"HEY, ANDREW - How much for the Mandate collection?" Fran yelled.
"I dunno," I said, walking over to the Boy-toy pouring over it. "Make me an offer...."
"Twenty bucks," he crooned. He was cute, and I thought about it.
"What?!?" Fran exclaimed, winking at me. "Come on, this is vintage! Twenty-five!" Sold. And the Boy-toy pranced away with another piece of my past.
"Excuse me," said someone behind me. The voice was familiar. I turned around. The man standing before me was older than I remembered; but he was still handsome and fit. And his face was one I'd never forgotten.
"Mark Fitzgerald? Is that you?"
"Only if you're Andrew McKinley," he said, with a grin.
"Mark!" I impulsively gave him a body hug and a kiss which he returned with fervor! "I can't believe this!"
Greg cut in. "Ahem! Hi, I'm Greg. Andrew's single friend! Uh, want some cheese-holders? They're free!"
Annoyed, I waved Greg off and I turned back to Mark. "My God! How are you? What are you doing here??"
"Finally left Atlanta. I made partner at a law firm downtown."
"That's great! I haven't seen you in --- God knows -- not since...." I stopped myself short. Mark and Atlanta were a lifetime ago; but I'm not proud of the way I had acted then, and I felt a twinge of guilt.
I got lost in his eyes and recalled the first time we met -- we were on a courtyard lawn. I barely noticed Greg or Eric. Oh jeez, Eric!
"Hi honey..." He came up to us and I turned beet red -- not that there was anything for me to be guilty about!!
"Uh, Mark, this is my frien...uh lover, Eric. Eric, Mark. We swam together in college."
Eric's always so damn gracious. "Pleasure to meet you." They shook hands like grown ups. Why was I feeling like a child?
"Andy, let's get together, now that I know where you live."
"Oh, well, I'm actually moving.... in with Eric." On cue, Eric placed his hand on my waist and held me there.
Mark lifted his left eyebrow, the only clue he gave that he was surprised. "Congratulations. Ahem, I really should go then. Good to see you Andy. Call me. I'm in the book."
"We will," Eric said, before I could speak. I looked at him stupidly as Mark got into his car. As he drove away, Eric gave me a big kiss. "Miss me?" he asked, and walked over to Fran......
