Page 4 of Red, White, and BearCat Blue

He laughed louder. “Okay, okay.”

I checked the speedo again, easing off the gas since I was approaching ninety. I looked into the rearview mirror. No flashing lights. We were all good.

“So, have you decided whether you’re going to trade up this trip, or just have your buddy fix her up?”

I shrugged. “All depends. If something catches me eye, maybe. If not, then no.” The billboards peppered the highway now that we were only fifty miles from Vegas. They promised everything from all-you-can-eat buffets for $12.99, to the loosest slots in Vegas. I promised myself I’d try and find that chicken-fried lobster place again, knowing Mickey would appreciate it. With Rex still recovering from his paralysis, we were all missing his weekly barbeques. I rarely brought anyone with me to Vegas, so treating a mate would be fun.

As if picking up on my thoughts, Mickey said, “So, Cachi and his mama moved in with Rex.”

I grinned. “I ‘eard. What do ya think of ‘im?”

“Cachi? I like him. He doesn’t take any shit from Rex.”

“Truth.”

Mickey chuckled. “I’m glad Rex finally pulled his head out of his ass and made up with him. That shit went on way too long.”

I grinned. “I knew ‘e was a goner at that first breakfast we ‘ad.”

“At Du-par’s? Yeah. I could tell too. He was blushing like a schoolgirl.”

I laughed. “Don’t let Rex ‘ear ya say that. ‘E’ll skin ya.”

“I’m just happy they’re happy. I wasn’t sure the Texan would ever find a man. He didn’t date much.”

“As far as I know, ‘e didn’t date at all after moving ‘ere from ‘Ouston.”

“Well, I think it’s kinda great that everyone seems to be settling down,” Mickey said.

When he didn’t go on, I shot him a quick glance before returning my attention to the road. “I notice ya don’t date much either, Mickey.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shift uncomfortably in his seat. “No, I-I guess I just haven’t found the right guy and it’s not like we have a hell of a lot of time to go out looking.”

“Nash, Patsy, and Rex are all on the same schedule we are, and they found their guys,” I argued.

Mickey threw up his hands. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m making excuses. I don’t know. Dating’s such a chore.”

I felt his eyes on me and chanced a look over. He was wearing an amused smirk. “What?”

“I don’t exactly see you burning up the clubs,” Mickey replied.

I shook my head and chuckled. “I ‘ate going to clubs. To be ‘onest, I’m kinda shocked Rex went out and found ‘imself a dancer at one. Even more surprised that Cachi turned out to be such a great bloke. I ‘onestly didn’t know Rex ‘ad it in ‘im to find the love of ‘is life.”

Mickey grunted. “It surprised me too. I would have never expected to find a guy like Cachi working in a club like Dance Hall Boys. I’ve been there a few times with Nash, and I gotta say, the experience left me less than impressed.”

I nodded, pondering that thought. “’Ow do ya meet guys, mate?”

In my peripheral vision, he squirmed uncomfortably, and I realized he had a habit of doing that. If I wasn’t driving I would’ve loved to stare at him just to make him fidget as we had this conversation.

“I-I don’t really meet a hell of a lot of guys,” he finally said. “I mean it’s not like I haven’t had any sex since coming to L.A., it’s just that I’ve never been a big fan of picking up strangers and taking them home.”

I chuckled. “Last time I checked—and unless you’re ‘aving sex with yourself—ya ‘ave to pick up a guy before ‘aving sex.” I felt his eyes on me again, so I shot him a look. His eyes were narrowed suspiciously. “What?”

“I don’t see you dating much either.”

“I don’t date. If I get the urge, I go out and find a guy to screw. I don’t date, never ‘ave.” The very thought of it made me queasy.

“You’re telling me you’ve never had a boyfriend? Is that what you’re saying, Mars?”