Evan winces as he chews and swallows. “Like I said—it was all pretty horny. Not a lot of foreplay. Basic office quickies.”
“Right,” I say.
“Is that what you guys do now?” he asks.
I frown at him, trying to figure out the question. I think he’s asking me if Isaac and I have sex in the office. “Isaac hasn’t been to work since Jake got out of the hospital.”
Evan struggles to swallow and finally manages with a gulp. “Honestly, it bothers me that he didn’t tell me about that.”
“I think he didn’t want to make you feel bad for leaving.”
“Ialreadyfeel bad for leaving.”
“It hurt, Evan.”
His eyes flash up to meet mine. “I’m sorry. I honestly don’t know what else to say. It felt like the universe was trying to tell me something. Likeyou don’t belong here. I feel terrible for how I left, though. No matter how upset I was, you both deserved better than that. I was just…protecting myself I guess. But I don’t feel bad about getting out of the way so you and Isaac could be together. It’s like the one good thing that came out of it.”
I narrow my eyes. “I hope you’re not expecting me to thank you.”
“No, I can tell you’re pissed at me. Breakfast is on me, okay?”
“Sounds like you make more money than I do, so I’ll take that.”
He sighs, setting his fork on his plate. “I don’t think I wanna talk anymore. I’m tired.”
“Let’s go, then,” I say.
“Yeah, all right.”
We get the check, and Evan pays. He drags Apollo from a deep sleep, and we walk together back to his place. Inside, the dog curls up on his bed in the living room, and I sit back down with my computer.
“You’re gonna keep working?” Evan asks.
“If you don’t mind.”
“I just need to close my eyes for like an hour.”
“Sounds good,” I say, my head already in the computer.
Evan’s been in his bedroom for about twenty minutes when my phone dings with a text. I flinch when I see it’s from Isaac. Immediately, I put through a call, kicking myself for not doing it sooner.
“Hey,” he says when he answers. “Did you know you’re off today?”
“I remembered last night after I left.”
“Why didn’t you come back?” he asks. “Sick of me?”
“I kinda got this idea in my head. I’m in LA. With Evan.”
Isaac’s silence is so loud, it hurts my ear.
“I just came to check in and see if he needed any help with his software.”
“And?”
“He did. So I’m helping.”
There’s a loaded pause and then, “What the fuck, Deacon?”
