Chapter 22 #2
That… Since when was Collin insightful? And how had Baz managed to be so wrong about so many things? Sami, his parents’ relationship (allegedly—the jury on Jack’s trustworthiness was still out), how Collin perceived him.
Actually, for that last one, he wouldn’t accept the blame.
“If you’ve known I’m gay all along, why have I suffered through years of you telling everyone I’m this big womanizer?”
Collin shrugged. “I just wanted to see how long it would take for you to put an end to it. Figured I might as well help you keep up the charade until you’re ready to come out.”
Yeah, truly the ally of the year here, constantly putting Baz in awkward situations and now dragging him out of the closet. “Collin—”
“Relax. Haven’t told anyone yet, will continue not to do so. Who you’re with is no one’s business but yours.”
Right. Baz agreed, obviously, but that level of consideration from Collin, almost as if they were friends—were they? Had Baz missed that too? Or, what was that word Sami had made up? Frivals? Maybe that, at a push.
“I just wanted to say, congrats. Must be going well. You’ve been way less of a stuck-up prick recently.”
Baz didn’t need his approval, he needed him to keep his mouth shut for once before this rumor circulated the way the other one had.
“You’re wrong. I don’t care about Sami.”
Collin snorted. “Gotta practice saying his name without smiling if you wanna fool lawyers, bro.”
He hadn’t—fuck. Baz cemented the corners of his mouth into a neutral position. “I mean it.”
“Sure you do. Good luck, anyway.” With a wink and pat on Baz’s arm, Collin turned onto the tree-lined sidewalk, toward the firm.
Well, shit. Yet another reason Baz had to settle this case quickly. If one brief interaction was enough for someone like Collin to jump to the right conclusion, they wouldn’t make it through a trial.
Oblivious as Sami had made Ian out to be, if he picked up a vibe between them… Baz had to make sure he wouldn’t get the chance, by winning his motion and getting Captain Green to settle on his terms.
Bzz bzz.
Fuck. Had Collin told someone already? Baz scrambled to pull his phone out, fumbled to grab it when it slipped through his fingers.
Annoying Stalker
sorry for rushing off
i was gonna make it up to you later but Ian just gave me an all nightery looking workload
Oh. Now that was a shame.
Guess I have to send him a thank you card for keeping you off my back
<3
hey!! you’re lucky to have me
Smiling, Baz ran down the filthy stairs of the L-stop and moved out of way for the stream of people to rush past him.
Am I?
i’m the best lover you ever had remember <3
There he was, his Sami in his full cocky glory. Baz tapped his card to get past the gate, sparing a glance to make sure he was on the right platform before focusing back on his phone.
You keep saying that. Don’t know where you got that impression.
aww you can just admit it
There’s a train coming, I could throw myself in front of that too.
we both know youre too vain to be smush on train tracks <3
He could hear the words in Sami’s voice, could picture the cheeky glint in his eyes he wished he could kiss away.
Maybe, since tonight wouldn’t work out, they could make plans for another day, for more than just sex.
Something real, without family drama. Dinner, perhaps, followed by exploring the art museum like Sami had joked he wanted to.
Once the case is done, do you want to go out? No, no that sounded too teenage-angsty. Baz hit the delete button. The train hit a bump that shook through him.
Do you want to get dinner sometime? Too basic. Maybe…
I think I owe you a proper meal. I’ll pick you up Friday at 8.
There. Sami was always demanding things too, after all. Oh, but the case—gearing up for the hearing ought to increase Sami’s workload too, not just Baz’s. Eh…
When the case is over, we’re going on a date. Boom.
Though Sami could say no. Could make fun of Baz for even assuming this was something he wanted and end it on the spot.
With a groan, Baz locked his phone. His forehead collapsed against the metal pole—a move he regretted the instant the stink of metal and germs hit his nose. He jerked his head back.
Why was this so hard? How was he supposed to know what to do, what Sami was thinking? His brain wasn’t made to decipher relationships—but Eevee’s was.
Half the tables in the Catfé were taken up. The quiet chatter ceased as two cats, the orange tabby and the other tuxedo, chased each other under chairs and tables in their playfight.
Thud. “Mrew.”
Baz spun around. Lucipurr was on the wall-mounted bed next to him, reaching her little head out to sniff his hair. Apparently, she was having a good day too.
He reached his hand out—Lucipurr hissed when it got close to her. Never mind.
“She’s obsessed with you,” Eevee said from behind the counter, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. The green apron covered her jeans and white T-shirt.
“She’s a weirdo.”
“That might be why.” Eevee offered her arms out for a hug Baz accepted.
Lucipurr ran across the climbing elements on the wall, following them to their usual table in the back. As always, she jumped onto the bench next to Baz and tucked her paws underneath her. Baz rolled his eyes.
“How are you feeling after seeing Dad? Any regrets?”
God, Baz hadn’t even thought about that in the midst of all his Sami fantasies.
“I’m fine. It’s like you said, our lives are too good for him to ruin. If he sticks around, okay. If he doesn’t, we’ll still be all right.”
“Aw.” She clasped his hands on the table. “I’m so proud of you for doing that. And it was so cute seeing you and Sami together! Joel and I gushed about you two all night. We’re really happy for you.”
“Oh, please.” Baz smiled. He and Sami did look good together, didn’t they? Sami had the perfect hugging height. His shabby disregard for quality contrasted with Baz’s meticulousness. His smile could blind the room when Baz didn’t want to be seen…
“Mew!” Lucipurr screamed as though her namesake had possessed her. She crawled onto Baz’s lap. Her claws dug into his skin when she made biscuits on his thighs. What the…
He pulled his hands free from Eevee to lean back—and the cat hissed at him as if to say how dare you move, peasant before she flopped onto his lap with a grunt.
“Is she dying, or am I?” Cats were supposed to be able to smell when someone was sick, right? He swore he’d read that somewhere.
“She can tell you’re all loved up! Tell me everything.”
“There’s not much to tell.” Yet.
“I find you having breakfast with a handsome man who supports you through seeing Dad again, and you wanna tell me it’s no big deal?”
Sami really was handsome. And funny. And smart…
“You’re so into him!” Eevee squeaked. Heat rushed to Baz’s face.
“No! I don’t know. What does that even mean?”
“What does what mean?”
“How did you know that what you and Joel have is real?”
Lust was a powerful emotion too, after all, one he had plenty of for Sami. Confusing that with the other L-word would be embarrassing.
“Oh. It’s hard to describe. It’s just this feeling of peace, I’d say? And safety. I mean, Joel is the one I want to talk to about everything. I know he’ll listen and comfort me, and I can count on him to have my best interest at heart.”
Wearing a dreamy expression, she turned toward the kitchen, no doubt watching her Prince Charming in his element through the round window. “He’s always been my anchor. Makes me feel like I can handle anything. Oh, and he makes me laugh, even on the worst of days. Always has.”
He makes me laugh. Baz had heard those words before. He had used them before.
Sami had made him laugh so many times when humor was the furthest thing from his mind. Hell, Baz had cried in that man’s arms and somehow came out the other side better! If that wasn’t the definition of feeling safe…
But an emotionally charged weekend hardly compared to what Eevee and Joel had gone through.
There was no intentionality, Sami had just happened to be around.
After Baz called him. But not because he was in love with the guy!
He just wanted to be around him because laughing with him, holding him, hearing the ramblings of his beautiful mind made him feel better—
All right, he had heard it that time. Could it be?
Love. He mentally tried the label on for size.
Love. Sami.
The words came together easily. Nothing in him rebelled against them. On the contrary, he felt as though the sun smiled down on the inner garden Sami had planted—how the hell had Baz been so oblivious?
“It’s hard to put into words,” Eevee said.
“I think I get it.” In fact, he felt it, more than he had ever felt anything.
Love.
How incredible.
Baz huffed a breathless smile, absentmindedly ran his hand over Lucipurr’s silky fur, only realizing it when she purred like a Porsche.
“Yeah, you do,” Eevee beamed, bouncing in her seat as she clapped. “Come on, spill! How did you meet him?”
God, Sami waltzing into his office after a sleepless night to taunt him felt like a lifetime ago.
“Remember the really annoying oppositional legal team on my class action I vented about weeks ago? He’s part of that. The guy who spilled coffee on me.”
“Oh, yeah? How does that work?”
“What do you mean? He’s the associate of the partner who runs the case.”
Eevee’s head jerked back, frowning. “Wait, don’t you have to be a licensed attorney for that?”
“Yes?” Obviously. She knew that, so why would she—
“But Sami never finished law school.”