“Maybe because he doesn’t want Matt with anyone else?” I suggested. “Period. End of story. No understudy required.”
“Christ on a cracker.” Ryan looked like someone had just told him Santa was real but exclusively dated the Easter Bunny. “And I’ve been over there practically throwing myself at him trying to distract— oh God.”
“Watching you try to seduce him with quantum computing was a special kind of entertainment.”
“I hate you,” Ryan groaned. “And I hate my brain. And I really hate that I just spent the last hour accidentally flirting with the guy who’s been pining after my brother since before smartphones were a thing.”
“If it helps, your technique needs work anyway. Maybe fewer tech specs, more eye contact?”
“I’m getting another virgin mojito,” Ryan announced. “And then we’re going back there before he tries to recreate some MIT makeout session or something.”
“Speaking of intense staring,” I muttered, catching Porter’s fixed gaze in our direction.
“What? Who? There’s another one?” Ryan’s voice cracked. “No, don’t tell me. My poor gay disaster radar can’t take another hit tonight.”
I just grabbed our drinks and steered us back to the table. Some revelations could wait for another night. By the time we settled in our seats, Ryan was already a man with a mission. A very misguided mission.
“Xavier,” he practically purred, sliding his chair closer. “You never finished telling me about that new AI project of yours.”
Xavier’s attention remained fixed on Matt. “Perhaps another time?—”
“The interface is revolutionary, right?” Ryan batted his eyelashes like a Disney princess on speed. “I’d love to hear all about your… coding.”
I nearly choked on my sparkling water. Subtle as a brick through a window, this one.
“Your brother seems enthusiastic tonight, Matthew,” Xavier observed, his tone dry.
“Enthusiastic is one word for it,” Matt muttered, his knuckles white around his glass.
“Oh, you have no idea how… enthusiastic I can be about the right projects.” Ryan’s attempt at a sultry tone made me want to crawl under the table. He actually twirled a strand of hair around his finger.
Xavier finally turned to look at him, one perfect eyebrow raised. “Is that so?”
“Mm-hmm.” Ryan leaned forward. “Maybe we could discuss it somewhere quieter? The view from the north terrace is amazing.”
I caught Ryan’s exaggerated wink as he stood up. Lord save me from well-meaning idiots.
“That would be… interesting,” Xavier replied slowly, his gaze flickering to Matt’s thunderous expression before rising to follow Ryan.
As they walked away, Ryan threw me another wink and a thumbs-up behind Xavier’s back. I dropped my head into my hands.
“He’s testing my patience tonight.” Matt’s voice carried that dangerous edge I was starting to recognize. His eyes tracked them as they disappeared toward the terrace.
I lifted my head. “Wait, what?”
“Xavier has a particular talent for taking things that don’t belong to him,” Matt’s smile was razor-sharp. “Or trying to, at least.”
“Matt,” I said carefully, “I don’t think Ryan’s the one Xavier’s interested in. The way he looks at you?—”
“Oh, kitten.” Matt’s laugh held no humor. “Xavier’s always been good at making people see what he wants them to see. Back at MIT?—”
“Yeah, about MIT,” I interrupted. “Have you ever considered that maybe he’s trying to eliminate your boyfriends because he wants?—”
“To prove a point?” Matt’s eyes never left the terrace. “Always.”
From across the garden, I could see Ryan animatedly talking Xavier’s ear off, practically bouncing on his toes. Xavier kept glancing back at our table, his smile growing with each look he threw Matt’s way. It seemed… triumphant somehow.
“Should we rescue him?” I asked, not specifying which ‘him’ I meant.
