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Nearly three years later, this story is finally done. I reserve the possibility of doing a series of one-shots in the future instead of an outright sequel. Thank you all for standing by.
That said, when he was stopped by Tracey in the parking lot after work and errands one particular Friday night, he had this suspicion doom was a-waiting before she even opened her mouth. Then it was difficult to get her to shut it once she started. “Okay so when Meredith got it in her head to fix you up with her son, she went through files to find out what year you were born, which led to finding out your whole birth date. She may have leaked that information to me and I may have leaked that to Hillary by innocently remarking that you and Peter have the same birthday. She may have realized last night that it would be a good idea to tell Wick, who thought it’d be a good idea to bring you into their dinner plans so it doesn’t appear that he doesn’t care about your birthday. Even though you should have been the one to tell him.”
He hadn’t had a need to use the death stare on anyone outside of work in a long time. Now was a good time to resurrect that. “First of all, the birthday in question is tomorrow, not today. Secondly, have I ever given any indication that I either enjoy gatherings or celebrating my birthday?”
Tracey held up her hands in surrender. “This is why I left it alone. In fact, Wick was surprised to discover that even perky little Lina thought this was a death mission.”
Jared shook his head but then asked, “So it’s you, them and Wick? Is that all?”
Tracey realized that though he was giving her grief, he was edging toward giving in because it was Wick’s idea, not hers. “Actually, I won’t be there long. I have a date with Enrico.”
“There’s an Enrico at Cartwright?”
“No. We met at an art museum six weeks ago.”
“Art museum? Are you certain he’s not gay or seeing someone else?”
“No, Hunter. He’s a security guard.”
“I guess that also answers the question about him having a criminal record.”
“Wow, your sweet talking has ensured that I’ll be waiting in your apartment for you to get ready instead of allowing you a chance to escape.”
“You were never going to allow me to escape.”
“True, because your reaction is still the best part of his idea.”
There was a time she’d be claiming this as her victory. Eventually, the gossips at work figured out that she knew a lot more than she’d let on and were less likely to let her in the loop anymore.
The truth was that Jared’s apartment was decorated as little as his office, although it looked a lot more pleasant. Or maybe it seemed that way because she had begun to understand the person he was. That he purposely misled nosy people for personal entertainment. That, with one exception that preferred staying in Ohio, he was difficult to rattle. That there were people that he cared about and she’d been one of them even when her intentions weren’t the best.
She spotted the cabinet and a familiar item caught her eye. When Tracey first started at Cartwright on the bottom rung, Jared had her current job. There’d already been a buzz about the possibility of Jared getting promoted to a supervisor position. She gave him this figurine of a bear huddled over a desk. It was something she found in a thrift shop and hoped to get a smile out of him.
Instead he never said a word about the gift, never showing any sign of even receiving it. That had bugged her more than if he’d been insulting.
She didn’t hear the door open or Jared walk toward her until he said, “You found out about the bear, I see.”
“Yeah. Why didn’t you say anything?” Tracey turned around, to see Jared had changed into a grey button-up and jeans. He had the presence to look embarrassed about the bear.
“I wasn’t sure whether you were mocking me or flirting.”
“Since you weren’t my supervisor at the time, probably both. Let’s go.”
Jared cringed upon seeing the paper hat on Peter’s head, then mustered up something close to a smile and said, “You too, Peter.”
“Man, when I found out we shared a birthday, I knew we had to take advantage.” Tracey pushed Jared inside before he could bail as Peter continued, “Hill is in the kitchen, finishing up on the meal. Normally I don’t let her near the kitchen because there have simply been too many unidentifiable dishes to count. My birthday is the one day she refuses to listen but at long as she sticks with baked ziti and salad, everyone should be safe.”
A female voice shouted from across the room, “I heard that.” Hillary walked into view, followed by Wick.
Peter turned around, a horrified look gracing his face. “You had him in there with you? I believe that means we’re still doomed.”
Wick replied defensively, “I was saving your ass, Farley, by making sure that was real baked ziti and not some version involving tofu or imitation meatballs.”
Tracey scrunched her face. “I don’t get why it matters. I’ve had some of those organic and vegetarian recipes and they’re usually good. Unless Hillary’s making it, of course.”
Wick shook his head, preparing for Jared to speak up. To his surprise, Jared wasn’t in the mood for a debate. “Vegetarianism in general doesn’t bother me. It’s considered a healthy lifestyle after all. Just don’t try to force me to get in touch with nature and save the animals by not eating meat. I have no patience for that.”
Peter grinned. “I can agree to keep that to a minimum as long as you don’t go into detail about how farmers slaughter those animals when they have no use for them.”
“Deal.”
In a rare quiet moment, Hillary turned to Jared and said, “I know that this was sprung on you at the last second. So as a token of our appreciation, I found something that might appeal to you.” She handed him a box that contained an unlabeled videotape and a folded-up piece of paper.
“Why would I be interested in a tape?” Jared asked before reading the card. He pretended it hadn’t said anything important, words Hillary specifically wrote on the paper. Seemed she wanted someone to think it was something other than the truth.
That was evident as soon as Wick blurted out, “What the hell are you trying to accomplish?”
Hillary planted on a fake smile as she drawled out, “Come on, hon. Jared is curious about your past and I’m providing some pleasurable proof.”
“No, you want to ruin everything and dredge up mistakes of mine. You love that. He doesn’t need to see this trash!”
“If Pete and I had to see it, then it’s only fair…”
Peter added, “Believe me, I did not want to see it but Hill enjoys watching. The tape is almost worn out.”
Wick turned to Peter and, eyes narrowed, snapped, “Doesn’t it bother you that she continues to watch this tape? That can’t be healthy for your marriage.”
Jared’s eyes went from Peter to Hillary to Wick. He was sure Wick wasn’t talking about the same tape he was holding. This was an innocuous home movie from Peter and Wick’s childhood. Based on the reactions, Peter just figured that out, Hillary knew but wanted to mislead and Wick was falling for the trick.
Peter stammered out, “Wick, it’s not…”
Hillary cut him off. “It’s not about that. Just interesting to have a comparison.”
“You sick bitch.” Wick shot up from his seat, ready to storm out. “I knew there had to be a catch when you agreed to have Jared join us. Why can’t you mind your own business instead of constantly making me the fool?”
There was a limit to the fun and games implied in Hillary’s note. The fury and the accompanying pained look on Wick’s face crossed the line. Joke over. Jared got up and headed over to Wick, nudging him to the other side of the living room. He asked softly, “What do you think she did?”
His anger deflated, Wick stared at the ground and furiously shook his head. “Jared, you will hate it…”
“Tell me.” Jared placed a comforting hand on Wick’s shoulder, this time in a murmur, “What do you think she did?”
“She gift-wrapped a homemade sex tape.”
“Of you and Carey?”
“Yeah. Carey was pissed off at me when she gave them that as a housewarming gift. Call it blackmail.”
“Wait. That’s what you thought it was?” Peter interjected. “I smashed that a long time ago!”
That got Wick’s eyes off the carpet, shooting a look at Peter before staring at Hillary to get confirmation. “What?”
Hillary appeared sheepish, reluctant to admit, “That is the truth. Pete and I did play it once, which you know about, but he destroyed it before it landed in the wrong hands.”
“You’ve been letting me think you’ve been enjoying it?!”
“After all, you said yourself I’m a sick bitch.” Hillary paused before adding with a naughty grin, “Though, as I recall, not as sick as Carey when it comes to sex.”
Peter informed Wick, “Jared’s gift was of when we did karaoke at the block party back in our teens.”
“I see,” Wick muttered, his eyes back on the carpet. He kept his voice steady as he said to Jared, “Even though she’s joking, the tape does exist. That stupid tape has gone around to just about everyone I know. Carey made copies. It encapsulates every screwed-up relationship I’ve had. To give you an idea, Carey and I got engaged a month after she distributed it.”
Jared tried to cut him off. “Don’t beat yourself up…”
Wick talked over Jared, ending with, “Then again, you’re a porn lover so maybe you wouldn’t have cared.”
“What?” Jared waited for Wick to try to take back the last line but that didn’t happen. In fact, Wick was staring right at him now, daring a response. While he was insulted, Jared refused to take the bait, asking calmly, “Do you seriously think I’d want to watch you with anyone else?”
Wick shook his head then shrugged, “I don’t know. You didn’t mind what the previous guys did. They cheated right in front of you sometimes.”
“There’s a difference. I wasn’t in love then. You already told me there were some less-than-stellar incidents with women in your past. This is one of the examples. It doesn’t really change what we have. Do you understand that?”
There was murmuring behind him, as Peter and Hillary tried not to interrupt. It was then that Jared realized what word had slipped in. Love. It was a four-letter word he had never directed toward anyone.
Wick was nodding to the question, acting not quite sure he’d heard the word either. “That is good to know.”
No, he didn’t want to pretend that hadn’t happened. There was no awkwardness that he normally associated with that word. “I wasn’t thinking but I do mean it, Randall. I love you. I’m saying it in front of your best friend and his gossipy wife which is proof that this is real.”
That earned a chuckle from at least one Farley and a wide smile from Wick. “Why do you call me that?”
“You seem to take what I say seriously when I do.”
“Agreed.” Wick put a hand on Jared’s neck and leaned up for a quick kiss. “I love you too.”
end
