I don’t think I could have refused him any request no matter how much I tried to convince myself of the contrary.
Before we’d had a chance to speak properly,Fred, a friend and local police detective, had interrupted us.
Fred’s presence had reminded me of the reason I’d agreed to go out that night after David had asked if I’d wanted to go dancing with him and Joel.
I needed to focus on what was more important.
We’d need to talk properly. I’d heard part of his story and sensed there was more he hadn’t said.
I’d been conflicted but my sense of duty and care had won out in the end. I’d had to go. I’d also realized that I’d be able to get his contact details from David and Joel so I could park that conversation for another time.
Three months later and I still hadn’t done it. What a coward I was turning out to be.
“Those waves won’t ride themselves, you know?”
I looked up to see Fred standing next to me, his surfboard under his arm.
“How would you know, Detective?” I said. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you riding one.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “I keep offering, but you keep turning me down,” he said, sitting down next to me.
Fred had been clear about his attraction to me from the moment we’d met.
I knew he wanted to take me out and see if our relationship could go beyond our common interests, but Max was holding me back.
Even after all these months, I still couldn’t bear the thought of being with another man after him.
Besides, Fred reminded me too much of Max: same blond hair, same desire to save and protect people—except I didn’t feel like the same chemistry.
“Man, you’re all spaced out. What’s going on?”
“What? Nothing, I’m fine. Just not in the mood to surf today.”
He looked me up and down and raised a brow.
“You’re never not in the mood to surf. Talk to Uncle Fred.” He bumped his shoulder against mine.
Could I let some of what was going through my head out? Maybe it would help talking it through.
“Where do I start?” I sighed and filled him in.
“Isaac, that’s… wait, in June? In Lisbon?”
“Yes, that night you got the lead on the missing kid.”
“Fuck, are you talking about the cute guy from the club?”
“Yeah, he’s the one.”
“Wow, and you have feelings for him?”
“I do, or at least I’d love the chance to explore them, but not only is this all messed up because of the no contact thing before and then the club thing, he lives in New York and I live here. It’s also weird that our best friends are together.”
“Why is that weird?”
“Don’t know. Maybe it’s not. Maybe I’m just finding excuses because now that I know how to get his real contact details, I’m afraid to do it.”
“Surely he also knows how to get your details, no?”
