Page 27 of There Once was a Dancer
“Is that another new car?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s that? The fourth this year?”
“Sixth.” We reached the car as he clicked open the locks. We got inside. It smelled brand new.
“Sixth? You’ve bought six new cars this year?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You’re an FBI agent on a government salary. So, unless you’re on the take, it’s just damned hard to understand how you do that.”
He frowned at me. “I buy them at the Vegas auction now we live so close to Sin City. Then, I sell them, make a bit of extra lolly. If you want to replace that shitbox you drive, you can come with me next time.”
I shook my head. “I love the Hornet, though maybe getting somethin’ better for the environment, might be good.” I looked at him and smiled slyly. “You know…you change cars like I change underwear.”
He snorted. “I ‘ave news for you, mate. If you only change underpants six times a year, I’m gobsmacked you get dates at all.”
I laughed. “Shut up.” He started the car as I fastened my seatbelt.
“So, tell me about ya date,” he said, driving out of the parking lot. “Didn’t know ya were seeing someone.”
I smiled, picturing Cachi’s sweet face in my mind. “It’s kinda new but this guy is really special, you know?”
“Not really, no. You know I’m the love ‘em and leave ‘em type of bloke. Can’t remember when I last met a guy I wanted to keep.” He gave his chin a bit of a stroke. “Oh, I know…never!”
I chuckled because that seemed to be a common thread throughout our team. With the captain, there were eight of us, all confirmed bachelors except for Nash and Patsy who’d found the loves of their lives. Nash had been living with Joshua for nine months. They were raising Joshua’s three siblings together. Patsy and Wes had met and fallen in love three months ago, moving in together after buying a house. None of the rest of us even really dated, and I would have counted myself, had I not been seriously crazy about Cachi.
“So, like I said, tell me about this fella,” he prodded.
“I met him at Dance Hall Boys and—”
“The gay club?” he asked in surprise.
I turned to look at him. His eyes were on the road as we drove. “Yeah. I was there Friday night, you know, just checkin’ the place out and I saw this go-go dancer and—” I stopped when he burst into laughter and started pounding on the steering wheel. I frowned, scrunching up my face in disgust. “Shut up! Cachi’s gorgeous.”
Mars laughed so hard, he sounded like he was about to go into convulsions. “Oh, my God, ya can’t be serious?” He glanced over at me and then sobered as he turned his attention back to the road. “Ya bloody are serious! Ya picked up a rent boy.”
“He’s not a rent boy,” I said. “He’s a dancer.”
“They’re all rent boys, mate.”
I shook my head. “Cachi isn’t. He lives with his mom. She gave me chile rellenos and—”
“What?” He turned to look at me, shock written all over his face.
“What, what?” I waved at the road. “Watch the fuckin’ road.” He looked away.
“You met ‘is mum?”
“Yeah.”
“And she cooked for you?”
“Yeah.”
“But ya only met him Friday night. When was this cooking going on…were you screwing him in the other room or…”
