But Josh just stared for another second, and then ruffled his hair as he backed away. "You're right, sorry." He turned away from Diego. "So, what are you going to do about that watch?"
Oh, right, the watch. Diego felt a weary sigh build up at the thought of it. "I suppose I will give it back. George Harrington is a man who can differentiate between real... attention, and flattery." He hoped. If he lost George as a client, then he lost any chance of clawing his way up to bigger names. Christ, if, for instance, there was someone George might have pointed Diego's way...
"Ugh," he grunted, taking another sip of his water, trying not to let the panic show on his face.
"Don't worry about it too much," Josh said quickly. "He knew what you were doing, he knows what he's doing. If you give back the watch, there won't be any hard feelings."
"Maybe I really will keep it," Diego replied, only half-joking. "He is hot in that confident older man way."
He expected Josh to laugh, but instead, when he met Josh's eyes, there was just steely appraisal there. "Yeah, that's one thing you could do," Josh said. Looking away, he took a final glance around the apartment, lips pressed tight, and then shrugged. "It's a nice place, Diego, you really lucked out here."
"Thanks?" Diego replied, miffed by the short tone.
"Maybe you can upgrade once you have Daddy Warbucks under your thumb."
Diego didn't know what to say to that, his mouth working like a guppy, cheeks hot with indignation. "Christ," he finally managed to spit out, "why are you being such an asshole about this? It's not even any of your business."
There was a flash of frustration in Josh's eyes, and then he brought his hands up, palms out. "Ok, yeah, you're right. None of my fucking business."
Breathing a little heavily, Diego pursed his lips, wondering why he was even in this situation with Josh. "Look, about the room—"
"It wasn't about the room," Josh muttered.
"What?"
Josh stared at him, as if willing Diego to read his mind, but finally gave up with a small shake of his head. "I'm sorry about wasting your time."
Staring back, Diego frowned. "So you don't want the room."
"Do you want me to want the room?"
Diego's fingers curled into his palms. "I want someone to want the room, because we have to pay rent soon."
"I got the feeling you didn't want me here."
A sound of pure frustration escaped Diego's lips, and then he crossed his arms, dropping his head as he collected himself. "I don't," he said finally. "I think I would actually try to kill you if we were roommates."
What he expected when he looked up was not the resigned hurt on Josh's face that he quickly hid by turning towards the entryway. "Yeah, probably," Josh said, his voice quiet. "I'll see you at work, Diego."
*~*~*
He wasn't avoiding Josh. A potential customer would walk in, or Diego would have to check his voicemail for calls about the apartment, or he had to help hang the new stock, but he definitely was not avoiding Josh, even if it might have looked like Josh was heading towards him every few minutes. Diego was busy. He was working.
But finally, he was cornered.
He had needed the cigarette, and had dashed away when Josh was tied up with a client. The first puff immediately doused Diego's anxiety, and the second convinced him the slip in defense was worth it.
... Or maybe it wasn't, Diego thought to himself when he heard the creak of the alley door opening, and the pop of a can tab. He sniffed, wrapping his arms protectively over his front, and turning slightly from the door.
There was a light chuckle. "Did I piss you off that much?"
Diego glanced over his shoulder, eyes narrowed. "You never wanted the apartment."
Josh gave him a small, chastised smile. "Maybe."
"So, what?" Diego continued, turning to face him. "You just wanted to drag me all over the place so you could mock the way I sell suits—so you could waste my time? Know when the joke gets old, Braden."
"It wasn't a joke, Ortega," Josh replied, his white teeth showing when he grinned. He took a step closer to Diego, and a sip from his beer.
Diego wanted to blow a cloud of smoke in his face. So he did. And then he watched triumphantly as Josh coughed with a red face, beer sloshing out of his can as he covered his mouth. "Wow," Josh wheezed, "well done."
"Why are you even out here?" Diego asked. "You don't smoke."
"Yeah..." Josh straightened, clearing his throat. "But the company is so delightful."
"Whatever." Shouldering past Josh, Diego moved for the door when a tight grip wrapped around his arm, jerking him back around to see Josh staring at him with a much more serious expression than Diego was used to.
"I know you can be nice," Josh said. "I've seen it. You're nice to them, but not to me."
"It's my job," Diego snapped back, clawing Josh's hand away from his arm.
Josh didn't fight it, immediately letting go and backing away. "I know," he said softly. "I know that, but it's..." Looking wound up, he shook his head. "No, never mind. Sorry, I shouldn't have grabbed you like that."
About to demand what the hell was actually going on, Diego heard the door to the alley open again, and froze. "Hey guys, break's up."
"Thanks, Carl," Josh said, looking over Diego's shoulder. With that, he caught Diego's eye, and Diego nodded, dropping the cigarette, stamping it out, and then following Josh back into Robillard's. Quickly switching over to his working jacket, he caught Josh watching him with a small frown, but ignored it.
Out on the floor, there were several people browsing. Diego had to smile when he caught Arnie going full tilt with a rather done-up woman standing next to a bored looking man. He would have all the hottest salons, boutiques, and social spots to dole out like little crumbs as well, to really play up the Queer Eye bit—and to charm that woman straight into his permanent client list.
Diego caught sight of a lone browser, a man in his forties probably. With a curved lip, Diego zeroed in on him, but was careful not to stand too close. "I take it you already know what you're looking for?"
The man glanced up, appraising Diego. "Maybe I'm not looking for anything," he said, tone already on the verge of snapping.
Diego tried not to visibly recoil in annoyance, and instead plastered on a pleasant smile, wondering if he should just abandon this particular live bomb. "Of course," he said indulgently. "Please let me know if you need any assistance."
Grunting, the man lifted his hand to wave Diego off, and Diego stepped back. Turning, he let out a barely audible sigh and went to stand by the cufflinks, resting his palms on the glass. This was the part where he was supposed to have the rejection roll off him like water off a duck's back, but he still felt stung, and was irritated with himself for that even more.
"That guy was looking to get upset," Diego heard Arnie say behind him, and then he appeared, taking a spot next to Diego. "Walked in here with a chip on his shoulder about retail workers. And... hm, incoming."
Diego glanced up to see the man headed towards him, not looking particularly pleased, and when he reached them, he jabbed a finger down on the cufflink case. "You call that service?"
Blinking, Diego glanced at Arnie, and then back at the man. "My apologies, I thought you—"
"Thought I what?" the man yelped over him, eyes narrowed. "Thought I wasn't worth it?"
"No, sir, I—"
"Is that how this place is run? Half-assed attempts, and then disappearing?"
Shaking his head, lost for words, Diego felt the rise of indignation, and knew the next words out of his mouth were not going to be professional. But then a heavy hand rested on his shoulder, and an affable voice said, "We apologize for the mistake, of course. Please allow me to help you with anything you might need."
The man paused, and Diego glanced over at Josh, who was smiling warmly, hand still resting on Diego's shoulder.
"Yeah... alright," the man said gruffly, all anger miraculously extinguished. Diego wanted to gawk a
t him, and did when Josh led him away.
Arnie let out a low whistle.
Diego sneered. "Did you see that?"
"See what?" Arnie replied, eyes full of amusement. "Josh Braden swooping in before you shot your mouth off?"
Tightening up, Diego frowned. "I wasn't going to."
"Sure you were."
Ignoring Arnie, Diego watched Josh show the man several tie selections, and the man was actually smiling. "Do you think he did that for me?" The knowing look Arnie gave him troubled Diego, made him want to scoff. "You know he doesn't think this is a real job, right?"
Arnie only looked even more amused by Diego's snappish response. "And it bothers you that he has that opinion?"
"No," Diego replied just a little too quickly.
Resting his hand on his chin, elbow on the cufflink case, Arnie cocked an eyebrow. "Well aren't you two just the most precious little things."
*~*~*
Diego caught up with Josh at his car, pushing the door shut just as Josh was opening it. "Hold on," Deigo panted, leaning against the car to catch his breath. "Why do you park so far away?"
"No meter," Josh replied, eyes focused on Diego, demeanor cautious.
"Anyway," Diego said with a wide, tired wave of his hand, "about that asshole customer, well—I guess you saved me there, I was definitely going to snap at him."
"Yeah?" Josh said, crossing his arms. His smile was less hesitant now. "Is this you thanking me?"
Diego scowled at him, and then sniffed, looking away and nodding. Hearing a faint chuckle, his cheeks heated and he lobbed a stream of mental curses at Josh, the arrogant prick. "It's not like I asked you to, though," he said, pride dictating his words rather than his brain.
The look Josh gave him was full of humor. "That would certainly be the day."
Miffed for some reason, pulling back, Diego was ready to say goodbye when Josh caught his wrist. "Let me give you a ride home."
"Uh," Diego glanced back at the bus stop where he would have to sit for forty-five minutes until his bus came. His pride wasn't that big. "Yeah, ok."
The smile Josh gave him looked genuine, eyes lighting up. "Great," he said. "Hang your suit in the back." And with that, he ran around to the passenger side, Diego following, first unlocking the front door and then the back.
When they were both settled in, Josh waiting for the car to warm up, Diego swallowed dryly. "Have I really been a dick to you?"
Josh was silent, so Diego glanced at him. He was staring at Diego with wide eyes. "Pretty much."
"Yeah, well," Diego said quickly, "you're not perfect either."
"I, uh." Josh rubbed the back of his neck, and Diego saw his cheeks were flushed. "Never thought... I was perfect, or—"
"Being a suit salesman is my job," Diego said pointedly over Josh's stuttering. "It's a real job."
There was a flicker of confusion on Josh's face, and then dawning realization. "Oh. Oh, shit, Diego, I didn't... that was just one of those stupid things people say without thinking. Of course it's a real job, I know. Just look at Arnie! Man, I..." Trailing off, he sunk back in his seat, completely deflated. "Sorry," he said finally.
Appeased, Diego started to feel bad. "And well, the reason I act like that around you is because I know you feel that way about it, but you're so good at it. Better than me. So, I was jealous."
"You were jealous," Josh said slowly, his voice sounding a little choked. Sniffing, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and then sat up straight to grip the wheel, and Diego noticed his expression clearing. Taking a moment to check for traffic, he pulled out of the spot. "So really, it's not that you hate me or anything."
"No," Diego replied. When their eyes met for a brief moment, Diego was pretty sure he saw relief there, as well as quickly returning confidence.
"That's good to know," Josh said. "Glad we got that sorted out."
"Why?" Diego replied, letting a bit of teasing into his tone. "So now we can be great friends?"
"Yeah," Josh said, turning his head to grin at Diego. "Sure. Friends."
*~*~*
Diego was taking a look at the new stock of dinner jackets hanging in the showroom when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You're still wearing that interesting imitation piece." The words were warm, and only a little teasing. Diego turned to find George Harrington standing behind him, looking down at Diego with an upturned lip. "Was the gift not your liking?"
The hand was still resting on Diego's shoulder, dangerously close to the slope of his neck, and Diego had to admit he was swayed by the strength. "It didn't feel right..." he said, forced into honesty by this sneak attack.
George seemed understanding, nodding his head. "There were no invisible strings attached to it, Diego," he said. "I just wanted to thank you for all the good service."
That low, smooth voice, the broad shoulders made stronger by experience, George's calm confidence that came with being secure in life, were all a pretty strong aphrodisiac, Diego realized with a dry mouth, finding himself gawping up at George, any previous ability at acting coy gone.
As if he could see the wavering, George smiled, this time with less warmth and more purpose. "You're very good at this, Diego, I'm only worried that as you grow your client list, I might become a bit less—important to you."
Shaking his head, Diego said, "Of course not, Mr. Harrington—"
"George."
Diego knew he was out of his league. He had a watch worth an entire year's rent sitting in his employee locker, for god's sake. He tried to think of something coherent to say, when he saw a hand land on George's arm, and his eyes widened.
Josh stood there, in his green suit, only his tie was gone and his shirt was unbuttoned just enough to show a strong, tanned collarbone, and a lack of chest hair. Feeling very much like a removed peanut gallery all of a sudden, Diego realized, with sudden clarity, that the straight-passing surfer-bro was gone.
"Mr. Harrington," Josh said lightly. "Glad to see you again. How did Faisel's interview go?"
"It went well," George replied, eyeing Josh as if seeing him for the first time, but his hand still rested on Diego's shoulder. Josh's eyes flicked to it, but then he was smiling openly at George again.
"Well," he said with joking modesty, "I'm sure it was entirely the suit."
George laughed at that, and there was a growing sense of horror in Diego's stomach. He quickly moved towards George. "But you're here for you, right, George? There's quite a few things I know you'll be interested—"
"This set had been on my mind since you came in," Josh said. "Refined, powerful in their simplicity." He was holding up a box with a pair of cufflinks that indeed George would certainly like.
Diego's eyes moved to George's face, and he looked entirely pleased. Of course he was, he had two young men in suits fighting over his attentions. No one was oblivious here. Diego then looked at Josh with narrowed eyes.
His chest hurt. Biting his lip, he looked down and excused himself quietly, knocking George's hand away and dashing for the back room, not stopping until he was out in the alley. Ignoring that he was in his working suit, he pulled the pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one up, a shaking hand bringing it to his lips.
When he thought about how George's attentions were so easily swayed... he wasn't so hurt by that.
When he thought about Josh coming in and targeting Diego's one big client...
"Shit," Diego muttered, taking another drag. He had really thought Josh wasn't such an opportunistic asshole, but apparently that was wrong.
Just as he was stomping the cigarette out on the ground, the door opened again and he looked up to see Josh coming out. With a grimace, Diego stuffed his hands in his pockets and quickly made for the end of the alley. "Diego," he heard Josh call after him, "come on, just hold on, I have to say something—"
Diego kept walking, shoulders hunched, trying not to think that he had nowhere to go; his wallet was still in the locker. But then he realized the direction he
took curved into an empty lot with no exit onto the street. With a sigh, he turned to face Josh.
"You're an ass," he said. "You can catch any client you want in there, but you go after mine."
"No," Josh said quickly, shaking his head. "That was... a shitty thing, it was dumb, but I—"
"You pulled that whole squeaky-clean twink act out of your ass, and charmed a guy I had spent months trying to build up a rapport with," Diego said, backing away from Josh, nearly tripping on a tangled bit of broken fence. He circled around it to put more room between himself and Josh.
Josh was watching him, blue eyes narrowed, lips settled in a frown. "No," Josh said, taking slow steps around the fence. Diego watched his progress with suspicion. "He was harassing you, Diego, he had his hand on your shoulder, had you cornered over there, I thought you needed my help."
"Bullshit," Diego spat. "I'm not going to fall for that savior crap again. You had the cufflinks ready, you had the whole fucking thing planned so you could—what, I don't know. Steal him, prove you could steal him. It's not like I thought he was in love with me, ok? I knew it was just flirting."
Josh's eyebrows drew together. "Wait, do you actually like that guy?"
"No," Diego shouted, making Josh flinch. "God, fuck you." He turned, and then remembered he was stuck in the lot.
He heard footsteps crunching over broken glass and pebbles towards him, a hand sliding to the small of his back and Josh staring straight into his eyes. "Diego, I'm sorry if it looked like I was going after him, I just—" Pausing, Josh's eyes widened, and he licked his lips. "Ok, I just really wanted him to stop flirting with you. I wanted to stop you from flirting."
He was close to Diego, hand reaching out tentatively for Diego's fingers. "With the apartment, it was just a good excuse to spend some time with you away from work, ok? But I shouldn't have wasted your time like that."
Too focused on Josh's hand about to clasp his, Diego started shaking his head. "You've lost me," he said flatly, backing up.
The look Josh gave him was exasperated. "Have I really? The getting in your way at work and dragging you around town for no reason hasn't clued you in?" He seemed to rally, his expression smoothing out with confidence, cheeky smirk on his face. The hand on Diego's back slid farther down, inching towards the slope of his ass. "In grade school, I used to steal the toys from boys I liked."
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