotten out of it, and just as deep down glad he could still come over.

Stevie was a strange sort of animal, kind of skittish, primed to bolt at the first rustle in the bushes. Zach was going to have to approach him differently than he did his usual types.

All the sparkle and confidence, less of the slutty and trashy, he thought.

So, new approach in mind, he discarded the whorehouse version of a kimono he'd considered wearing—sort of
Big
Trouble In Little China
meets
To Wong Foo—
and instead settled on a pair of minty green workout shorts with "yum"

written across the butt in pink, and the matching hoodie, which was pink with minty green accents. He thought he looked like an adorable snow cone, and one could never go wrong with a descrip like that!

Bare feet and tousled brown hair looking vaguely like he'd just been
actually
working out and he was ready to knock Officer Hotness's uniform pants off. Or strip them off, whichever was easier in the end.

So when ten o'clock arrived with no knock at the door, Zach was a little disappointed, but told himself cops got busy and maybe there'd been an emergency. He waited, fretting as the delivery Italian he'd ordered started to get cold.

Eleven o'clockEstill no Stevie.

19

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

Eleven-thirtyEZach shut off the oven and put the food in the fridge.

MidnightEhe wasn't coming.

Zach plucked at the fringed edge of one of his sofa throw cushions, the vibrant grape satin gleaming in the faint lamplight. This was unexpected. Zach had been prepared for lots of things, but Stevie just plain not showing up wasn't one of them.

He considered calling him, then realized he only had his number at the station, and he doubted Stevie was still there.

He'd probably gone home, deciding he'd had enough of the strange little queer boy.

Zach sighed, reaching over to switch off the end table lamp. His super comfy futon got pulled flat into his bed and he opened the compartment underneath to pull out his fluffy comforter and pillows. This called for the big pity party guns.

He was going to sulk for the rest of the night, watch the two episodes of
Project Runway
he had on his DVR and maybe make himself an appletini or two while he watched. Then in the morning he'd forget all about the closeted cop, who probably wasn't thinking about him at all.

Zach settled down on his futon, sprawled on his tummy, wrapped up in his electric blue comforter, with an appletini on the end table beside him. He'd just reached for the remote when he heard something outside. Footsteps orElike shuffling feet or something.

He eased off the futon, comforter still wrapped around him, and slinked toward the door, listening. Sure, he'd told Stevie last night this was a safe neighborhood, but that didn't 20

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

mean people still didn't try to break into people's houses. He glanced around, wondering what he could use for a weapon in case it
was
a burglar, then jumped with a squeak at the light knock on his door.

A burglar who knocked?

Zach tiptoed over to the door and stretched up to peek through the peephole.

Oh!

He spun, heart racing. He was so not prepared for this anymore. The comforter got tossed onto the futon, no help for it since he didn't have time to hide it all away. He raked his hands through his hair, mussing it and wishing for a mirror. The worst part was he'd already changed out of his super-cute outfit and into his pajamas, which consisted of blue patterned satin brocade pajama pants and a plain white t-shirt with "OMGWTF?" across the chest.

Not his best look.

WellEmaybe Stevie would think it was cute. Casual. Real.

Oh, God, he hoped so.

Turning back to the door, Zach faked a yawn as he opened it, giving his best surprised, oh-my-goodness-what-is-this?"

gaze, blinking up at a very sheepish, still oh-so-very-adorably-sexy Stevie.

"Hey," he murmured, leaning against the door with a little smile. "What are you doing here?" Another fake yawn.
Why
no, Mr. Officer Hotness, I did not stay up waiting for you,
see? I totes went to bed, unconcerned about your no-show.

So there.

21

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

Stephen could tell right away Zach hadn't
actually
been asleep, or even close to it. He'd catalogued enough crime scenes to notice small details like the remote and the appletini on the end table, as well as the lack of sleepiness in Zach's eyes and not so much as a pillow crease on his cheeks.

Still, he felt bad and couldn't blame the guy for pretending he hadn't been awake when Stephen had almost stood him up. Did that make this a date? Oh, God, what was he even doing?

"I'd say I got held up at work, which is sort of true, but it'd mostly be a lie. I stayed late on purpose."

Zach's brows lifted and he smiled a bit. "I admire your honesty. Most guys would make excuses.
Not
that I get stood up often, just so you know."

Stephen shook his head. "No, I bet you don't. I'm a special breed of stupid, I know."

The almost smile became a full smile and damned if Zach didn't have beaming down to an art form. How did he even maintain such wattage?

"Well, since you're aware of your problem and all, I should be supportive, right? My Officer Hotness, recovering dumbass." Zach stepped back a bit and waved him inside. "Is there a twelve step program for that? Shall I learn the daily affirmations?"

Stephen chuckled as Zach shut the door behind him.

"You're quick, aren't you? Always with the perfect comeback, huh?"

Zach grinned, tilting his head with a slight shrug. "I try.

Want a drink?"

22

Gambling On Maybe

by Fae Sutherland

Stephen shook his head. "No, thanks, I don't drink."

Zach looked somewhat surprised, then shrugged and plopped down cross-legged on the futon. "Well, come, sit.