AUTHOR’S NOTE: Why is this chapter so short? Well, for several reasons.

The first: I wanted to introduce the radio show Derek and Romaine (or DNR, for us regular listeners). I love listening to that show. It’s on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. on channel 109. They are such a fantastic duo! (I also listen to The Frank DeCaro Show, featuring Doria Biddle, on the same channel from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but that show didn’t seem to fit into my story.)

The second: I wanted to let the readers know that, although it’s too early in the story for a lemon right now, I’m putting one up (in parts) on my Yahoo! Group at http:// groups . yahoo . com/group/EsquirellasRealm (don't forget to close the spaces when you copy this URL) for my members as a treat, so anyone who likes this story has a new incentive to join!

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Chapter 7

“I’m so glad I’m out of that office right now,” Patrick groused as he snapped open the menu. “Deanna has become impossible to deal with lately.”

Cameron smiled and scanned his own menu. He’d been nervous about lunch the whole walk over, but when he saw Patrick waiting for him, his fears seemed to dissipate into the air. The dark haired man smiled at him sweetly and Cam realized that no one was putting any pressure on him other than himself … and maybe John. Patrick didn’t seem to expect anything more from what they had right now, leaving the pace to work itself out on its own. So Cameron resolved to follow suit.

“Yeah, my friend is getting annoying, too.”

“Really?”

“Mmm … It’s weird. It’s like he can’t let a morning go by without stopping in and asking if I saw you in Starbucks on the way in.”

“You, too!” Patrick laughed. “I’ve started taking the stairs just so I can get into the office and turn on my computer before she spots me!”

Cameron joined in the laughter. The waiter came by then to take their orders. The restaurant was bustling with the lunch crowd and the noisy din made a nice New York City backdrop to their conversation.

“You know, I have half a mind to call Derek and Romaine tonight to ask them what I should do about my nosy best friend/boss!” Patrick quipped. When he noted Cameron’s confused expression he chuckled. “Derek and Romaine is a talk show on satellite radio,” he explained. “It’s on OUTQ, the gay channel.” He even used air quotes for a comical effect.

“Sirius?” Cameron asked.

“Yeah, and XM, since they merged.”

“I have that!” Cameron nodded. “There’s a gay channel?”

Patrick snickered, “Where’ve you been?” He leaned forward. “It’s the only good channel on there, I think.”

“Hey, don’t knock Howard!” Cameron teased in mock affront.

“You listen to him?”

“I used to,” Cameron shrugged. “On the way in on my Stiletto.”

“Ah, he does get repetitive.”

Cameron shrugged, taking a sip from his water glass. “So, tell me about this Derek and Roman.”

“Romaine,” Patrick laughed. “It’s her real name. It’s a hilarious show. You’d like it.”

“They would help you with Deanna?”

Patrick sat back as the waiter brought their sandwiches, and waited for the area to be clear again. He didn’t like trying to hold a conversation over the waiter’s arms as they were being served. When the server was gone, he resumed his conversation as he munched on a fry. “Every Thursday they have a segment called ‘What’s you gay problem?’”

“Seriously?” Cam chuckled. “And Deanna’s your gay problem.”

“And how!”

Cameron laughed as he picked up his sandwich. He liked that show already.