Bad to Be Worthy (Bad to Be Good #2) - Andrew Grey Page 0,2

Mom,” Terrance said. “So don’t fucking blame me for it.”

“I’m not. But getting your ego in a twist because I think Richard could help isn’t doing any good either.” God, he needed to fucking punch something or someone. Either that or he needed to get laid, bad.

“Fine. Tell him about it when you see him if you want.” Terrance drained his beer and picked up another one. “He’s working tonight anyway.” Terrance was about to open the beer when Gerome grabbed it. “What?”

“Come on. We’re going to get something to eat and talk to him. Sitting around here isn’t doing either of us any good, and if you drink all that beer, you’ll be sick and maudlin as hell.” When had their lives become this boring?

“Fine,” Terrance grumped and got to his feet. “Let’s go.” He was already heading for the door. “Where are you going to hide that?” He pointed to the bundle.

Gerome picked it up and took it over to his apartment. He put it in a couple of bags and stashed it in the bedroom behind some boxes in his closet. It should be safe enough there until they figured shit out. He locked the apartment door behind him, and then they got in the car, with Gerome driving, and headed to the restaurant and bar where Richard worked.

“Oh hell,” Terrance groaned as they got out of the car. “It’s Wednesday.”

Gerome smiled and shook his head as they went inside. Coby, Richard’s partner’s son, hurried out of a booth and right up to Terrance as soon as they walked inside. “I’m having fishies,” he told him and waited to be lifted into the huge man’s arms. Coby pretty much had Terrance wrapped around his little finger. Hell, Gerome loved the little guy too. Sometimes it was hard to understand or believe just how much their friend’s life had changed in the past year.

Richard was the most settled of all of them. He had a husband now, and they were raising Coby together. Gerome would never have thought that any of the three of them would settle down like that, but the proof of how wrong he could be was right in front of him.

“This is a surprise,” Richard said as he came over from behind the bar. He paused, looking at both of them for a second before turning away. “Coby, why don’t you finish your dinner? I brought you some Sprite.”

Coby climbed back into his seat across from Daniel, who watched both of them warily. “What’s up?”

“We have a little situation,” Terrance said, and Gerome rolled his eyes. “We need to talk.”

Richard nodded. “I’ll stop by your place when I get off shift.” Richard sat next to Daniel for a break.

“Come on and join us,” Daniel offered, and Gerome and Terrance slid into the booth. Coby made sure he sat next to Terrance, which Gerome always thought was so cute. Coby was four now, almost five, and he wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the fact that Terrance was six three and built like a linebacker.

“Want some fishies?” Coby asked and gave Terrance a piece. Coby was adorable, and Richard looked at Daniel as though he were the center of the world. It would have been enough to make Gerome sick if it wasn’t for the fact that he was so jealous, he could spit quarters. Not that he’d tell either of them that.

“I have to go back to work,” Richard said a little while later as he squeezed Daniel before slipping out of the booth. “You be good for Daddy, and I’ll see you in the morning.” Richard leaned over Gerome to give Coby a kiss on the forehead before heading off to the other side of the restaurant, taking his place behind the bar.

“Mr. Gerome, why are you grumpy?” Coby asked before shoving a french fry into his mouth.

“I’m not.” Gerome made an effort to smile.

Terrance snorted. “You’ve been as prickly as a cactus for months.” He motioned Andi over. She was her usual bubbly self and took their orders before hurrying away. Gerome noticed that she didn’t stick around, though she spent plenty of time talking to everyone else.

“Just admit it, you’re grumpy,” Terrance pressed. “Own your grump. That’s what I say.”

Gerome leaned over Coby. “And I say, go….” His anger built, and a steady stream of obscenities flashed through his head. But he couldn’t say any of them in front of Coby, which only made him angrier. “Oh hell.” He stood and