Finding Love in Atlanta Read online

  Sebastian nodded. He had been mugged once before in New York. He was there on a consulting job. He had given the guy his wallet, and that was the end of it. Sebastian had canceled his credit cards, and he only had a hundred dollars in cash on him. The police caught the mugger. He could always get other credit cards and more money, but he couldn’t get another life. “If that’s the case, I owe you two dinners then.”

  “Can I take a raincheck? I’m exhausted. This has been one hell of an evening.”

  “Yeah, I’m tired myself. How about tomorrow night? Dinner on me.”

  Dominic pondered the invitation. “How about we have dinner at my place instead? I can cook, and we won’t have to deal with a noisy restaurant on a Saturday night.”

  Sebastian wasn’t opposed to the idea of being alone with Dominic in a comfortable setting, but he felt like he owed him for saving his life. “All right, but I insist on buying the food and helping you cook.”

  “You know how to cook?” Dominic asked with a hint of surprise.

  “Yeah,” Sebastian replied and then smirked. “White people know how to cook.”

  Dominic chuckled. “All right, I’ll text you with directions to my house. I live in a gated community, so I’ll let the guard know to expect you.”

  Chapter 4

  It was Saturday, five p.m., when Sebastian parked his rental car in front of Dominic’s garage. The place looked beautiful on the outside. It was a three-story, brown brick townhome.

  Sebastian got out of the car. He pulled the groceries out of the trunk and headed up the walkway. It was early December, so the air was crisp with a chilliness that invaded his skin. He rang the doorbell.

  It took a few moments for Dominic to answer. “Hey,” he greeted with a smile. Dominic had nice teeth. His mustache was trimmed, and there wasn’t any new growth on his bald head. His mocha skin had no blemishes. “Let me take one of those.”

  Sebastian gave him one of the recyclable grocery bags.

  Dominic stepped aside to let Sebastian cross the threshold.

  The small foyer had wood floors. The rest of the downstairs had wall-to-wall carpeting. There was a small sitting room to the right with a fireplace, but there was no furniture in it.

  “The kitchen is on the second floor,” Dominic said.

  Sebastian followed Dominic up the stairs. He admired his nice, round ass that was covered with black slacks.

  The second floor was an open floor plan, and it was fully furnished. A big screen TV hung on the wall in the living room. The black leather furniture looked brand new. The coffee table and end tables were glass. African art decorated the light blue walls. A small fire burned in the gas fireplace. The dining room table seated four, and the kitchen had stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, and hardwood floors.

  “Nice place,” Sebastian said as they walked into the kitchen.

  “Thanks.”

  They sat the grocery bags on the counter.

  “How long have you owned it?”

  “I rent it, and I’ve been in this place for almost two years,” Dominic answered as they unpacked the grocery bags. He pulled out a bag of shrimp.

  “I hope you like shrimp. I thought it would go well with the steak.”

  “I love seafood.”

  “I can fix the meat if you want to chop the veggies for the salad. Is that okay?” Sebastian asked.

  “Yeah.”

  They made small talk as they prepared dinner. Dominic had set the table. It had a black-and-white stripped tablecloth on it. They sat down to eat. Dominic complimented him on the steak. After dinner, Dominic and Sebastian sat down on the couch to relax.

  “So, how are you liking Atlanta? With the exception of the almost mugging last night,” Dominic asked.

  Sebastian had to be honest. “It’s okay, but it’s a little too cold for me. That’s why I live in San Francisco.”

  “Yes, I’ve been thinking about a move myself.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, Atlanta is so full of drama, and it does get cold in the winter. I’ve been living here since I was thirteen, and I’m almost forty. It’s time for a change.”

  “I always have an eye out for new associates,” Sebastian said.

  Dominic’s dark eyebrows went up. “We’ve only been working together for a week, and you are offering me a job?”

  Sebastian shrugged. “I usually have a good sense about people if I spend enough time with them. With that being said, how long have you been out the closet?” When he first met Dominic, he wasn’t sure if he was gay, but seeing him at the gym yesterday confirmed it. Sebastian caught Dominic checking out a guy’s ass as he walked by the treadmill Dominic was on.

  Dominic burst out laughing. “Yes, I see that. I’ve known I was gay since I was fourteen. Luckily, my mother was fine with it. Still is.”

  “Does your mom live in Atlanta?”

  “Yeah. She’s the reason I’ve stayed in Atlanta up until now. She’s old, so I like to be close by, but I make enough money now that I can fly here to see her.”

  “Good. What about your father?”

  “I don’t know if he’s alive or dead. I haven’t seen him since I was a teenager. He was an evil bastard. My mother finally found the strength to leave him when she caught him trying to molest my eldest sister.”

  “Jesus,” Sebastian mumbled. I thought my family was fucked up.

  “Yeah. Mom literally chased him out of the house with a butcher knife. I haven’t seen him since. She filed for divorce, and he never showed back up to contest it. She had to put an ad in the paper announcing it since she didn’t know where he was.”

  “What about your sister?”

  “She died seven years ago of a drug overdose.”

  “Wow, I’m sorry,” Sebastian expressed with sympathy.

  “Thanks. I have another sister. She lives in Las Vegas. Marjorie is a vice president of a hotel and casino there.”

  “Sounds like she’s doing well. Are you two close?”

  “Kind of. We talk on the phone once a month, and she comes to visit on holidays – when she can. Vegas never sleeps, you know. She’s a busy woman.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “So, what about your family tree?”

  Sebastian gave him a crooked smirk. “Well, at least you have a family to speak of. My father kicked me out of the house when I was seventeen.”

  Dominic’s head rocked back. “Why?”

  Sebastian chuckled. “He and my mother caught me in bed with two guys I went to school with.”

  Dominic’s eyes grew wide. “I see . . . so you’re gay, too?”

  Sebastian shrugged. “Well, sort of. I like men and women.”

  “Oh, you’re bisexual,” he concluded with understanding.

  Sebastian turned his nose up at the label. “Yeah, but I don’t like the term. I mean, I know that’s the term used, but I hate it. It makes me sound like something that’s not human.”

  Dominic chuckled. “Well, what term do you like?”

  Sebastian thought for a moment. “An equal opportunity sexual partner.”

  They both laughed. After their laughter subsided, Dominic spoke. “Did you ever see your parents again?”

  “Yeah, when I was twenty-five. I went back to Seattle for a day or two. They were living in the same house. Anyway, I waited in my dilapidated Ford for my father to leave for work, and I knocked on the door. My mother was surprised to see me. She invited me in. We chatted for a few minutes. She told me Sam, my younger brother, was off at college. Then she asked me if I still had sinful tendencies.”

  “Is that how she put it?”

  “Yep. You see, my father was a respected businessman and a preacher.”

  “Oooh,” Dominic groaned with realization.

  Sebastian nodded. “My mother is the daughter of a preacher, too. So, yes, that’s how she put it.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “I told her that I can’t deny who I am. She didn’t
take it well. She begged me to stay and to tell Father that I have renounced my Babylonian lifestyle. I told her I couldn’t do that. Then I kissed her goodbye and left. I haven’t seen her since.”

  “Hmm. Since your parents kicked you out at such a young age, how did you take care of yourself?”

  “I got a job at a fast food place. It was in a small town in Washington. I became a shift supervisor after a year working there. I was surprised when my manager offered me the position. He had said that I was the only one who had enough common sense to do the job. I took it because it gave me more hours.”

  “Where did you live during that time?”

  “The first three weeks, I was homeless. I slept in alleys and abandoned homes and buildings when it rained. I had to wash my ass in public restrooms. When I got the food job, I was able to save enough money to get an apartment. It was in a bad neighborhood, but no one tried to rob me because it was obvious that I was just as broke as everyone else who lived there. It was a hard time for me, but it opened the door for me to discover my natural talent.”

  “Which is?”

  Sebastian grinned. “Computers. When I became shift supervisor, I had to enter information into the computer. When business was slow, I messed around on the computer, and I figured out how the software and operating system worked. Then the franchise wanted me to take some classes. They wanted me to get my diploma and take a few college classes. They offered to pay for them, so I did. I got my GED and then I took classes in mathematics, business, and computer programming. I didn’t get my bachelors, but I didn’t need it.”

  “So, that’s how you started Cole-Tech,” Dominic stated.

  “Not without some serious bumps along the way.”

  “Like what?”

  Sebastian didn’t usually go through his whole history unless he was giving a motivational speech, but he felt comfortable with Dominic. “After working at the fast food restaurant for three years, I got a job at Microsoft.”

  “Wow. Did you get to meet Bill Gates?”

  “Yeah. I didn’t work directly with him, but he did make the rounds to the departments. Nice guy.”

  “So, how long did you work at Microsoft?”

  “About three years, until I got busted.”

  “Busted?” Dominic asked with shock.

  Sebastian chuckled. “Yeah. I started doing a little something on the side for extra cash. Hacking.”

  “Oooh.”

  “What was so bad about that particular case was that I didn’t get paid for it. My curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to see if I could hack the government’s computer system. Long story short, they figured out it was me and came for me. I didn’t plant a virus or steal information, I just looked around. So, they offered me a job at the CIA as a computer software engineer. I worked there until I was about thirty-two years old. I left to start Cole-Tech.”

  “I have to say I’m impressed,” Dominic said. “You’re really smart.”

  He smirked. “Well, yeah, but I try not to brag . . . much.”

  They both chuckled.

  “So how did you get into computer programing and security?” Sebastian asked.

  “I was a B student in high school and also played football. I got an athletic scholarship to college, and I got my bachelors in computer programming, but I couldn’t get a job in my field. After a few years of floundering in the job market, I went back to college and got my Master’s. A few months after I graduated, I was offered a part-time professor’s job. I did that as I tried to start and grow my own business. That’s how I became the independent contractor you know me as today,” he said with a soft smile.

  “Nice.” Sebastian decided to ask what kept skipping in the back of his mind . . . and pants. “Are you seeing anybody?”

  Dominic slouched on the couch. “No. I was in a relationship for five years, but that ended almost two years ago. Since then, I have dated here and there, but nothing substantial.”

  Sebastian sat up with interest. He decided to just go for it. He hadn’t gotten as far as he had in life by being meek or beating around the bush. “So . . . what about me?”

  “What about you, what?”

  The corner of his mouth kicked up. “I mean that you’re an attractive guy.”

  Dominic looked down at his lap for a moment. “I think you’re a great guy, but I don’t think we should get involved with each other since we’re working together. Plus, and no offense, you don’t seem like the monogamous type.”

  “I’m not,” Sebastian admitted. “But I’m honest about it.”

  “And I appreciate that. I’ve done the hop in and out of bed with guys in my twenties. It was fun during that time, but I’m at a point in my life that I want a real relationship.”

  Shit. Oh well, it was worth a try. “I respect that.”

  Dominic gave him a small smile. “However, I can always use new friends.”

  “You got it.”

  Chapter 5

  Six weeks later . . .

  Sebastian and Dominic worked hard on the Generational Bank project. They had started hanging out with each other at least three times a week outside of work. Sometimes they met at the gym and worked out together, or they would have dinner together.

  For the Thanksgiving holiday, Dominic had invited Sebastian and Meghan to his mother’s house for dinner. Sebastian had adored Dominic’s mother. She was a fun and charming woman, and she looked good for her age.

  A week after Thanksgiving, Mrs. Poindexter had called the hotel to ask Sebastian if he would like to come to Dominic’s surprise birthday party. Sebastian happily accepted.

  He parked his rental car in the backyard of Mrs. Poindexter’s house along with the other surprise guests. He knocked on the back door. Voices could be heard inside.

  The door was opened by a tall, slim black man with a goatee. “Hi,” he greeted in a feminine tone.

  “Hi, I’m Sebastian. I’m a friend of Dominic’s.”

  “I’m Darnell. Nice to meet you. Come in, it’s cold.”

  Sebastian stepped into the kitchen. There were five other people in there. He could smell fried chicken and barbeque meatballs.

  “Are you the guy who is working on the bank project with Dominic?” Darnell asked.

  “Yes,” Sebastian answered.

  “Great. He mentioned you to me a few weeks ago. Let me introduce you to some folks,” Darnell said. He introduced Sebastian to the two women and three men in the kitchen.

  Mrs. Poindexter came through the swinging door of the kitchen with a small smile. “Sebastian, I was hoping it was you. Now everyone is here,” she stated as she approached him. Her hair was dark with multiple stripes of white. She had a few wrinkles under her eyes.

  Sebastian took her frail, slim hand. “Thank you for including me. I’m happy to be here.”

  She lightly patted the back of his hand. “Good, good. I’m glad you could come. Where’s Meghan?”

  Sebastian didn’t tell her about the party. He wanted to attend the party without her underfoot. Not that she was a nuisance; he just wanted to enjoy the party on his own. It was Saturday, so he had told her to enjoy the day.

  Seven people started to quickly enter the kitchen.

  “He’s coming,” a chunky black man whispered loudly.

  “Okay, everyone simmer down. He’ll let himself in. He has a key,” Mrs. Poindexter said.

  Everyone was quiet.

  ****

  Dominic’s mother had asked him to come over for an early birthday dinner. He had asked her what she was going to cook. She had said it was a surprise.

  It was four-thirty. Dominic put his key into the lock and opened the door. “Momma,” he called out as he closed and locked the door. He turned around. There was a table set up across the room with a white sheet on it. What’s that?

  The kitchen door swung open as a bunch a people yelled, “Surprise!”

  “Whoa!” Dominic shouted as his friends came filing out of the kitchen.

&nb
sp; “Happy birthday!” a few of them shouted with big smiles.

  “Wow,” Dominic said as he hugged his friends one by one. “I can’t believe y’all did this.”

  “Your mom planned it,” Darnell said with glee.

  His mother approached him. “It’s not every day when your youngest child turns forty. Happy birthday, baby.”

  Dominic embraced his mother. “Thanks, Momma.” He released his mother. His heart warmed when he noticed Sebastian. Dominic couldn’t believe Sebastian came.

  “Hey, I got a bone to pick with you,” Sebastian said with a grin. “How come you didn’t tell me your birthday was coming up?”

  Dominic shrugged. “Who wants to advertise hitting the big four-O?”

  Sebastian scoffed with amusement. “It’s not that bad. I survived it. Forty-one and still counting.”

  He chuckled. “Well, since you survived it, I guess I will to.”

  Four hours later, Dominic was in his mother’s kitchen. He threw away the small paper plate he had eaten his second helping of birthday cake on. Four of his guests had left an hour ago.

  Sebastian walked into the kitchen. “Hey. I got something for you,” he said as he pulled a small box out of his pants pocket. He approached Dominic and handed it to him. “It’s a little birthday gift.”

  “Oh. Thanks.” Dominic had received great gifts from his friends. His mother had bought him a crystal vase. His sister had sent him a hundred-dollar gift card for Amazon.

  “I didn’t want to give it to you in front of everybody because I wanted to make sure you liked it.”

  Dominic lifted the lid off the small gift box. A silver ID bracelet with his name engraved on it shined under the kitchen light. A small diamond was in the corner of the plate. His mouth gapped open as he stared at the bracelet.

  “It’s white gold,” Sebastian said. “If you don’t like it, I can get—”