Page 2 of Dreams and Reptiles

“I hope you come back, Francis.” He pressed one more kiss to my lips, then he joined the other firefighters running out of the park toward where they had parked the truck. A minute later, they were pulling on their gear, and the firewoman started the engine.

“I hope everything’s okay,” Derek said as he joined me. “You… Whoa. You okay, there, Loverboy?”

I’d pressed two fingers to my lips and had my other hand on my chest.

“Pinch me.”

He did. It hurt.

“Not that hard. And don’t give me that look, Mr. Fireboy Sandwich. Pretty sure one of them left a love bite, there.” I touched his neck and shook my head, but really I was cheering him on, and he knew it.

Derek grinned. “Fireboy Sandwich, dude. What is this life?”

I grinned back.

The two of us devolved into giggles and hugged each other. I squeezed him tight.

“Thank you for voluntelling me to come today. I had the best time.”

He squeezed me back and patted my shoulder. “Thank you. It was so much more fun with you here. Can we enter into a pact?”

He linked arms with me, and we started walking toward Pints and Pool and the room we’d rented upstairs.

“A pact?”

“Yeah. A pact. You promise not to hide anymore, and I promise to help make your dreams come true.”

I sucked in a deep breath. Was I ready?

I thought of that kiss, the cinnamon-and-sugar stubble that probably left my face red, and the sweet taste of frosting on his tongue. He must’ve had water in that cup because he didn’t taste like booze. Just sweet, sweet temptation.

“Let’s do it. Let’s dream a little dream.”

“Little,” Derek snorted. “Go big or go home, cousin.”

He was right. I needed to think big. Big arms and a big smile… But more importantly, it was time to take some big steps.

Foggy Basin, I hope you’re ready for Francis Liang.

CHAPTER

ONE

Francis

The morning after Foggy Basin’s first Pride, my cousin Derek and I woke up in our rented room above the bar Pints and Pool, and I had an epiphany.

“Cousin! Do you have to get back home at any particular time today?”

Derek frowned at me, his hair sticking up and his neck, indeed, sporting a new love bite, compliments of his firefighter dance partners.

“I don’t, no. Why?”

“Take me out to see that property.”

His eyebrows rose. “Are you serious?”

“I’m totally serious. I want you to start showing me some places. I have an idea, and you’re going to help me make it a reality.”