Cast Off by KC Burn

somewhere. The public trash can two streets over or the patch of shrubbery at the back of the house. Then he was going to have to disinfect that patch of floor and shower—again.
    Next week, he was fixing that window.
     
     
    R ICK ’ S finger hesitated over the doorbell. Then he shook himself. Ian shouldn’t have any power over him. He was already here earlier than he’d planned, but he wasn’t sure if that was because he was hoping to avoid Ian or to make sure he didn’t miss him. Or if the squirrel intrusion had just plain freaked him out.
    Fuck. This was a party and if nothing else, he was good at parties.
    Grabbing the handle, he swung open the door and waltzed right into Davy’s house.
    There were a few people milling about in the living room, but he didn’t know any of them. An odd disconcerting sensation bloomed in his stomach. Relief. It had to be relief.
    He strode directly for the kitchen, because that’s where Davy would be. Hell, Davy might even spend most of the party in the kitchen, futzing with appetizers and drink mixers. Slaving at their painting party two weeks ago had definitely made a difference. The kitchen, with its brand-new lemon tones, was sunny and welcoming, even though it was getting dark outside.
    “Darling, you look awesome.”
    Davy turned at his words and smiled. “Hey, Rick. I wasn’t expecting you this early. Guess you’ve got a hot prospect tonight, eh?”
    A frown wanted to form on Rick’s face, but he kept his pleasant smile pasted on. Did his friends really think of him that way? Davy had spent ten years in a hyper-isolated relationship with a closeted cop so terrified of coming out that he’d practically kept Davy under lock and key, the last few years of which included never seeing his friends. When the guy died, Davy had found them again, and they’d come together almost like they’d never been on hiatus. Rick had been so pleased Davy had not only found someone new but laid down the law about hiding—as in, he wasn’t going to do it. This housewarming was more a celebration of that than simply Kurt moving in. Did they think he was too shallow to understand that?
    “No, hon. Not at all. I simply didn’t want to miss a single crab puff.” Rick grabbed one off the carefully arranged plate Davy held and popped it in his mouth.
    Then again, if he kept saying things like that, no wonder everyone thought he was nothing more than a two-dimensional club boy.
    He took the plate from Davy and set it on the counter. “Listen, hon, I know I’m rarely serious. And I know I’ve never said this to you, but I’m so damn proud of you. As far as I’m concerned, this isn’t a housewarming, this is about strength. Your strength to stand up for yourself and get the relationship you want and deserve. Kurt’s strength in doing the right thing in coming out, even though he was scared. Even though he thought he’d already lost you.”
    Davy blinked at him, eyes suddenly shiny. Rick found he needed a few extra blinks himself to see past the unexpected blurring of his vision.
    “You’re right.” Davy threw his arms around Rick and they hugged. He didn’t have many friends and losing touch with Davy had left a pretty gaping hole in his life.
    Rick graciously ignored Davy’s sniff and quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before he let Davy go. “Probably I should have become a psychologist. Be easier to say stuff like this.”
    He’d certainly thought about it. But at the time he’d needed help, a speech-language pathologist—or more correctly, a student—had been the only one willing and able to help him. As a gesture of gratitude, he’d gone into the same line of work, although he was mature enough now to realize psychology might have been more useful. He did like helping people, though. Made the career choice worthwhile.
    Davy cocked his head and opened his mouth, but footsteps interrupted. Actually, Rick had been surprised it had been just the two of them in