Boyfriend for Rent by Jamie Lake Page A

back was facing McDermott as he walked away with a great big smile on his face.
     
    _________ o _________
     
    CHAPTER 18
     
    C asey thought he’d gotten the last word in and couldn’t hide the satisfaction on his face as he met up with Hunter outside. But still, there was a part of him that felt sick to his stomach. Seeing McDermott face-to-face had been harder than he thought it would be. He’d had no idea it was going to happen so soon. He’d thought he’d have a bit more warning, some time to plan what he was going to say, how he’d behave. If he were completely honest, he thought the first time he’d see McDermott again would be at their high school reunion.
    “What took you so long?” Hunter asked.
    “Sorry, he just wanted to talk.” Casey said.
    “About what?” Hunter asked, fidgeting with his pockets.
    “You know.” Casey helped lift the bags into the shopping cart as they wheeled their way out the door. He was getting nervous. He kind of hoped the little white lie about Hunter being his boyfriend would go unnoticed. “Just a bunch of bullshit.”
    “Figures,” Hunter said , opening the pickup door for him as they loaded the things in the back seat.
    Casey opened his mouth to speak when he heard the familiar voice again.
    “Casey!” It was McDermott jogging toward their pickup as they loaded their bags.
    “Oh, fuck. Now what?” Casey mumbled as Hunter glared in McDermott’s direction.
    “Hey, I was thinking...” McDermott started. Then he noticed Hunter. “Are you Casey’s boyfriend?”
    Casey’s heart stopped. Oh, shit.
    “What?” Hunter asked , confused, until Casey elbowed him in the rib quick enough for McDermott not to notice.
    “This is Hunter,” Casey said. “Hunter, this is Father Madison McDermott. The one I was telling you about.”
    “You know, Casey, you really should work on lowering that pitch, especially when you get nervous.” McDermott stuck out his hand.
    “Why should he do that?” Hunter asked. “I like the way he sounds.” Hunter took the priest’s hand and almost crushed it with a grip so hard, he could have broken all of the bones. “Father?” Hunter let his disdain seep into that single word.
    McDermott pulled away, flexing his hand to make sure it could still move through the pain. He’d flushed at Hunter’s subtle rebuke, but didn’t mention it. “Just call me McDermott. Pleased to meet you. How did you two meet? How long have you been going out?”
    “Um...when was it, baby?” Casey said, hoping Hunter would play along.
    He stared hard into Casey’s eyes. If looks could kill, Casey would have been struck dead right there. But, to Casey’s utter shock, Hunter answered, “A couple of months ago.”
    “Yeah, a couple of months ago,” Casey said. “Time goes by fast when you’re having fun. Listen, we’ve got to go.”
    Hunter grunted and glared at Casey. “See ya later, ‘kay?”
    “Love that little accent of yours?” McDermott said in a condescending manner, “Where are you from?”
    “Forest Hills,” Hunter said.
    “Pig farm country,” McDermott chuckled.
    Hunter scowled, but didn’t say a word. Instead, he walked to the driver’s door and climbed in the truck, slamming the door hard enough to make Casey wince.
    “Listen, McDermott, we’d love to chat , but we have to head back to the house,” Casey said.
    “The house?”
    “Yeah, we have a little country home out there, a ranch. Trees, animals, a few acres. It’s nice with the fresh air and things,” Casey said, rushing the rest of the bags into the back and closing the back door. The rusted hinge nearly fell off.
    “You didn’t hear anything about the high school reunion, did you?”
    “Yeah, it’s happening in a few weeks,” Casey answered. He didn’t add that he’d been telling McDermott about it the entire last month they’d been together, trying to convince him that it would be the perfect time and place to come out and show everyone that they were