Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Chapter 10

The third steak landed on the grill with a sizzle. Smoke rose from the charcoal, dispersing westward, and splashes of juices hit Rivers' wrist. But he didn't move–the meat needed his utmost attention.

"Yo, Mason. How long before you feed us?"

Rivers turned around. Ben sat on a plastic garden chair, a basketball in his hands.

"You can't rush perfection." He clapped the thongs like a crab.

"You can help set up the table while you wait. That'll take your mind off food." Izy's ginger brow arched as she handed Ben a stack of plastic plates.

With a theatrical sigh, Ben stood. Squinting one eye for aim, he sent the ball to target into the basket at the far end of the manicured backyard. He winked at Izy, snatching the stack she was still holding out. "Unbeaten."

"Well done, sweetie." She smiled, patting his back. "Now give Dennis a hand."

Ben saluted her. "Yes, mam."

Dennis blew her a kiss as a checkered tablecloth flicked in the air landing on the converted ping-pong table.

With a headshake and a grin, Rivers returned to the grill, flipping the stakes. An even spread of heat was the key to perfect meat.

"Up two positions this week with Truly, Madly, Deeply is Savage Garden."

"Need help?" Leah's blue eyes smiled with her lips as she exited the sliding doors of Dennis' Bungalow, drying her hands on her Daisy Dukes.

"Nope. I've got everything under control."

She grabbed a Bud from the ice-filled cooler box near the barbecue and slumped on a plastic chair, resting her heels on the edge of the seat. Her platform flip-flops lost their battle to gravity and feel to the ground.

"Have you learned the song?" She cracked the beer open and sucked the foam from the hole with a loud noise.

"No, Lee. I've only started yesterday."

"I thought you were a musical genius." Leah spoke with her lips against the can, a taunting grin slowly forming.

Rivers fanned the coal, squinting as a new cloud of smoke rose from the grill. "You're welcome to learn it on your own."

Among Dennis' chatting, Savage Garden and a speeding car, the doorbell rang. Rivers' gaze flicked to the cream two-story. Izy was already on her way in.

"Nah..." Leah darted to her feet. "I like it better when you teach me." Her fingers walked up his bicep, leaving cool halos on his sweaty skin. She gazed up at him and her eyes filled with mischief that always threatened inappropriate words. "So..." A growing smirk completed the look. "Last night..."

It wasn't the time and much less the place to talk about any of that, yet a grin tugged at Rivers' lips. He glanced over his shoulder, where Dennis and Ben were losing a battle with burned out fairy lights, then back at Leah. "Last night."

Her teeth trapped the edge of the can, her suggestive gaze on him. "I thought you said never again..."

A loud sigh escaped him. "I'm so fucking weak, Lee. I can't say no to–"

"So someone got me flowers."

Rivers swung around to Izy's words. Samuel was following her into the garden, a giant bouquet of sunflowers in her hand.

Dennis scoffed. "Thanks, man. That just made the rest of my night a living hell." His face and tone remained playful.

"Hey, I come in peace. I got you beer." Samuel lifted the six-pack of Pabst that hung from his hand where the thick veins on the back ran up along the forearm, disappearing at the tense bicep.