Chapter 4
FOUR
Ethan
Ethan had no sooner wiped down the table at the diner’s largest booth, the U-shaped one near the front door, when Caleb stopped over and set a black plastic tent sign on the middle of the table.
“Reserved?” Ethan asked, pointing at the sign that he’d never seen before today. “We reserve booths?”
Caleb hurried back to the counter, calling over his shoulder as Ethan followed. “Just that one, and just on Sunday morning. It’s for Xander’s crew.”
“Xander?”
“My personal trainer,” Caleb explained. Using tongs, he removed yesterday’s pastries from the display case and replaced them with the fresh batch that arrived earlier that morning. “He and his friends have brunch here every Sunday. They’re a trip. I’m assigning you to their section.”
“Anything I should know about them?”
“Nah, they’re easy.” A sly smile lit up Caleb’s face. “They’ll like you.” He motioned toward the door, where the morning’s first customers were milling around. “It begins,” he intoned ominously, before breaking down the empty pastry box and carrying it into the kitchen with him.
For the first thirty minutes of the shift, the booth by the window remained empty.
Ethan tried to focus on making small talk with the customers while he poured coffee and took orders, but his curiosity about the men who’d be showing up – Xander’s crew – kept drawing him back to the empty booth.
He checked on the booth three times, to ensure there were enough menus, to top off the salt and pepper shakers, and to restock the creamer and jelly packets.
Finally, two men arrived and slid into the booth. Ethan busied himself with making a pot of coffee while he watched the men out of the corner of his eye.
The guy who sat nearest the window was well-dressed and good-looking, with light blond curtain bangs framing his face. Judging by his crisp dress shirt and fancy watch, it was likely he had money. Maybe he was one of the city’s ubiquitous tech bros.
But it was the man sitting next to him who caught Ethan’s eye. He was stunning, with broad shoulders, thickly muscled arms, and the most mouthwatering pecs Ethan had ever seen. Although he was dressed casually in a T-shirt and baseball cap, he radiated raw animal magnetism.
Once Ethan could drag his gaze upward from the man’s impressive body, butterflies took flight in his chest, beating their tiny wings against his rib cage. The man was cute, his smile holding a boyish innocence.
Ethan wasn’t silly enough to believe in love at first sight, but damn, this man’s effect on him was making a strong case for it.
Suddenly both men scooted closer to the window.
Outside, three men and a woman seemed to be having a conversation.
It didn’t look all that exciting, but the guy in the baseball cap lifted out of his seat so he could look over his friend’s shoulder.
Ethan took advantage of the moment to check out the guy’s butt.
Of course, his ass was as amazing as the rest of him – firm, muscular, and hugged by stretchy denim jeans. Ethan pictured himself burying his face between those plump cheeks…
Uh-oh. He squirmed as his pants grew uncomfortably tight. Thank god he was wearing an apron. He shook out his hands and rolled his shoulders. Time to get his mind out of the gutter and get to work.
He paused with his hand on the coffeepot’s handle. He was going to have to talk to the most beautiful man he’d ever seen. Actually have a coherent conversation with him. “He’s just a customer,” he mumbled to himself. A customer I want to climb like a tree.
Dear god, please don’t let me make a fool of myself.
He grabbed the coffeepot and was halfway to the booth when two of the men from outside stepped into the diner.
“Dead man walking!” his dream guy yelled, loud enough to disturb the customers around him.
A good-looking slender guy with sandy-blond hair punched his bicep and slid into the booth.
Ethan recognized this man. He came in for dinner once in a while, sometimes alone, but usually with an attractive date.
The last of the foursome could have been a model. His tan skin and jet-black hair were striking, and the fitted T-shirt clinging to his body showed off his chiseled physique.
How was it possible that every member of their friend group was hot? It seemed to defy the laws of probability, and frankly was a little intimidating. Compared to them, he looked like an awkward teenager, with his skinny body and the freckles on his cheeks…
Ethan cringed, his shoulders wilting in defeat. He hated his freckles. They made him look like a little boy. Normally he covered them with concealer before he left the house, but he was rushing today and didn’t have the time. Fantastic.
He squared his shoulders and switched on his server persona. One could always fall back on professional detachment to get through an uncomfortable situation.
He marched up to the table and plastered on a smile. “Good morning, guys. Would everyone like to start with coffee this morning?”
All the guys murmured affirmatively. As he was pouring their coffee, Ethan said, “I’ll point your attention to our specials today.
” He nodded toward the chalkboard hanging behind the counter.
“We have cinnamon roll French toast, chorizo and avocado breakfast tacos, and a bacon cheddar brunch burger. Our specialty beverage for today is our signature Bloody Mary, made with jalapeno vodka...”
His words trailed off as he studied the guy in the baseball cap. He was even cuter up close. Resting his head on his blond friend’s shoulder with his eyes closed, he hummed and snuggled closer, a contented smile on his lips.
The guy’s warm, guileless smile made Ethan blush – the heat in his cheeks a telltale sign that he was attracted to the man. His blushing always gave him away. Time to step back and regroup.
“I’ll be back to take your orders in a minute,” he said, stepping away from the booth. He made a quick circuit of his other tables, a grin on his face and a spring in his step.
The service bell rang, and Caleb’s voice carried through the diner. “Order up!”
Humming “Call Me Maybe” to himself, Ethan practically floated back to the pass-through window, his steps light, his shoulders bouncing in time with the beat.
“Which table?” he asked, reaching for the plates.
Caleb slid the plates back a few inches. He studied Ethan’s face and smirked. “I know that look.”
“What look?” Ethan tried to wipe the smile off his face.
“You’re twitterpated.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. The food is getting cold.” He reached for the plates again, but Caleb slid them to the side.
“The plates are under a heat lamp. They’re fine.” Caleb leaned closer, a mischievous glint in his eye. “How are you liking Xander and his boys?”
“Which one is Xander?”
“The one in the grey hoodie and track pants.”
“And, um… the guy in the baseball cap?”
“That’s Blake.”
“Blake,” Ethan repeated quietly. He peeked over his shoulder. The guys at Xander’s table were involved in a spirited discussion, except for Blake, who was eating jelly out of one of the single-serving packets. Ethan couldn’t help himself from smiling.
He jumped when Caleb slapped the metal counter. “I knew it!”
“There’s nothing to know.” Ethan crossed his arms. “But since you obviously want to tell me all about these guys, is Blake dating the man with the blond hair?”
“Quinn? Nah, Quinn’s married to a nice guy named Henry. Bit of a square. I never see the other guys with a boyfriend, though.”
If Blake was single, was it crazy to think he might have a shot with him? “He has beautiful eyes. Like a Heineken beer bottle.”
Caleb chuckled. “A guy with a body like Blake’s, and you’re looking at his eyes?”
“Bodies aren’t everything.” Laughing in spite of himself, Ethan added, “Fine, he’s hot.”
“Well then,” Caleb said, sliding the two plates toward Ethan. “Get this order to table five and go flirt with him.”
Blake
Blake’s stomach growled – a long, low rumble that drew sidelong glances from his friends. The strong, slightly burnt diner coffee was doing somersaults in his gut. He rubbed his stomach, but that only reminded him of how hungry he was.
He was eager for some real food. The jelly packets he’d been snacking on were not cutting it.
That burger the server mentioned sounded good. He squinted at the specials written out on the chalkboard behind the counter. As usual, the words were crammed together in sloppy, loopy handwriting, and the ghosts of yesterday’s specials lingered in faded white streaks beneath the new entries.
He leaned forward, searching for the word burger among the chaos. Bargery was the closest word he found. The word next to that was just a jumble of letters and smudges: b//ac/on. The more he tried to focus, the more the words blurred, as if he were trying to read underwater.
With a sharp exhale, he collapsed back into the booth. Why the hell didn’t they ever wash the stupid chalkboard?
He plucked another plastic tub of jelly from the metal caddy and peeled back the foil lid. Spooning a bit into his mouth, he savored the sticky sweetness. Mixed berry – one of his favorites.
“Time for Sex God Story Hour,” Xander said, clinking his spoon against his water glass. “I’ll start.” With that, brunch kicked off the way it always did, with each of the guys bragging about that week’s sexual exploits.
Blake’s friends – who called themselves the sex gods – lived by a code, a set of rules to ensure they had as much casual sex as possible. Don’t let a guy sleep over. Don’t sleep with the same guy more than once. Share all the details about your hookups with the group. Never fall in love.
There was a fifth rule somewhere in there, but Blake could never remember it. All he knew was that becoming a porn star gave him some kind of exemption.