Fourteen Arya #2
“Anytime.”
“How are you settling in to town?”
“Good. I’m getting to know the neighborhood. Finding the best places to run with Simon.”
“Simon?”
“My dog.”
Arya’s drink was halfway to his mouth, but he froze.
“You have a dog? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Ben shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”
“Bring him to next practice.” Arya loved dogs. He’d have one himself, if his apartment would allow it. And if his lifestyle was more suited to being responsible for another living being.
“Her,” Ben said. “You sure?”
“Of course! I want to meet her! But her name’s Simon?”
Ben laughed and explained the story to Arya, pulling out his phone to show a few pictures.
“She’s the most perfect thing I have ever seen in my life,” Arya said. “Tell her I said hello?”
“Agreed. And sure.” Ben sat back and sipped his espresso tonic.
Arya stared as the bubbles rose in the dark liquid, then realized it looked like he was staring at Ben’s full lips, so he stared into the depths of his own cup instead.
The full mint leaves were blossoming in their little sachet, unfurling and releasing all their secrets.
He was so focused, he nearly jumped when Ben spoke again.
“So, like I said, I… kind of need a favor.”
“Okay…”
Arya had learned the hard way to never automatically say yes to favors. Not even for friends. Especially not for family.
In fact, the only people in his life who got automatic yeses were Farzan and Ramin.
“I ran into my ex the other day. Justin. You remember him?”
Arya curled his lip in disgust. “The open relationship guy?”
He almost said The guy who caught us in the vineyard? but wasn’t sure if it was normal for friends to bring up jacking each other off or not.
Ben cracked a weak smile. “Yup, him. He just moved to Kansas City.”
Arya groaned. He couldn’t imagine how awkward that must be. Ben had gone halfway across the country to get away from him.
“That sucks.”
“Yeah.” Ben pushed his silky hair off his forehead. “He asked me for another chance.”
“Ugh. I hope you told him no.” Ben deserved so much better than that guy.
Still, it wasn’t his place to say.
“Sorry. I mean, it’s your life and your business, but he seemed…” Arya shook his head and started over. “I mean, you seemed like you weren’t very happy with him. And as your friend, I want you to be happy.”
Ben’s smile grew. “Thanks.”
“So wait. What’s the favor, then?” Ben didn’t seem like the revenge type, so Arya didn’t know what Ben could possibly need help with.
Ben pressed his lips together and blew out a raspberry.
“I… kind of told him you and I were a thing.”
Arya clutched his mug so hard, hot Moroccan mint sloshed over the side, though thankfully it missed burning Arya’s hand. He set the tea down and reached for a napkin.
“Sorry,” he said. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m sorry,” Ben said, using his own napkin to help. “Justin was being kind of pushy and I panicked.”
“It’s fine.” It wasn’t ideal, but Arya was willing to be Ben’s shield if he needed it. Besides, what did it matter if some random guy thought Arya and Ben were at thing? “I still don’t get what you need a favor for, though.”
“Justin got a job at the Loews. He’s the new hospitality director.”
“The Loews.” Fuck a duck. The Loews was the hotel attached to the convention center. Arya worked with them all the time.
“Yeah.” Ben cleared his throat. “He said they’re hosting the PhilBall.”
“Shit,” Arya said. “They are.”
Their involvement wouldn’t be as frequent or direct as Arya’s was, but someone from the hotel—most likely Justin—would still be around for some of the meetings. Not to mention the ball itself.
“Talk about a stalker ex,” he muttered.
Ben sighed. “I know. It’s weird, right?”
“Super weird.”
“So…” Ben rocked the bottom of his drink against the table. “I don’t suppose there’s any chance you could pretend to be my boyfriend? Just when Justin’s around?”
Arya swallowed. He wanted to help Ben. Of course he did. But he couldn’t. This was super unprofessional, and MME was already in enough trouble. The last thing they needed was a scandal. “Listen, Ben, I’m sorry but I can’t. You’re a client.”
“I don’t sign the checks,” Ben pointed out.
Yeah, there was that, but still.
Arya shook his head. “It’s my job, Ben.”
“I know. I know. I wouldn’t ask if I thought there was any other way.”
“You could tell Justin the truth.”
“Trust me, that would make things worse. You want to deal with him sitting across the table flirting with me? Trying to win me back? Making our history everyone’s problem?”
“He’d do that?” Arya couldn’t imagine taking his baggage into a meeting with clients, no matter how entangled they might’ve been.
“He might,” Ben said. “Please? I know it’s a big ask. Listen, you pretend to be my boyfriend, and I’ll do you a favor, too.”
Arya’s chest tightened.
There was no way. This was unprofessional.
Mitchell might go around fucking clients, but damn it, Arya was different. He groaned and rubbed his face.
“Is there anything I could do to convince you? Anything I could offer in return? Please, Arya.”
Arya huffed. He couldn’t do this. There were too many risks, too many chances for complication. He needed to focus. Everyone at MME was counting on him.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve already got my hands full trying to save my job.”