11. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Noah
“ I cannot believe you did this.” I hissed the words at Christian as we entered the Blue Star diner.
Together.
Because, apparently, we were on a double date.
The hiss might’ve been more effective if I didn’t have to angle my head up to reach his ear.
Tonight, I was going to be the shortest guy at the table. Which really didn’t matter.
Right. Keep telling yourself that.
Malcolm, Christian, and Soren were all a smidge over six feet.
I was well below.
Right. Soren. Because somehow Christian got a hold of the guy’s number, and the next thing I knew, I was being blackmailed into a double date.
How the fuck did this happen ?
Oh, right. You had the bright idea that setting Christian up would absolve you of all the guilt you feel about having totally missed that he’s been in love with you for the last twenty fucking years.
Yeah.
That.
“For two?” Gabriella greeted us with a smile. “Nice to see you again.”
“For four.” Christian offered a shit-eating grin. “Double date.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun.” She led us to a booth near the back. “Who should I be looking out for?”
“Dr. Jones, the vet. He’s such a sweetheart.” Christian fluttered his hand.
Oh, for Christ’s sake, you don’t have to go over the top.
“And Soren Johansen. Tall? Cute?” More fluttering—only this time his eyelashes. Seriously, he looked like he had something caught in his eye.
“I know Soren and Dr. Jones. I’ll definitely send them your way.” Gabriella deposited the menus on the table.
Despite my best efforts, Christian managed to get me to slide into the booth first—trapping me between him and the wall. I growled.
“What would you like to have to drink?”
I wanted to ask for a beer. Instead, I asked, “Could I have a cola?”
“I’ll take a sweetened iced tea.” Christian’s unrelenting grin wouldn’t quit.
“Sure. Back in— Oh!” She waved.
I checked over Christian’s shoulder and, great, Malcolm and Soren were walking our way. Both men wore grins to match Christian’s.
Fan-fucking-tastic. Everyone’s happy here except me. Not wanting to be the grump to everyone’s sunshine, I plastered on a smile.
The men paused at the end of the table before Soren slid in, clearly having figured that since he and I were on the date that we should probably sit across from each other. “Nice to see each other in a less-formal setting.”
Malcolm laughed. “Do you run your puppy classes like military training?”
“That’s hilarious.” Christian chuckled. Just a little too loud.
A little too forced. “Noah’s classes are great fun.
He’s so good with the dogs. I can’t believe we had to leave ours at home tonight.
But we tuckered them out, and they were asleep.
” He turned his attention to Soren. “We got two puppies today. We were told they were mutts—”
“Definitely some Chin,” Malcolm added.
“Right? Somebody surrendered two adorable puppies. I just knew Stormy needed a younger sibling. Who knew we’d pick two?”
“Who knew?” I echoed the words, trying to inject some enthusiasm.
Christian nudged me. “Show Soren that cute picture you took of them. Oh, no, wait.”
I hadn’t actually made a grab for my phone—which was in my back pocket—before Christian had his out.
“I took this of Noah when he was asleep.”
“You what?” I slept mostly naked, so I might’ve been panicking a bit.
“An hour ago. You remember? Well, you were asleep, so obviously you don’t remember.” He tapped, swiped, tapped again, then handed the phone to Soren.
Who grinned. “Okay, that’s a great photo.”
“May I see?” Malcolm gestured to the phone, but held Christian’s gaze .
“Of course.” My best friend bobbed his head like a freaking bobble doll.
Malcolm took the phone from Soren and his face took on a dreamy quality. “That is one to cherish.” He handed the phone back to Christian.
“May I see?” I arched an eyebrow.
“Uh…sure.”
I hadn’t been naked an hour ago, so that wasn’t a worry.
More like wondering if I’d been drooling while…
I sighed. I sat on the couch, with a puppy under each arm, and my eyes closed.
I hadn’t realized I’d drifted off to sleep.
And I certainly hadn’t been aware of him taking my photo.
Of feeling compelled to do it. Which raised the question of whether he had other photos of me. I eyed him.
He snatched his phone back.
Ha!
Okay, so I’d have to steal it from him at some point and delete all the bad photos of me. To what end? What’s the true harm? I didn’t have an easy answer to those questions.
“Soren, I’ll bet you don’t know that Noah has an uncanny ability to predict storms.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s called a weather app.”
Christian kicked me under the table.
I tried not to wince. Then I plastered on a smile. “Malcolm, you won’t know this, but Christian can greet you in nineteen different languages.”
Malcolm’s eyes widened. “That’s really impressive. Which languages?”
“Mandarin, Swahili, Ukrainian, Portuguese—”
“One cola and a lemonade.” Gabriella placed the drinks before us. “And you gentlemen? ”
“I’ll have a coffee, if that’s okay.” Malcolm smiled. “Long day. Need a pick-me-up.”
“I’ll have one as well.” Soren smiled. “Only make mine decaf.”
The other three of us at the table groaned.
What was the point of coffee without caffeine? Seriously.
“Does everyone know what they’d like to eat, or do you need—”
I grabbed the menu. “I’ll have—” I scanned quickly. “—the chicken pot pie.”
Christian arched an eyebrow.
I glared.
Okay, except I don’t love chicken pot pie. Should’ve ordered the chicken fingers. Oh, fuck it — chicken is just chicken.
He shrugged. “I’d love to have a cheeseburger. Keeping it simple.”
Malcolm grinned. “You know I love the meatloaf with extra gravy.”
“Sure do.” She pivoted her attention to Soren. “Soup of the day is tomato basil. A bowl of that and a side Caesar?”
“Perfect, thank you.”
I tried for a smile. When one came to a diner, one should enjoy greasy, unhealthy food. Tomato basil soup? With a salad? What was he, a rabbit?
“I’m watching my fat intake. I’ve had some liver issues.” Soren shrugged. “Nothing too serious.”
“Oh, that can be concerning. Although the liver is the organ most able to heal and regenerate. That’s why someone can give half their liver to a donation and be fine.” Malcolm turned to Soren. “What have your liver enzymes looked like?”
Soren launched into some long explanation about a certain test and how it had something to do with…
Nope.
I was totally lost.
Christian leaned over. “He’s so cute.”
“Then maybe you should date him.” I rolled my eyes.
“I thought you wanted me with the vet.”
“Right. Sorry. Lost track of the plan.”
“And I’ve got everyone’s meals.” Gabriella slowly unloaded her tray with the most heavenly smelling food.
We thanked her and turned our attention to consuming food. Compliments about the food before us and general comments about the town were exchanged, but everything felt…off. Like I should’ve been doing more.
Chicken pot pie might not have been my favorite, but the thing was damn good. I inhaled as the uncomfortableness of the situation continued.
Soren was clearly a nice guy, but just not someone I was interested in. He worked from home as some kind of computer specialist security something. I noted that if I ever needed computer help and Christian wasn’t around, I might just call Soren. Likely wouldn’t be able to afford his rates, though.
Christian finished his burger and wiped his mouth. “Okay, so that was the best burger.”
“Even better than Big Burger back home?” I’d yet to try the burgers here, but the diner back home was amazing.
“Truthfully? Yeah. And since I’m never going back to Tennessee, I don’t have to worry about offending anyone.”
I cocked my head. “What do you mean you don’t intend to ever go back? You’ll see your parents, right? And I suppose if Laura ever comes back, you might want to see her. To hash things out once and for all.”
“Uh… No. I care for Laura like a friend, but there’s nothing to hash out. She ran away with Thad. Who’s a good guy, so I don’t blame her. God knows, he was a better choice— ”
“She didn’t know you were gay.”
“Well, that’s true, I suppose. But I think if I told her I was gay, she wouldn’t be entirely surprised.
Look, she’s a nice woman—and I wish her well.
But she’s my past, Noah. You’re my future.
I mean, obviously not as a partner, because you’re not interested in that.
But as the person I care about. Who I want to be with.
And if that means platonically living together in the house and dating other people, I’m totally fine with that. ”
“I’m not.” I wanted to stomp my foot. “Women flocked to you—at least until they found out you were basically engaged—”
“I was never engaged—
“—basically engaged.” I repeated the words to remind myself that up until yesterday, I’d thought he loved Laura and had felt betrayed by her departure.
It hadn’t really entered my mind that he might’ve only wanted friendship with her.
Come to that…what had their physical relationship been like?
Had they been intimate? If not, had Christian taken male lovers in the interim?
While waiting for me to get my head out of my ass.
I could see now, as of this morning, that he’d laid his feelings on the line.
I didn’t reciprocate them—but that fact had consequences.
He’d date other people. He’d find someone and want me to move out or he’d move out or his lover would move in and—
“Noah, I can see the gears grinding in your mind.” He smiled. “Why don’t you let it go and just enjoy tonight? We are sort of on a date.”
At once, we both turned to face our dates. Of course, talking only to Christian had been the height of rudeness—but we had a lot to still hash out.
And found the bench across from us empty.
“What the hell—”
“Did you guys want to order dessert?” Gabriella appeared out of nowhere and offered menus. “Or perhaps a coffee? Although the caffeine—”
Christian raised his hand.
She stopped talking.
“Uh…did our dates both go to the washroom? At the same time?”
My mind flashed to all the things two guys could do in a bathroom, superimposed Malcolm and Soren in those images, and I cocked my head. Because that made a compelling visual—even if just in my mind.
“No.” Gabriella said the word slowly. “They both asked for their slices of apple pie to go, paid for their meals, and left together. Oh.” She brightened.
“Dr. Malcom said to wish you both a good evening and Soren added you make a lovely couple. I didn’t realize you were together, because you said you were just friends—but he’s right, you make a cute couple. ”
My mouth dropped open. Our dates had abandoned us? Had left together.
“Clearly neither of them found either of us appealing.” Christian chuckled. “Can’t say that’s ever happened to me before.”
“Uh, me either…” What the actual fuck?
“So, dessert…?” Gabriella still held the dessert menus.
“Apple pie with vanilla ice cream.” I managed a smile. “He’ll take apple pie with chocolate ice cream. Don’t ask.”
She shrugged. “I won’t, but I think he’s got good taste. Everything tastes better with chocolate ice cream.” Then she was gone.
Christian tapped the table with his index finger. “Are we supposed to call to apologize?”
“I have no idea. They’re the ones who got up and left. Were we really talking that long?”
“Uh…I’m clueless. I mean, they could’ve said something…right? ”
“I suppose.” I tried to replay the conversation in my mind. Where I’d wanted Christian to commit to always being with me. But I hadn’t said the words out loud. Or at least I didn’t think I had. Because, if I had, that would’ve sounded really bad.
Gabriella arrived with our scrumptious apple pie and we consumed all of it before finally gazing at each other.
He was so dear to me…but I didn’t love him. Not in that way.
Right?
The answer, which would’ve come so easily just a day ago, didn’t.