Robbie looked down at Ally, and Ally bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at the look on his face. "Dude? You never say dude dude. What the f.u.c.k has he done to you?" Robbie pointed over the car at Bennie.

Ally looked over the roof into Bennie's blue eyes and winked. "Nothing. Why? Do you think I should let him do something to me? Got any suggestions?" He grinned and flirted, and was blushing by the feel of his head, but he couldn't help it. Bennie brought out a side of himself he hadn't even realized he had, and it felt good to be this carefree. When he looked back at Robbie, Ally lost it. The shock running across Robbie's face was too much. He laughed, doubling over next to his car. "Dude!" he yelled.

Bennie started laughing too, and Robbie slammed his hand down on the top of the car and stalked off toward the restaurant. Ally could almost feel the fury pouring off the man. "Let's just go eat."

Bennie rounded the car to hug Ally. "That was awesome, man."

Ally held on to Bennie a bit longer, feeling just how pleased Bennie was under the thin material of the sarong. He closed his eyes and remembered the fantasy he had less than an hour ago. His body couldn't respond in kind just yet, but he was definitely planning ahead. After one more squeeze, he let go. "Well, I guess we'd better follow him in before he mows down a waitress or something."

"It would be great if he did." Bennie laughed. He stepped back, but Ally held his arm out, motioning for Bennie to go ahead of him.

He could feel his dimples popping out as he smiled widely, admiring the view of Bennie's a.s.s under the bright flowered fabric. Bennie glanced over his shoulder and caught Ally looking. He turned back to the front door, stood up straight, and swung his hips as he strutted like he was on the catwalk. Ally let out a loud laugh as he followed behind.

Robbie was already sweet-talking the hostess when Ally stepped up next to Bennie, b.u.mping against his hip. He leaned in and b.u.mped him again before following Robbie to the table. It was a big rounded booth. Ally sat down on the right side, but when Bennie moved to slide in on the other side, Robbie quickly sat and scooted around. Bennie shook his head and sat down across from Ally.

Robbie glared at Bennie. "Haven't you finished this a.s.signment a.s.signment yet?" yet?"

"I'm just hanging out with Wish." Bennie leaned back in the booth and stretched his arm along the top of the cushion. He turned to Ally and smiled. Ally grinned back at him. "Being a friend."

"He's got enough friends. He doesn't need your kind of services. Why don't you just leave already?"

Bennie looked from Ally to Robbie, then nodded and stood up and left.

Ally felt stupid, but his heart sank a little watching Bennie walk out the door. It was funny in a way. The man who was being paid to be with him seemed to be the most genuine person in his world.

"Thank G.o.d he took the hint already. What the f.u.c.k was he doing in your house, man? Why did you let him in?"

"He was returning my jacket."

Robbie snorted. "He was probably casing the joint. You know how those guys are."

"Those guys?"

"You know. Them. Them."

"No, I don't know what you mean. Care to enlighten me?"

"Hookers. He's probably selling his a.s.s to pay for a drug habit. Bet he's some kind of junkie."

"Robbie." Ally shook his head.

"Oh, f.u.c.k, Al. Please tell me you used, you know"-Robbie nodded and made a sweeping motion-"protection."

Ally could feel his face coloring. He looked down at the table.

"Oh, Ally. Please tell me you gloved up before f.u.c.king that a.s.shole."

Ally's mouth dropped open as he stared at Robbie.

"What? What'd I say?"

"You really are a jerk, you know?"

"What? All I said was...." Robbie trailed off and started laughing.

Ally waited for him to laugh himself out. "Are you done?"

Robbie stopped laughing and took a breath. "Look, I didn't want to say anything in front of him, but I think he was trying to steal from you."

Ally stared at Robbie. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I was going to buy you something, but the credit card was declined. He must have taken your number for some kind of shopping spree."

"I doubt he would do that, Robbie."

"You don't know these kinds of people, Ally. Trust me. He wouldn't be hooking if he had any other options."

Ally started to respond, but someone cleared their throat next to him. He looked up to find Bennie standing next to the table, smiling at him.

"Excuse me. My name is Benedict Arnold," he said, offering his hand. Ally took it. "I saw you walk in, and I just wanted to say I like your smile."

Ally stammered and blushed a little. "Uh, thank you?"

Bennie gestured to the seat he'd vacated. "May I?"

"Yes, please." Bennie gave him a short bow and sat. "Did you say Benedict Arnold?"

Bennie laughed. "Yes, unfortunately."

"I thought my parents were cruel with Aloysius Theodisius." Ally laughed.

"Well, you could say my parents weren't well educated. They saw Eggs Benedict on a menu somewhere and thought they were naming me after the breakfast guy." He laughed. They had since gone to night school, and now they both worked in offices. He still teased them about it sometimes, but he was really proud of his parents and wouldn't have traded them for anything.

"f.u.c.king figures," Robbie muttered.

Bennie ignored Robbie's rudeness. "So, Wish, can I call you Wish?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. Ally nodded. "What do you do, Wish?"

"What do you care?" Robbie asked.

"I'm curious." Bennie shrugged. "I want to know."

"Well, he's a writer," Robbie said, leaning back in his seat. "Not that you'd know anything about that."

"Why? You don't think I can read?"

"Well, I'm sure you can read some things, but Ally's books are probably a bit beyond your grade level."

"Really? I read this today," Bennie said, setting Ally's chapter on the table.

Ally blanched. He knew it was bad, and by the way Bennie was talking earlier, he suspected he was in for another story. One that ended with him being the b.u.t.t of more jokes. "And," he started, but it stuck in his throat. He coughed and tried again. "And? What did you think?"

"I thought it was brilliant."

"Oh," Ally said. He was afraid of that.

"Yes, it is. Ally's a fantastic writer. All his stuff is great."

"Are they all like this, Wish?"

"Ah, no." Ally knew the others were just as bad, but he didn't want to say anything to Bennie about it. And Robbie would just blow more smoke up his, well, something.

"Don't worry, Ally," Robbie said, leaning over to squeeze his shoulder. "This one will get published, for sure. Those stupid editors don't know anything."

Bennie looked between both men. A slow smile spread over his face. "I agree, Wish."

Ally started to respond, but a waitress interrupted them.

Chapter Ten.

"WE'LL have two margaritas, two shrimp c.o.c.ktails, and I'll have the veal. Ally, you should have a salad," Robbie ordered for Wish. have two margaritas, two shrimp c.o.c.ktails, and I'll have the veal. Ally, you should have a salad," Robbie ordered for Wish.

The waitress looked at Wish, her pen poised over her notepad. Bennie looked at Wish too, willing him to stand up for himself. Wish looked up at Bennie, and Bennie nodded. He sent out his most rea.s.suring vibe, working every bit of his acting abilities. The smile he got in return warmed his heart.

"You know what? Cancel the drink, and I'm actually allergic to sh.e.l.lfish. I'll have the buffalo chicken sandwich, with fries, and an iced tea." The waitress nodded.

Bennie smiled, one he didn't have to force. "That sounds great. Make it two."

"Be right up," she said as she turned to head toward the kitchen.

"And, Miss?" Wish called out. "Separate checks, please."

Bennie did a little dance inside as Robbie squirmed.

Their drinks arrived, and Bennie watched Robbie down half his drink. He shook his head and looked back at Wish. "As I was saying, I think your book should be published."

"Yeah, that's what I keep telling him." Robbie motioned toward Wish, splashing his drink. He licked the salt off the rim and swallowed most of it. Then he waved the gla.s.s at the waitress as she pa.s.sed. "You really need to finish it and submit it."

"So, what did you like best about it?" Wish asked.

"Everything, man," Robbie said between sips of the rest of his drink. "It grabbed me, man."

Wish nodded and turned toward Bennie. "And you?"

"It grabbed me too. I was laughing the whole time."

"Laughing?" Wish asked.

"Dude, what the f.u.c.k?" Robbie asked, setting his empty gla.s.s down a little too hard.

"Satire's hard to do. You pulled it off well." Wish blinked at Bennie, making him chuckle. "A lot of people won't get it, but those that do will love it. You definitely should keep it up."

"Satire?" Robbie asked. "You think he's some kind of comedian? He's a serious author. Besides, what do you know about satire?"

"I know my agent would love it. You should let me call her."

"Agent? Don't you mean pimp pimp?" Robbie asked, the disgust obvious in his voice.

Wish blushed a little as he looked at Bennie, his eyes full of hope, and not a little fear.

Bennie shook his head. "No, my agent. I'm a model, not a prost.i.tute. But thanks for thinking I could go pro at that."

"A model?" Wish asked. "But why did you let me...." He trailed off as their food arrived with drink refills.

"Because you thought the only way I'd want to spend time with you was if I was getting paid."

"Well, look at him." Robbie chuckled.

Bennie leaned back in the seat as Wish took his time finishing his bite. He kept his eyes on his sandwich, looking like he wished he could climb under it.

"I did look at him. I liked what I saw, and I want to get to know him better."

"Seriously? We have to hire men to be with him. No one would want to do it with him if they weren't getting paid."

"Well, I think you're wrong." Bennie stuck his leg out under the table and ran it along Wish's calf. Wish looked up, eyes damp, and offered a small smile. "I want to spend a lot of time with Wish. Up close and personal time." He winked at Wish.

"I'd like that," Wish said quietly.

"No offense, but why don't you just f.u.c.k off? Seriously, Ally has enough friends. He doesn't need a poseur like you hanging around just for what you think he can do for your career career."

"My career is going just fine, thank you."

"Yeah, but with his money, you won't have to do as much."

"True, I would be able to just siphon money off Wish, run up his credit cards, and just treat him like s.h.i.t." Bennie glared at Robbie. "I'm sure he needs more of that that in his life." in his life."

"Exactly. He doesn't need any moochers stealing from him." Robbie nodded as he set another empty gla.s.s down.

Wish set his sandwich down, wiped his hands, and leaned back. "I could certainly do with fewer moochers in my life."

"Right!" Robbie shouted. "Now tell him to f.u.c.k off."

Wish looked around the restaurant until he spotted the waitress on the other side of the room. Bennie's foot had crept up to his knee as he watched him from across the table. He looked at Robbie, who was rubbing the side of his gla.s.s.