By the Numbers Read Online Free PDF Page B

who was doing the massaging, body rubs turned into sex most of the time anyway.
    Nathaniel gave him a slow grin. "Noted."
    He was a little out of practice, but Trey could almost swear he was being hit on. And that wasn't a bad thing, really. It had been a while since he'd been out with a nice guy. He ate his food steadily for a few moment, thinking about that and puppies. "So," he mused, "when do you want me to come over and pick the puppy?"
    "Whenever you want." Nathaniel leaned forward, resting his arm on the table between them and leaning over it. He wasn't in Trey's space, but he was getting close, only the rapidly emptying plates between them. "I'm free most evenings. You can come over and play with them, see who you like best. You can come back with me after we eat, if you like."
    That idea had merit, for several reasons. Trey nodded and finished his beer, then pushed his own plate away. "Sure, let's do this. I have to work for the next two days, so might as well do it now." He wiped his mouth and threw some bills on the table.
    As he stood up, Nathaniel made his contribution to the bill and said, "Q will be delighted. If they're all done nursing, we can take them to the yard and let them run around a bit. That might actually be easier on me with you to help keep them from going in twenty different directions."
    Trey tried but failed to picture what seven dogs would look like all running around together. "This I've got to see." He made his way toward the door, fully aware that Nathaniel was only two steps behind him.
    "Hopefully you'll see it a lot. I could get used to having help with taking them all outside. I'm not even kidding a little." They made it outside and Nathaniel moved up next to him. "Hey, what's the Trey for? If that's not too personal."
    No one had ever asked him that before. "I'm the third son of a third son." Trey shrugged. "My parents were from the south, even though they moved here to California before I was born. It means three, obviously. It's kind of a southern tradition to give that nickname to the third generation, although they chose it as my given name instead. People don't usually question it."
    Nathaniel shrugged. "I'm Deuce to my family and anyone who met me before I was about twenty. Nothing fancy like being the third son of a third son, though -- I just have the same name as my father and he's 'Nate'. So I got 'Deuce'. I think it's better than 'Junior', overall."
    Trey stopped where he was. "They call you Deuce?"
    "Uh-huh. Most people I know well do. I use Nathaniel for work and for people I meet when I'm not with my family; since I grew up here and see them fairly often, it's kind of a toss-up which name I use."
    He could feel his lips tugging up in a smile. "So what do I call you? I have a buddy named Nate; if I slip up and call you that, it's nothing personal."
    "I'll shudder all over and feel all old and shit." Nathaniel winked at him. "It's up to you. I'm cool with either of them, though Deuce is a lot less formal. Nathaniel makes me feel like I'm at the office, sometimes."
    "Okay, so not Nate." Trey thought for a minute. "I guess we'll wait and see whatever comes out naturally, then. But that's kind of funny. Deuce and Trey. Two and three." It had kind of a nice ring to it.
    "We can name the puppy 'One' or 'Four', I suppose. I used to even know what order they came in, but they're all mixed up, now."
    Trey laughed. "I should let Lacey name it, if it's going to be hers. But I'll try and steer her in that direction. So, back to your place?"
    "Sounds good to me." Nathaniel gave him a sunny smile, all straight teeth and twinkling eyes. "Puppy madness ensues."
     

Five
     
    Deuce got home after noon on Thursday, Trey's second day off after Deuce'd been to visit at the fire station. He wasn't totally, one hundred percent sure that Trey was going to stop by to see the dogs again, but he hoped so, so he'd taken the afternoon to work from home.
    He let himself in and winced as the dogs