by Aiden Bates
The school secretary appeared at the door to the breakroom, a beautifully wrapped giftbox in her hands. She glanced around for a moment then spotted Eli and me and headed in our direction.
Eli’s face lit up with pleasure, his grin stretching across his face, and he held his hand out. “Benji is just the sweetest,” he gushed.
But the secretary shook her head. “Sorry, honey. Not this time. The delivery guy asked for Gray.”
“Uh…okay.” I accepted the box.
Then I looked into Eli’s curious eyes and shook my head.
“I have no idea,” I said.
“Check the card.” Eli leaned really close, trying to see, and I automatically shifted a little, trying to preserve something that was mine.
But I opened the card anyway, and the gift box was from Rome.
Gray,
I was just thinking of you. Date Saturday night? Please say yes.
R xxx
I opened the giftbox, and excitement fluttered in my stomach. It had been a while since I felt admired or appreciated, and a gift delivered to work was that kind of special. A shiver ran across my skin, and I almost laughed at the absurdity of my reaction.
The smell of the fresh baked cupcakes from my favorite bakery wafted into the air as I opened the lid.
“Wow,” Eli murmured. “I can see at least three there that I’d fight you for.”
I pushed the lid back down, careful not to crush the cakes. “You know,” I said. “This suits me very well indeed. I think I am actually perfectly fine having a workaholic boyfriend.”
I crossed the road toward Rome’s building, the bag of Chinese take-out clutched in my hand. It was a pretty big bag—full of Rome’s favorite food and my favorite food, and a couple of other selections that looked too good to miss. Maybe I was taking a risk by showing up uninvited on Friday, and I hoped it wouldn’t cancel out our date on Saturday, but I wanted to treat him the way he had treated me.
The security guy waved me past to the bank of elevators, and I headed up to Rome’s floor. He had at least three piles of folders on his desk, a pencil tucked behind his ear, and he was typing on his keyboard when I stood in his doorway.
“Hey.” I spoke softly—I didn’t want to startle him.
He looked up and grinned. “Hey.”
“Swamped?” I indicated his desk.
He laughed and nodded. “Yeah.”
“I assumed you wouldn’t get time to eat, so I…” I shrugged and half held out the bag with the food in it.
“You assumed right.” He grinned at me again.
“Can I do anything to help you out so we can eat together?” The food would keep warm while I at least helped clear his desk.
He grimaced. “We might have to make it quick.”
“I can do quick, but you need a break at some point, so it might as well be now.” I’d win him over with logic.
“True.” He moved a pile of folders toward me. “Could you file these in that drawer over there?” He nodded to a cabinet by the door. “Second one down.”
I bustled back and forth across the office. “Apparently I missed my calling as your PA,” I joked.
“You’d be too distracting to have around here every day,” Rome murmured as he focused on his screen. “I’d never get any work done.”
I faltered in my find for a moment, then shook my head and continued. He was just keeping up the pretense, or he was too distracted to focus on his words.
Once his desk was quite tidy, I turned my attention to the small meeting table in the corner of his room. It didn’t look too dissimilar from my round dining table at home, and I began to lay our meal out on it, emptying the boxes from the bag and grabbing the paper napkins. “Chopsticks or forks?” I asked. “I brought both.”
He chuckled. “How long do you plan to be here? For anything resembling speed and accuracy, I definitely need a fork.”
“Okay. Then we’re ready to eat when you are.” I slid one of the chrome and plastic chairs from under the glass-topped table and sat down.
“Mmm… That smells really good.” He stood and walked toward me. “Thank you for thinking of me tonight.”
I warmed under his gaze and looked away. “And thank you for sending me cupcakes,” I responded.
For a moment, we ate in silence and I poured water into the cups I’d brought.
Rome broke into the quiet. “Have you heard back from the university?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. But I keep telling myself even going for the interview is good experience.”
“It is.” He nodded. “But I’m pretty confident you’ll get the call you want.”
Something in his voice tugged at my awareness, and I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him. Rome had friends and those who wanted to impress him everywhere. “You don’t know someone there, right? You haven’t pulled any strings on my behalf?”
He held his hands out in the international gesture of innocence. “No way. I know you’d never forgive me if I tried to do anything like that.”
I nodded. He was right. No matter how well intentioned, that kind of interference would never be seen as helpful. Even my family members—well connected and influential themselves—never relied on that network for any of us to get ahead. We each had to prove our worth.
“I only said you’ll get the call because I truly believe in you and your ability. There’s no one better for that job, Gray.” His voice softened, and I looked at him.
How come I’d never realized just how sweet and supportive he was? We’d been friends for so long, but it was almost like I’d never actually seen him.
We ate quite quickly—Rome still had some work to finish, and I wanted to help him by making sure he took a meal break rather than interrupting him completely. As he swallowed his last mouthful, I leaped into action, tidying boxes away, and he laughed.
“Is that our meal finished then?”
I stopped and looked at him. “I know you’re busy, so I was going to be as unobtrusive as possible and leave you to finish up your work. But are we still on for tomorrow?”
His note had mentioned a Saturday date, and hopefully I hadn’t taken that off the table by sneaking in a meal tonight.
He stood slowly, looking at me the whole time. “Nothing would keep me away.”
I was so excited as I waited for Rome, our tickets in my hand. He was running a bit late, and I wanted to guarantee our seats. I hadn’t been to the movies with a guy in a long time, and unexpected, long-forgotten teenage feelings of anticipation bubbled and churned in my gut. I waited just inside the entrance doors, and the aroma of hot buttered popcorn scented the air. Couples walked past hand in hand or snuggled up close, and teenagers seemed to screech and jump all over each other in the game arcade at the back.
I shook my head. It seemed a long time since I’d been that young. The lack of a call from the university played on my mind, and I’d been glad when Rome suggested a movie. Something to take my mind off the job interview. His thoughtfulness warmed me, and I looked around for him again.
Except I didn’t see him. Instead, I spotted Eli and Benji, and I was about to turn away and pretend I hadn’t noticed them when Benji waved.
“Grady! Grady, It’s us.”
By sheer luck, I didn’t roll my eyes.
They moved to stand in the line for tickets, and it was as if they became one person. I couldn’t see where Eli ended and Benji began. Every so often, Benji kissed Eli’s jaw, and I looked away. Once upon a time I would have wanted that to be me in Eli’s arms. But it didn’t sting as badly to see them together today.
They bought their tickets, and I expected them to head to concessions, but Benji pulled Eli’s arm until they came to stand right beside me.
He glanced at my tickets and squealed. “Oh, yay! We’re going to see that one, too! It’s like another double date. We must just be meant to hang out together. Like the fab four, or something.”
I nodded mechanically, sure the smile on my face loo
ked as fake as it felt.
But Benji didn’t seem to notice. “We’ll wait for you to be ready then we can all sit together.”
I nodded again as disappointment filtered through my chest to sit in my stomach. I didn’t want to spend my night at the theater with Eli and Benji. I’d had enough of their sideshow. Tonight was supposed to have been about switching off and just relaxing. If Rome ever got here. I checked my watch.
“Romeo running late?” Eli asked, his eyebrow raised.
Benji clapped his hands. “Oh! Romeo! I like that. He sounds like quite the man.” He lowered his voice and lifted his eyebrows, too, but the movement had a different meaning than whatever Eli had intended.
“You can just come and sit with us if, you know, he’s held up at work.” Eli continued speaking like Benji hadn’t commented, and I started to shake my head.
I wouldn’t make myself into a third wheel. I’d rather just pitch the tickets if my night ended up with that as a choice.
“He might have got caught up. You know what the world of investments is like.”
Except I didn’t, and neither did Eli, really. I glared at him as he continued to suggest Rome would stand me up. I didn’t know what had gotten into him.
Then strong arms wrapped around my chest from behind, and I jumped as Rome dropped a kiss onto my cheek, my face heating as Benji’s eyes widened.
“Sorry I’m late,” Rome’s deep voice murmured as his lips brushed against my ear.
“You’re here now.” My voice came out pitched wrong, and I cleared my throat. “You want any popcorn?”
Benji seemed to be in a state of half swoon as he watched Rome hold me against him, but Eli glared in our general direction, which probably had something to do with the worries he’d mentioned to me the other day. I pushed that thought away. Tonight was worry-free.
Instead, I relaxed against the heat of Rome’s body, content to melt against a strong, kind guy.
10
Rome
I couldn’t have said which movie were going to see. I didn’t much care. Grady had chosen the tickets and I would’ve agreed to anything he chose. The fact Eli had shown up to be a spectator to our date only made it all the sweeter, in my opinion. I’d have rather handed him his ass any day of the week but watching his confusion and barely concealed anger in the lobby of the theater came a pretty close second.
I tightened my hold on Grady, holding him closer, loving taking the weight of him as he relaxed against me.
I smirked at Eli, and he narrowed his eyes in response, the hot anger in them practically molten. Eli’s little boyfriend—excuse me, fiancé—glanced between us, bewilderment drawing his eyebrows together.
“What’s going on, guys?” he asked. “I thought you all went to school together. You’re all friends, right?”
Eli scoffed, before turning it into a cough, his face reddening. Then he looked at Benji. “Look, we share a friend, but that doesn’t mean we are friends. Far from it, actually.”
“Eli.” Even Grady’s voice sounded relaxed instead of mildly chastising, which I was pretty sure was what he was going for.
“Yeah?” Eli just sounded surly and like he might tantrum on the spot.
“Behave yourself,” Gray chided. “Just be nice to Rome. You know we’re together, but you’re still my friend and acting like it wouldn’t hurt you.” His tone and words were still mild, but they both warmed me and seemed to make Eli think again for his behavior.
“Sorry, Gray,” he mumbled. “Long week at work, that’s all.”
And I wasn’t surprised at Eli’s apology, even though it was half-hearted at best. Grady hadn’t rebuked Eli for anything at all in as long as I could remember.
“Mmm.” Grady’s hum sounded doubtful, but he didn’t say anything further as Eli turned to Benji to ask if he wanted popcorn or candy.
Gray turned his head toward me, and I glanced down at him. “I didn’t know if you were going to make it,” he murmured, his voice low to keep our conversation private. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I smiled to reassure him. “We’re lining up a tricky investment deal at Hayes, but I wouldn’t have stood you up for anything. You can count on me—always.”
We filed into the movie theater and chose our seats. As fucking luck would have it, Benji followed Grady into our row, and Eli somehow pushed past him at the last minute to sit right on the other side of Gray. I shook my head. This guy had the brains of an amoeba. Still, if he wanted a show, I could oblige, and he certainly had the best seat in the house for that.
So, for Eli’s benefit, I didn’t waste any time in throwing an arm over Grady’s shoulders, and I didn’t bother with any of that fake yawn stuff, either. I also reached across with my other arm and found his hand, linking our fingers together. Oh, yes. Grady was most definitely mine, and Eli could totally see that.
Grady leaned against me, his head almost resting on my shoulder, and my throat dried. Shit. I wanted this man for real. My dick stirred, and I focused on the screen in front of us, counting the number of times the lead character said and. Anything to not be so aware of the guy whose head fell closer and closer to my shoulder and who smelled like a vanilla spice chai. Grady might have been mine for pretend, but I was his for keeps, and I wanted him to feel the same about me.
Screw Eli and his scowls and misplaced jealousy. He’d made his choice with Benji, and I wanted Grady to choose me.
The movie was all right, but it was definitely two hours I’d never get back—two hours I’d rather have spent alone in the company of Grady, anyway. And I couldn’t shake the awareness of a glaring Eli. Every time I glanced at him, he was definitely looking in my direction. I’d finally said screw it and forced myself to relax into the movie, more or less keeping up with the plot, but then it seemed to end really abruptly and Benji stood up from his seat and stretched, knocking the remains of his popcorn to the floor. Then he looked down the aisle at us.
“That was a great movie, guys! Whoever chose these tickets are clearly geniuses, amiright, Grady?” He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “Are we all headed out to eat?”
Sweet Jesus, the guy was like a little puppy. I didn’t have a lot of patience for him, but I didn’t want to kick him, either.
Luckily, Eli was around to burst his bubble of enthusiasm. He rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t planning on it, Benji.” Then he narrowed his eyes at me. “Some people are probably too busy to join us, anyway.”
I stepped in. “Can we take a raincheck on that, Benji?” Like I said, I didn’t want to actually hurt the guy. I lowered my voice a little. “I had other…plans in mind for Grady and me.” The suggestive tone came off nicely, and Grady choked, slapping his chest a couple of times as his cheeks colored a deep red.
Eli glared at me. It was like the only expression the guy had when I was around. Perhaps he was a faulty model of human. Yet there was a hint of challenge deep in his eyes, and I didn’t like that.
I’d decide if he needed to challenge me over anything…
I leaned toward Grady and cupped his chin, drawing his face toward mine. Yeah, Eli could suck my balls. Grady’s lips were soft, and he parted them in surprise as I pressed my mouth to his. My heart pounded wildly, and heat rushed through me, sending sparks to every nerve ending. It was as if the feel of Grady electrified me, and I touched his lower lip gently with my tongue.
For a moment, he stiffened, and I hesitated. Then he relaxed again, and opened his mouth a little more, allowing my tongue to sweep in. My breath caught when his tongue slid against mine and brushed the inside of my cheek.
I focused on exploring him—the texture of his mouth, the taste and tang of the butter and salt from the popcorn he’d managed to eat between holding my hand, and I inhaled the scent of his skin deep into the center of me.
He gasped a little and a surge of need flowed unchecked through me. I pulled away, breathing a little heavier than I’d want to admit to.
Gray met my eyes, his pupils dil
ated. “I said no tonsil hockey,” he whispered, but the smile on his mouth showed me he’d liked it.
I chuckled. Feeling both relieved and indulgent.
Then I leaned forward and kissed him again, softer and a hell of a lot more chaste, just because I could.
“For fuck’s sake, guys,” Eli said, his voice an ugly low growl. “Get a room.”
I only spared him a glance before I switched my attention back to Gray. “I intend to.” Gray’s cheeks pinked, and I tugged his hand. “Come on, we should go.”
He followed me out of the theater and then through the lobby and out onto the street. He was nibbling at his lips every time I glanced at him, and I grinned.
I stopped and turned to him outside the movie theater. “Come back to my place for din…” But the rest of my question was interrupted by the shrill ring of my cell phone, and I swallowed my groan.
I’d been about to lie to Grady, anyway. I didn’t really want dinner—I just wanted to kiss him more. In truth, I wanted far more than simple kisses, but I didn’t know how much Grady wanted.
I glanced at my cell screen. “Shit. It’s Coop. I need to take this.” Something must have gone wrong with the investment deal I’d been working on.
Coop would never usually call so late after hours unless it was something he couldn’t handle—and anything he couldn’t handle was a true emergency.
After a brief conversation of terse monosyllables on both sides, I hung up with him. I had to go in.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t want to leave you.” I groaned out my frustration as I watched Gray for his reaction.
People and traffic moved by us on the street in a stream of noise and color.
“Don’t worry about it.” He smiled. “You go handle your emergency. You can make it up to me later.”
