Three #2
“Yessir,” I answered quickly, because I knew he wanted out.
He was desperate to get the lady alone. Take her to dinner so she could see what a gentleman he was.
Have her ride in his car so she could see he had money.
Hopefully show her his house so she could see the life he could provide.
At twenty-six, I knew love at first sight when I saw it.
Cupid had just hit Rick Jenner with a Mack truck.
It was funny that it usually happened that way.
Some guy went along dating for years, a real catch—like my brother, Dane, the eligible bachelor of the century—then suddenly he met the woman, the one who would be the mother of his children, and usually within six months they were married.
Guys went from player to dad in, like, a year after meeting the one.
As I watched Rick walk out with Aubrey Flanagan on his arm, talking a mile a minute to her, I had an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment.
It had nothing whatsoever to do with me.
In actuality, Adam had been the instrument of love and not me, but still, I felt good.
I had introduced them, after all. It was my lap she had been in.
I still had it. I remained the love god.
“Jory.”
I looked up at Adam. “Hey, I—”
He clapped my shoulder hard. “Thanks, man, you saved my life.”
Funny that he had no idea how amazing the woman he had just let walk out of his life was.
“No problem,” I said softly, pulling on my jacket and turning to leave.
“Jory.”
Brandon walked around in front of me.
“What a screwed-up evening. I’m so sorry for—”
I shook my head, pulling out my phone as it rang for the second time. “Don’t worry about it.” I smiled at him. “Thanks for inviting me. I’ll see you,” I finished before I stepped around him and answered my phone. “Hello?”
“J?”
“Oh, hey, Sam,” I said like I talked to him every day. Even after three years apart, I knew the man’s voice as well as my own.
“Sorry to bother you while you’re on your date and all but—”
“No, it’s okay. I’m done.”
“Sorry?”
“I said I was done.”
“You’re done? Whaddya mean you’re—”
“It’s a long story.”
“I’d love to hear it.”
“Not worth the telling except for the fact that I am now, and will forever be, the love god.” I said dramatically.
“I know,” he rumbled. “So what’re you doing now love god?”
“You mean tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“Nothing.”
Quick breath. “Okay, so can I take you to eat?”
“Sure, but I’ll buy. What do you want?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m downtown. You want just, like, a sandwich or something?”
“That sounds great. I’ll just change and—”
“You’re at home?”
“Yeah.”
“Where’s that now?”
“Don’t laugh, but it’s in the exact same place.”
“Oh, that’s right, Jen told me that.”
“Jen?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “You know, your sister Jen.”
“You still talk to Jen?”
“Off and on. Rachel too.”
Beats of time went by.
“Sam?” I thought maybe the call dropped.
“What the hell?” He yelled at me.
“Why’re you mad?”
“I’m not mad, I just… I wanna know when somebody in my family sees you.”
“Why?”
“I just do!”
That made no sense. “But it has nothing to do with you.”
“It has everything to do with me! My whole family’s still crazy about you.”
“I wouldn’t say they’re—”
“I would. Shit. Nobody—”
“Did you know that Dane and your dad and Dane’s friend Jude golf together?”
There was a long pause. “I’m sorry?”
I chuckled.
“What’d you say?”
“I said your dad and Jude, who’s Dane’s oldest friend, and Dane, golf together. Did you know that?”
“No, I—”
“Yeah. Just every three months or so.”
“For crissakes, J, nobody tells me anything!”
“Why would they?”
“Why would they what? Mention that they all see you and I’m the only one who doesn’t? Oh, I dunno, lemme think.”
I had to laugh. He was so indignant. “You were gone a long time, Sam. We all got used to you not being around.”
“But I’ve been back more than a year now and nobody said shit to me.”
“They probably didn’t want to make your new girlfriend uncomfortable by talking about me.”
There was a quick pause. “What?”
“Oh no, I’m sorry. Your wife, then.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I saw a woman with you that day at the street fair. I assumed while you were undercover you probably met someone and—”
“You know, you watch way too much TV. Undercover doesn’t work like that.”
“Huh.”
He chuckled, and it was a warm sound. “You sound disappointed.”
“I’m a romantic at heart.”
“I know.” He sighed heavily. “Lemme come get you.”
“So who was the girl?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“I dunno, probably one of Jen’s or Rachel’s friends. Why?”
“No reason.”
“You sure?”
I would not be drawn back in. “You know what, Sam, maybe this isn’t such a—”
“No, it’s fine. C’mon.”
“You don’t get to decide what’s fine or not, Sam,” I rushed out.
“No, I know.” He sighed. “But just c’mon.”
I was silent, thinking about what I should do.
“Please, J. Just eat with me.”
What could it hurt? “Okay, fine. Do you know Mancino’s?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Great. I can meet you there in fifteen minutes.”
“I’m leaving now,” he said, and hung up on me.
I walked to the curb as I heard my name called. Brandon Rossi was jogging toward me as I opened the door of the cab.
“Jory, please don’t—”
“Thanks again for inviting me.” I got in the cab and closed the door behind me. I didn’t look back.
I was leaning against the wall to the side of the hostess station, where I had checked in, when I felt a hand on the small of my back. It was a very familiar place to touch, and when I looked up from texting Dylan, I found Sam.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” He smiled, gesturing me close.
“What?”
“I dunno, what do I hafta do to get a proper greeting from an old friend?”
He was right. I pocketed my phone and stepped into him, reaching up to wrap my arms around his neck. I squeezed tight and, instantly, he hugged me back. He buried his face in my shoulder, his arms holding me close, pressing me against him, and he breathed in deeply before the long exhale.
“It’s good to see you, J.”
I hugged him because I used to love him and he felt good in my arms.
“I missed you,” he said, and a shiver ran through him fast.
Better to gargle glass than respond.
He pulled back and looked down at me, into my eyes. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I said, stepping free.
“You look good,” he said to the floor.
“Yeah?” I fished, because he was not one to dish out compliments.
“Yeah,” he said under his breath, his eyes flicking up to mine. “Really good.”
“And you look tired.” I passed judgment as I looked him over. “Maybe we should do this another—”
“No,” he cut me off, his brows furrowing.
“Have you been sleeping?”
“I wanna sleep with you,” he said slowly, his voice deep and gravelly. “Come home with me.”
It took me a second to respond, as my heart was in my throat, but I forced a dry chuckle. “Just like that?”
“Could we maybe have a summit meeting tomorrow? Right now I’m beat. I want you to come home with me so I can lie down with you.”
I watched his eyes, heavy-lidded, as he stared at me.
“I swear to God I haven’t really slept since I saw you last.”
“I thought you would have…” I trailed off because I had started speaking without thinking.
He let out a deep breath as I took a step back. “Would have what?”
I shook my head.
“Talk to me.”
“I just figured you’d go back to your life.”
“Meaning what?”
I cleared my throat. “C’mon, let’s eat.” I smiled, gesturing to the hostess, who was trying to get my attention. “I’m starving, and I had a lot to drink.”
“You did?”
“Oh hell yeah.”
“Tell me all about your date.”
I smiled as we followed the hostess to the table. We were in a booth toward the back, and since I hadn’t requested that, I had to wonder if she was trying to tuck us away because we looked like trouble. I would have if I were her.
“So, talk,” he ordered me, sliding over until his knee bumped mine. I chuckled as I recounted my adventures at Brava.
“The girl sounds nice.”
“She’s the kind of girl you need.”
“I got what I need right here,” he said flatly.
I tipped my head to look at him. “It’s been a long time, Sam.”
“So what? You told me there was nobody special.”
“Maybe I lied.”
“Well, I don’t see a ring on your finger.”
Ridiculous argument. “Gay men don’t wear—”
“Oh, the fuck they don’t. Who says what they can or can’t do?”
“Sam—”
“You’re gonna wear a ring for me.”
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to the waiter. I ordered a club sandwich and soup, and Sam ended up having the same. Alone again, Sam slid closer, putting an arm around the back of the seat.
“Listen, J—” he began, the deep sigh making me smile. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“What? C’mon.”
“I just never in my life thought I would see you again.”
“That is funny.” He squinted at me. “I myself never once doubted that you would.”
I was silent before I went at him from another angle. “Sam, isn’t your life good right now?”
“Yes, it is.”
“See? So why would you want to—”
“Only you give me this much crap. You’re the only one who fights with me.”
“We’re not fighting.”
“But you’re trying to, and you’re the only one I know who does.”
I scoffed; couldn’t help myself.
He laughed, deep and rumbling. “I don’t scare you at all, huh, J?”
“Are you kidding?”
There was his big lopsided grin then, his eyes twinkling as he stared at me. “I scare a lot of people, J.”
“Okay.” I indulged him.
“Hey.”
“What?”
“You cut your hair.”
“Yeah.” I smiled at him. “Long time ago.” My hair, which used to hit my shoulders, was now short like everyone else’s. It was still longer on top, strands fell into my eyes, got tangled in my lashes occasionally, but it wasn’t the mane it had been.
He made a noise in the back of his throat, and I looked at him.
“Sam?”
“It’s just good to see you,” he said, his voice deep and low, his eyes so very dark. I couldn’t speak around the lump in my throat.
He chuckled softly. “Nothing to say?”
“It’s good to see you too.”
He reached out and ran the backs of his fingers up and down my throat, stroking over my skin so lightly. “Eat your food so I can take you home.”