The sun shone through Lorenzo’s pent house. Bright light drew Lorenzo awake. His clothes were off and there was a lump laying next to him. he looked over and his eyes widened. It was Mercer, still dressed in yesterday’s clothing, but sleeping peacefully. He sat up rubbing his eyes and look back to Mercer, he was still there; not a dream.

“Gah,” Lorenzo stood up, pulling his discarded pants on. Before he slide them up, he noticed a puke stain and chuckled the pants in the hamper. With slow heavy strides, Lorenzo walked to the bathroom to shower.

In the bathroom, Lorenzo looked in the mirror with a sigh. After hating his reflection for a while, he pulled off his boxers, revealing a very well defined v-line. He shivered as the cold air hit his body. Since Lorenzo didn’t fell like freezing, he quickly turned the water on and got in.

Steam filled the bathroom as Lorenzo enjoyed a hot shower. All the knots and hangover symptoms slipped from his body. He made sure to brush his teeth and wash his face just in case any leftover throw up as still clinging on. When Lorenzo felt clean enough, he got out of the shower, turning the water off and wrapping a towel around his waist. As the bathroom door opened Lorenzo was met with a very sleepy but awake Mercer, with messy bed head and rubbing his eyes.

“Good morning,” Lorenzo smiled.

Mercer looked up and squinted. “Morning,” He said quietly.

Lorenzo walked over to his closet, dropping his towel as he searched for a new pair of boxers. Mercer’s eyes widened; everything was on display. He avoided his gaze, looking down at the bed sheets. They were soft, white linen sheets, one that Mercer could sleep in forever.

“Sleep well?” Lorenzo turned around in the middle of pulling his boxers up.

“Lorenzo Mathew!” Mercer squeaked and covered his face with the blanket.

“What?” Lorenzo chuckled. “Can’t handle man parts?” I thought you were gay.”

“Yes, but,” Mercer pouted. “You just whipped around with it.”

“So you don’t like it when men whip it,” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“NO,” Mercer hid underneath the covers.

Lorenzo threw on a pair of loose jeans and a black shirt before going over to Mercer. He climbed onto the bed and poked Mercer’s sides, drawing squirms and giggles from him. Mercer kicked his feet trying to free them from the covers. He managed to kick Lorenzo in the side Lorenzo’s eyes darken as he grabbed broth of Mercer’s ankles.

“Uh-oh,” Mercer mumbled.

“Uh-oh is right Mercer,” Lorenzo growled and pinned him to the bed.

He leaned in and kissed Mercer. As things got heated, a knock on the front door interrupted them once again.

“We are terrible at trying to accomplish anything,” Lorenzo pulled back and smoothed down is shirt.

Mercer sat up running his fingers through his hair.

The two of them walked to the door. Lorenzo opened it revealing his father with a stack of papers. William walked in without saying anything.

“Um dad, I thought we were meeting you at your house?” Lorenzo asked.

“Nope,decided to come here,” William’s lips were in a tight line. “Hope I wasn’t disrupting anything,” He said as he peered into Lorenzo’s room, seeing the clothes sprawled out on the floor.

Both Mercer and Lorenzo froze. They didn’t say anything and followed William to the dinning table. William sat at the head of the table with files and documents laid out in front of him.

“I thought we were setting up your birthday party?” Lorenzo sat down.

“Yes we are but we also need to talk about he announcement I’m going to make too.”

Mercer sat down, next to Lorenzo looking down. He knew Lorenzo would be furious when he found out his father was playing bachelor with him. Lorenzo noticed his downcast and swallowed hard.

“Dad what’s going on?” He asked firmly.

“Lorenzo,” William started. “My party will not only be for my birthday but for a recruitment.”

“Recruitment for what?” He straightened up and Mercer tensed.

“I’m turning 60 this year and I want to retire the next. This means you will be taking over the company soon, but not until you find a wife,” He paused. “At the party there will be a selection of suitable wives and I want you to meed and get to know them, hopefully finding one you like at the end of it.”

Lorenzo stood up furious. “So you are marrying me off for some stupid company!”

William went quiet. “It is what’s best for you and yes the company. Having a wife will keep you grounded, maybe even start a family to conceive an heir.”

“NO,” Lorenzo shouted.

“Lorenzo, enough,” William did not yell but spoke firmly. “If you don’t find a wife, I’ll put the company on hold, but I want you to at least try to find someone.”

Lorenzo looked at Mercer, who had been quiet the whole time. Mercer’s eyes were filled with guilt and sorrow. Lorenzo couldn’t stand to see him like that. So he relaxed and sat back down.

“If I marry or find someone, I’ll get the whole company, right?”

“Yes.”

“And what about Mercer? Will he stay my assistant?”

“Yes, I already went over things with him awhile back. The second you find someone, I sign the papers and everything is yours.”

Lorenzo sighed. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Thank you Lorenzo,” William stood up and rubbed his son’s shoulder. “This will only help you in the long run, I promise. And if something were to go wrong we will fix it when it happens.”

Lorenzo nodded as he leaned back in his chair. He looked over to Mercer, who seemed more relieved.

“I’m sorry Lorenzo,” Mercer whispered.

“Its not your fault Mercer, it never was.”

“Now,” William cleared his throat. “Meet me at home around noon so we can start setting up. I want my whole house spotless,” He cleared at Lorenzo before leaving.

Lorenzo pushed his chair back and walked over to the papers sprawled out on the table. He neatly tucked them away and plopped the stack on the kitchen counter.

“Off to my childhood home, I guess,” Lorenzo said under his breath.

“Lorenzo, do you care if we got to my house so I can change and shower, maybe pick up food on the way too?” Mercer stood up.

“It’s only fair,” He smiled. “You did get to see my house so now I get to see yours.”

“oh so it’s fair since I saw yours, but not fair because I drove your drunk ass home last night,” Mercer teased.

“Yep,” Lorenzo smirked.

He walked over to the door putting on a pair of old tennis shoes. Mercer quickly gathered his phone and keys, also putting his shoes on. Soon the two of them walk outside and wander to Mercer’s car.

“Hey I didn’t like puke in your car last night or anything, did I?” Lorenzo asked as he settled into the car.

Mercer joined him, buckling in and starting the engine. The car hummed to life, jolting forward as Mercer put his foot on the gas.

“No you didn’t, just on the ground a block away from your apartment,” Mercer smiled.

“Well that’s good,” Lorenzo relaxed back in the seat, enjoying the late morning drive.