Chapter Four
Drew staredat the computer screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard, but he couldn’t make themmove.
“This is not hard,” he muttered to himself. “Just type, for Christ’s sake. It’s no different than a work meeting, really.” But still the fucking words wouldn’tcome.
He pushed the keyboard away and read the email once again, searching for subtleties and hidden meanings, re-re-rethinking his decision to go down this path atall.
Drew, so happy to get your email! I’d love to meet for coffee - I know a great place downtown with killer scones. Or maybe we could do drinks instead, depending on your schedule? Let me know what works for you. Feel free to give me a call, too. My number is below. -Mark.
Killer scones?Sounded pretentious and possibly dangerous. Also, who said things likethat?
Was the “or maybe drinks” Mark’s way of pushing things? Drinks were at night, and could lead to dinner, which could lead to sex, or expectations thereof. Seemed like more of a commitment than coffee, which was casual and could be ended with an “emergency” work text when things got awkward. And what was with the phone number? Who called people anymore, for God’s sake? Were they marriednow?
Drew still couldn’t dredge up a single solid recollection of his conversation with the guy at The Station, even though Peter had helpfully pulled up Mark’s social media accounts and scrolled through shot after shot of the guy sitting at Fenway Park, hanging with friends at a winery, and even petting a little dog that looked like a Jack Russell Terrier. Drew couldn’t deny that Peter was right - the guy was objectivelyhot, and yet Drew had been more interested in the dog than the guy holdinghim.
OperationGet Over Sebastianwas off to a greatstart.
Drew leaned his head back against his chair and rolled his neck from side to side. This was fine. This was normal. What else had he expected, really? You couldn’t just be hung up on a person for years and then switch gears. There would be an adjustment period. Maybe… maybe even a grieving period. But it would be easier if he had something else to focus on. Mending his friendship with Bas, and testing the dating waters withMark.
He blew out a deep breath and forced his fingers totype.
Coffee sounds great. I work downtown, so we could meet at lunchtime. Or I’m free this weekend for dinner. -Drew.
He sent it before he could delete it entirely, then re-read it and covered his eyes with his palm. What the hell had he been thinking, suggesting a weekend date? Was that tantamount to an offer ofmarriage?
You’d never know he made his living craftingwords.
He didn’t look up when Peter knocked on the door and pushed it open. “You’ll be happy to know I’ve embarrassed the hell out of myself, but I replied to Mark,” hemumbled.
“Should that make me happy?” Bas said, strolling over to the desk holding a cardboard tray of coffee. “Who’sMark?”
Drew’s jaw dropped open. “Holy shit.” He glanced at the clock on the wall, then back at Bas. “It’s ten in themorning.”
“Uh, yeah. Why?” Bas’s brow furrowed as he set the coffee on Drew’s desk and helped himself to a seat. “Do you have a meeting? Peter said your schedule was clear thismorning.”
“Uh, no. I’m free. I’m just stunned to see you.” He leaned over the desk toward Bas. “Be honest. Does the sunlightburn?”
“Fuck off,” Bas told him, though his lips twitched, and Drew couldn’t help smiling in reply. “Bring your best friend coffee, get ready to tell him you’ve taken his freakin’ advice for a change, and what happens? You getmocked.”
Drew took the coffee Bas held out to him wordlessly and took asip.
“Cinnamon?”
“Yourfavorite.”
Drew busied himself taking another sip. To say he was stunned to see Bas was beyond an understatement, but he couldn’t deny the way his stomach flipped at thesight.
Settle down. Would you be that excited to see Cam or Cain? Friends don’t go breathless when friends walk in theroom.
But then again, none of Drew’s other friends looked quite as good as Bas did - suit pants hugging his thick, muscled thighs and form-fitting blue dress shirt showing off both his broad chest and his bright eyes. Even the stubble on his jaw - slightly auburn in the sunlight, made Drew’s chestseize.
“So, Mark? Is that the guy who says he was a friend of mydad’s?”
Drew blinked twice, shaking his head.Fucking idiot.“Huh?”
Bas’s smirk didn’t help Drew’s good intentions. God, even when the guy was insufferable, he was the hottest thing Drew had everseen.
“You said you embarrassed yourself replying toMark, and I was wondering who I needed to thank for flustering Attorney McMann. Was it the same guy who’s been emailing Margaret about having us work on a project? Or was that Michaelsomebody?”
