“Law looked dumbstruck, almost angry. He breathed, "Son of a bitch." And to Tom's surprise, Law got down on one knee and took his hand. "Tom, you beloved bastard, I love you. I need you in my life forever. I cannot imagine existence without you. Will you-God please say yes-grant me the honor and the privilege and save my life and marry me?”

“Are you going to be nice to me now?""I'm always nice to you." Sure. Law ground his chin into Tom's groin, makingTom jump."Why would I suddenly start being nice to you?" Law said. "You put out for an asshole. That guy is still here.”

“Look, Lawrence, I know you never cared for me-" Law cut him off. "Cared for you? Cared for you? What am I? The gardener?" "Okay, you always hated me-" "Better," Law said. "You're wrong of course, but you said what you meant this time.”

“Tom leaned in and spoke in a low, confidential voice, "Sir. You have a little something..." He lifted his forefinger surreptitiously to his own upper lip. Harrison brought his hand to his mustache to brush something off it, his eyes questioning. "What is it?""Carpet remnant?" Tom suggested.”

“Confused and fearful as he was, this one thing Tom knew for certain. No man ever took another man's balls in his mouth to mock him.”

“When expression returned, it was outrage. “Oh, that—” Wells couldn’t think of anything bad enough to callLaw.“Rat bastard is the word you’re looking for,” Tom filled in for him.Wells turned and stalked back up the dock.A gull alighted on the boards at Tom’s feet. It cocked a beady eye up at him. Tom gestured with his beerbottle as he commented to the bird, “You’re right. Rat bastard is two words, isn’t it.”

“She sniffled. "Does he know?""Not a clue," Law said. "There are concrete bricks less dense than my beloved.”