Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Seb
“Would you stop that?” Dave exclaims. “If you can’t sit still, then get out of here. You’re distracting me.”
I force myself to stop drumming on the tabletop and take a deep breath.
Dave’s right, I’m even annoying myself, but if I leave the kitchen and have to keep myself occupied without any distractions, I might go insane.
This is stupid. What happened to approaching this logically?
You’re acting like a teenager going on a first date.
I’m such a loser.
Glancing up, I see Dave watching me with a huge, stupid grin on his face.
“What?” I demand, annoyed.
Mostly at myself for giving Dave this opportunity to tease me.
“Nothing. Just never thought you’d be the type to fall to pieces just because you’re in loooooove .”
“Ugh.” I put my head down on the table for a second, then straighten and glare at Dave.
“You’ve been talking to Chris. Seriously, don’t you all have enough to do without wasting time on gossip?” I immediately feel guilty, because my days working in the stables were full of gossip—still are, if I’m honest. It makes chores like cleaning tack go faster.
Dave just laughs, and the guilt dissipates.
“Mate, you need to chill. So the two of you wanna bone. Just get it over with and things will be normal again—except with sex.”
What.
Really. What?
“This is why I should never accept advice from teenagers,” I mutter.
“I’m twenty!”
“You lose a couple years when your advice is to ‘bone and get it over with,’” I inform him.
“Fuck, no wonder you’re single.”
“You’re single too,” Dave points out, still looking offended.
There isn’t much I can say to that.
“Look.” It sounds like Dave is losing patience.
“This isn’t hard. You like him. He likes you. Why are you making it complicated?”
“I’m not making it complicated. You’re right. I like him. I’m not convinced he likes me, but that’s what I’m going to assess while he’s here. And then I’ll decide if we like each other enough to ignore the fact that he’s my boss.” I’m proud of how calm I sound.
I’m getting my nerves under control.
I can totally handle this like the mature, responsible adult I am.
Dave stares at me. “You’re an idiot.”
What?
No.
“I’m not,” I protest. “Why would you say that?”
“Because this is not a profit and loss statement. You’re not trying to decide whether you should change suppliers or expand the stable. Relationships are about feelings , Seb. Jeez, even I know that, and supposedly I’m still a teenager.”
“I thought you were twenty?”
I make a weird yelping noise and twist in my chair so quickly that I nearly fall out of it.
Dave and Jack both laugh as I clutch the table to keep from sprawling on the floor.
“Thanks for that,” Dave says.
“I’m going to treasure that memory for a long time.”
I ignore him.
“Hey,” I say to Jack.
“You’re… uh, a little earlier than I expected. How was the drive?”
Jack smiles at me, and something clutches in my chest. Fuck.
I’m in trouble. “For whatever reason, there was hardly any traffic. What are we having for dinner?”
“Steak and mashed potato,” Dave announces.
“Just let me know when you want it, and I’ll put the steaks on.”
I stop listening as Jack says something about washing up and making a call.
It says a lot about the power of denial that I never realized the effect Jack has on me.
It’s only after my new crush has left the kitchen that I can focus fully.
Dave’s smirking, although not unsympathetically.
“You are so screwed, man. You should have seen your face just now.”
Horror strikes.
“Did he see my face?” I’m not ready for that.
I need time to come to terms with what I’m feeling.
“Nah.” Dave shakes his head.
“But when you weren’t looking, he smiled at you like you were the second coming.”
Well, that’s good.
Isn’t it?
Dave laughs again, which means I must be wearing my thoughts on my face.
Fuck. I’ve always been shit at bluffing, and clearly that extends to my wannabe love life.
“I might need a drink,” I mutter.
“Beer’s in the fridge. Why don’t you bring one to Jack, too?”
I’ve taken two bottles out and am closing the fridge door when I remember Jack was going to wash up.
“Isn’t Jack having a shower?” I ask suspiciously, and the cheeky look on Dave’s face tells me everything I need to know.
“Dick.” I put one of the beers back in the fridge.
“Hey, I would’ve drunk that, if you’re too chickenshit to take it to Jack.”
“You don’t deserve it. And if I decide to pursue this, it won’t be by invading Jack’s personal space, uninvited, when he’s naked and wet.” Jesus.
My mouth goes dry at the thought, and I take a gulp of beer.
“If I decide to pursue this,” Dave mimics.
“Seriously, have you ever been laid? What’s with the repressed grandpa attitude?”
I sit down at the kitchen table and huff.
I refuse to admit that Dave might be right.
I’m mature and responsible, damn it.
“I’m trying to be adult about this.”
“Mate, adults have sex. That’s what R ratings are for. ‘Adults only’ ring a bell?” He turns up the heat under the saucepan on the stove.
“I cannot wait to tell everyone this shit tomorrow. You’re never going to hear the end of it.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I stare at the beer bottle held between my hands.
Should I be more spontaneous?
Leap in without considering all angles?
No. There’s more on the line here than just sex.
Jack’s my boss. More important, Jack’s my friend , and I don’t want things to be weird.
Better to take my time, even if it means I’m going to cop shit from everyone.
I would’ve copped shit from them either way.
A hand lands on my shoulder, and a moment later, a plate with a single gourmet chocolate on it is placed on the table beside my arm.
I narrow my eyes on it, then twist to glare at Dave.
“Where did that come from?”
Dave shrugs.
“I bought a box last time I was in the city, and I’ve been hoarding them. They’re part of your dessert tonight, but I thought you could use one now.”
How can I be pissed at Dave when he goes and does shit like this?
“Thank you. And thanks for sharing. You could have kept them all for yourself.” Dave’s weakness for Koko Black chocolates has only ever been rivaled by Warwick’s.
I’m not much better—I always make sure to avoid the boutiques when I’m in Melbourne, in case I bankrupt myself buying all their stock.
Dave just smiles and goes back to the stove, and I pick up the chocolate.
It’s one of my favorites, the Gianduja truffle, and I close my eyes as I bite in, savoring the creamy melt-in-your-mouth hazelnut and milk chocolate.
Opening my eyes, I see Jack in the doorway.
The lust on his face makes me choke.
Fortunately, the chocolate really does melt in my mouth, and I manage to clear my windpipe before I make too big an idiot of myself.
“Christ!” I pick up my beer and take a swig.
It tastes weird after the chocolate.
“Are you okay?” Jack comes around to hover beside me, hand half raised as if to smack me on the back.
“Yeah.” I haul in a deep breath and clear my throat again.
“I’m fine.” My voice still sounds a little hoarse.
“I, uh, was just not expecting you to be there.” Or to be looking at me like that.
“Sorry. That’s twice today I’ve startled you. I won’t let it happen again.”
I ignore the stifled snicker from over by the stove.
“Nah, it’s fine. I’m just tired.” Does that make any fucking sense?
I hurry on. “Uh, I think I’ll set the table. Do you want a drink?”
“I’ll get it.” Jack turns and heads for the fridge as I haul myself up from my chair.
Dave smirks at me behind Jack’s back.
It’s going to be a long night.
And probably an even longer weekend.