Chapter Two
My Relationship Goals
Gabe
The past few days have been the most stressful of my life, preparing for the opening of our first restaurant in less than two weeks.
My best friend and I have dreamed of this place for the past decade, and it’s finally coming to fruition.
Stonewood’s Steakhouse is going to be the next big craze for foodies in the Charlotte area.
We’ve designed the inside so that it’s a single spacious area, with high ceilings and chandeliers lighting the whole room.
A long bar extends across one side with a few dozen tables between it and circular booths that seat larger parties lining the exterior walls.
The rich, dark wood finishes, along with à la carte menu items, and staff dressed in all black with white neckties, give the elegant look we’re hoping for.
We named the restaurant something simple but memorable, using Luke’s last name instead of mine, because calling it ‘Williams’ Steakhouse’ just didn’t sound enticing.
Currently, Luke is staring at his phone with those lovesick eyes again.
I’ve caught him like this many times in the past few weeks.
He told me he’s been hanging out with the guy he met back in December at that party he went to with Jackson and Dakota.
To say I was surprised he’s dating anyone right now is an understatement.
I’ve been trying to get him to do anything other than open this restaurant for years.
The guy barely goes out with any of us without dragging him by the hair.
I’m not saying I’m one to talk about dating, since I don’t either, but at least I go out regularly and let off some steam—unlike him until recently.
I’ve known Luke since we both started working in his aunts’ café.
Working there got him out of a bad situation at home.
I didn’t work there voluntarily—more like I was told to go work there by my parents to ‘learn to work for what you need and the value of a dollar.’ I didn’t get it at the time—why would I need to go to work in this little café when my family is generationally wealthy?
Don’t ask me what my grandparents did besides ‘build their empire in finances and investments’—at least that’s the only answer anyone ever gave me.
I only know I’ve never had to struggle like others, and I received a large trust fund when I turned twenty-seven.
Not surprisingly, my parents had other plans for me, refusing to allow their spoiled child to skate by in life.
In hindsight, it’s the best thing they ever did for me.
Looking back now, I’m glad they made me learn a good work ethic and to support myself without relying on my family’s wealth—I wouldn’t have met Luke otherwise. He’s the closest thing to a brother I’ve ever had.
I met Luke on my first day working at the café.
It was a seamless transition from strangers to inseparable friends.
Now he’s the closest relationship I’ve had in my entire life, even closer than my parents.
He didn’t even blink an eye when I told him I was gay, and it’s never been an issue in all our years of friendship.
There’s that old tale of how gay men fall in love with one of their straight friends—formerly straight since Kaden came into the picture—and for some it’s true, but I’ve never felt that way about Luke, despite how gorgeous he’s always been.
Now at almost thirty years old, he’s even more handsome than the day we met, but still, I see him as nothing more than my person.
We all have that someone who’s our platonic soulmate; Luke is mine.
I’m not sure I’ll ever find the kind of soulmate all of us hopeless romantics dream about.
I’m too damn picky to bother trying to have a relationship with half the guys I mess around with.
You want to suck my cock? Sure, have at it.
You want me to give you the railing of a lifetime until you have trouble walking out the door?
Fine by me. Staying the night and having breakfast with me—that’s where I draw the line.
No one has sparked my interest enough to consider a call the next day, much less spend the night.
I may be a hopeless romantic, but I don’t need to be in a relationship to be happy.
Even so, I’m still hopeful the right guy will come along when I least expect it, like Kaden did for Luke.
Seeing Luke captivated by whatever pictures Kaden sends him day in and day out has me hoping it’s in the cards for me one day—Luke is completely gone for him. I have no doubts Kaden will be around for a long time.
“Stop making googly eyes at your boyfriend’s sexting pics,” I tease him while looking over his shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of what’s making him see hearts.
“It wasn’t a sexting pic, you dickhead.”
“So, you haven’t sexted after not seeing each other for three weeks?
What the fuck, man? You like torturing yourself?
Send him a fucking dick pic. I guarantee he sends one back.
” I dance my eyebrows. Apparently, he doesn’t think it’s funny, fixing me with the ‘What’s wrong with you? ’ look he often gives me.
“You know, just because you like unsolicited dick pics doesn’t mean everyone does, right?”
He’s absurd—everyone loves dick pics. I have so many pics of random cocks in my phone, I could fill an entire museum with them. “Fine, tell him to send me the dick pics, and I’ll make good use of them.”
“Stay away from Kaden’s dick or you’ll have to find a new best friend, along with some new teeth.”
“Oooohhhh, getting possessive already. I can’t wait to meet him on your birthday. This is going to be so much fun.”
Luke’s brother, Jackson, is dating Kaden’s sister, whose birthday is on Monday. Luke’s birthday is on Tuesday, so Jackson created a whole combined birthday gathering for our friends to meet each other. From my minor stalking of Kaden on social media, his friends seem pretty cool.
“Gabe, don’t fuck with me around Kaden. I won’t be held responsible for what happens.”
“Man, chill. I’m not going to hit on your guy.” He knows I would never really hit on Kaden, but I sure as fuck love bringing out the jealous side of Luke for sheer comedy. This is new territory for him—falling in love—and for me seeing it happen for him.
“You really like him, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.” Luke smiles fondly. “It’s easy with us.
We haven’t technically spent a lot of time together, but between texts and phone calls, I’ve gotten to know a lot about him.
He’s funny and witty. He’s sexy as hell, even though he doesn’t try to be.
We like the same foods and movies, even sports.
I mean, how many gay guys like hockey—besides you, of course? ”
He’s been around plenty of gay men, at least since we’ve been friends, and is still clueless sometimes. “Uh, Luke, have you actually seen how hot hockey players are? Trust me, plenty of us watch hockey, especially the warmups.”
“Yeah, I guess some of them are kind of good-looking.”
Unbelievably, Luke is head-over-heels for someone—a guy, no less. This is like seeing a unicorn. “Yep, you got it bad.” I slap my friend on his shoulder and walk away.
“Hey,” Luke calls after me. “Do you think you can stick around for the servers’ training sessions with Jessica on Saturday? I want to take the day off.”
Even if I didn’t want him to spend time building his relationship with Kaden, I could never say no to Luke. “Of course. Have a good time, buddy.”
“Luke, you busy? We need some—” I go into the main dining area, and Luke is no longer at the bar where I left him.
I head straight back to our office, knowing it’s the only place he could’ve gone. He wouldn’t have left without telling me. When I jiggle the door handle, it’s locked. He never locks the door, which leads me to believe he needed some private time. That’s not happening.
“Hey asshole, open up.”
“One sec.” I can hear him scrambling behind the door. Fucker was tugging his dick in there. I bang on the door harder this time.
“Geez I’m coming. What’s your deal, man?” Luke swings the door open with flushed cheeks and disheveled clothes.
I grin at his current state of annoyance and give him a once-over. Is that cum on his shirt?
“I guess the dick pic worked, huh?” I can’t help but laugh at him—until my eyes catch his phone on the desk behind him. Kaden has his hand wrapped around his cock in the video, frozen on the play screen. Damn, that’s hot.
Luke tracks me staring behind him.
“Shit.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Luke move so fast as when he scrambles to his desk.
“Video, even better. You might want to take the time to remove your shirt next time, though.” I point at his shirt before he starts pushing me out the door.
“Fuck you, asshole. Out!”
I’ve had my fun, so I obliged, walking away but not bothering to hold back my laughter.
Unfortunately, now when I meet Kaden, I’ll always be picturing his cock in his hand.
Albeit a pretty cock from what I could see, I’ll still have to turn my filter on, or my best friend may kick my ass for stepping out of line with his guy.
Monday night should be interesting. I’ll just have to keep myself busy hanging with Dakota or Kaden’s friends.
When I get back to the kitchen, Rachelle has already completed the first food order for the opening week with Lance, our executive chef.
“Lance left without saying goodbye. I’m going to fire his ass next time he does that shit.” I can’t even pretend to be serious as Rachelle begins laughing at my irrational remark, and I end up joining her.
“You know damn well you wouldn’t fire that man. He’s too good at what he does.”
She’s not wrong. Rachelle has turned into our mother hen around here. We couldn’t have chosen a better person to help manage the staff. Between her and Jessica, Luke and I were able to get a lot more work done than we thought we’d be able to at this stage.
“Hey, you okay here? Alright if I leave? I don’t need Saturday off anymore.”
Luke’s sudden change of plans tonight makes me so happy I can’t help but grin ear-to-ear. “Yes. Go spend time with your guy. Have some kind of personal life for once.”
When he leaves with only a nod and a wave, I know he’s in a good place. He usually argues with me when I say anything about his personal life. I guess it’s like they say—you’ll meet someone when you least expect it, and at the right place and time. Patiently waiting is the hardest part.