Landon picked up the wine and took a sip then set the glass down on the table. He flattened his palms on top of the tablecloth.
“It’s easier with you. I mean, it’s always easy, but not so natural? I’ve played with Verity for years and I lash out, I get sassy. I don’t even really think about instigating with you. I mean, that’s ridiculous to say, we haven’t even been back at this for more than a week, but you know what I mean. I think you know what I mean.”
“I get it,” Gregory told him. And he did. Things with Landon had always come easily. Even when they were fumbling through the internet together and finding out what they liked, it hadn’t ever been awkward or uncomfortable. Everything between them had been perfect until they’d left for college.
Gregory didn’t want to think about that, though. They’d talked about it. Rehashed the past and moved on. That was why they were here, across a dinner table from each other. He pushed his niggling doubts to the back of his head and focused his attention on Landon.
“So, give me the high level summary of the past fifteen years.” Gregory sipped his tea.
“Uhm, well…Columbia, obviously. Made friends. Got my degree. My parents died right after graduation in a car accident. They were on the way back to California actually, from New York. So, uhm, that happened. I stayed in New York; life, life, life, then like four years ago my grandpa died. Me and Verity came out and he’d left me just about everything. The house, a ton of money, and the club.”
“Your grandfather left you a BDSM club?” Gregory scoffed.
“God, no.” Landon laughed and took another drink of wine, then froze and darted his eyes across the table to Gregory.
“You may drink whenever you want.”
Landon took another sip and nodded meekly before continuing. “He left me the building. It was unbearably sentimental. Rapture is actually the church he proposed to my grandma at. It’s where they got married.”
“That’s some romance novel shit right there.”
“I know, right?” Landon smiled. “So, Verity and I went and looked at the church and I could just feel it when we were there, you know? The building was crumbling bricks, but it had always been a safe place, and that’s what I wanted it to be again. So we went back to New York and packed up and moved to LA.”
“Where is Verity from?” Gregory asked.
Landon snorted and chuckled. “Missouri.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, they went to Columbia, that’s how we met. I don’t know if I told you that or not. So, I moved back home and they came with me. They’ve been so helpful with the club, keeping it running and everything. They keep my head on straight, that’s for sure.”
Gregory ignored the pang of envy that ran through him.
“You’re jealous,” Landon observed.
God, was he that obvious?
“I’d be jealous of anyone who’s had you as long as they have. I won’t lie about it.”
“Verity hasn’thadme, though. Not really.” Landon’s voice was quiet and sad. “What did you say about the person you were with before? It was convenient. Verity is my best friend, but anything we did together like that was because it was convenient. They, uh, after you showed up at Rapture they told me it was over anyway.”
“The friend with benefits broke up with you?”
“It wasn’t even full benefits.” Landon rolled his eyes. Gregory’s jealousy was deflating by the second. He watched the way Landon talked about Verity, the rise and fall of his voice and his body and all he saw was familial affection. His jealousy of their relationship wasn’t warranted because Gregory saw clearly there were parts of Landon that Verity would never have.
“You look smug now,” Landon commented.
The waitress brought their food and Landon looked at Gregory expectantly.
“I’m not gonna cut it for you, boy. Eat your dinner.” Gregory sliced into his chicken and smiled across the table at Landon.
“What about you?” Landon asked, putting a piece of steak into his mouth and chewing thoughtfully.
“Well, Florida, obviously.” Gregory ate a bite of chicken before continuing. “I moved back here just after graduation for work.”
“What do you even do?” Landon interrupted.
“I’m a marketing director.”
