“Damn, you’re grouchy.”
Despite himself, Henry’s cheerful voice made Sam smile.
“And you’re annoying.”
“Guilty on all charges. Otherwise, your ass would be planted on the sofa, surrounded by old Chinese food containers. We might not find you for days.”
“I’m walking, what is it?” Sam switched the phone to his other ear to dig out money to buy the newspaper.
“You can’t walk and talk at the same time? I had more faith in you, Sammy.”
“You’re a comedian. A word of advice? Don’t give up the day job.” He smirked to himself.
Ignoring his witty comeback, Henry continued. “Listen. I did a little research, which required numerous hours reading Page Six of thePostand hours on social media, but I think I found him.”
“Hours on social media. You love that shit, don’t lie.” Sam hesitated. “Found who?”
“Mr. Zachary Cohen, your weekend fling, the guy you’ve been moping about for a month.”
“I have not been moping.”
“Liar,” said Henry cheerfully. “Besides, I’m not here to debate that point. Meet me at the Cadman Park Restaurant. If I’m right, your guy will be meeting his friends for breakfast.”
A bit disturbed at how his heart sped up at that news, Sam refused to give in so easily. “I don’t know. I was planning—”
“Nothing,” said Henry, so blunt and to the point Sam winced. “You have nothing planned, which is why I am telling you to meet me because if you don’t, I’m going to go over to Zach Cohen if he is there and tell him how much you’ve missed him and want to see him again.”
“You really are a bastard, aren’t you?”
“Yup. Be there in half an hour.”
Sam heard a voice in the background and presumed it was Henry’s wife. “Tell Heather I may have to kill you, so she should make sure the life insurance policy is paid up in full.”
“Heather says she wants the first dance at your wedding, but I told her no. I get it.” For a moment Henry was silent, though Sam knew he hadn’t hung up. “I’ll see you in a little while, right?”
“Yeah.”
Half an hour later, he entered the restaurant and spotted Henry in a side booth, nursing a cup of coffee.
“Hey.” He slid in the seat opposite his friend. Years of police work had blessed him with the ability to rapidly scan an area for suspects, and Sam immediately saw Zach wasn’t in the restaurant.
Sam ordered pancakes and eggs, figuring if nothing else happened, he might as well have something to eat. “Why did you insist on me coming here?”
“You see those guys over there in the back?” Henry tipped his head to the side, and Sam glanced over his shoulder.
Two men sat together, one blond, one dark-haired and obviously a couple from their intimate touches and looks. The other man, his back to Sam, gestured with his hands, in the throes of some story. His voice rose above the chatter of the other diners.
“Yeah, so?” The new phone he’d shoved in his jeans pocket poked him in his thigh, and Sam placed it on the table, between him and Henry, eyeing it like it was about to come alive and attack him.
“Those men are Zach Cohen’s best friends.” Henry accepted his toasted corn muffin from the waiter and unwrapped the little pat of butter. “It’s my opinion,” he continued, while spreading the butter on his muffin and watching it melt, “Zach will be joining them soon.”
“Fucking hell.” Sam fell against the back of the booth. “Why are you pushing this?”
Henry glared at him. “Because you’re acting like an asshole by refusing to admit what I see, even if you won’t. That you fell for the guy, and you’re afraid of getting hurt again. And there’s nothing wrong with being afraid. But to sit the rest of your life with the covers over your head? Jesus Christ, Sammy. What kind of life is that?”
Saved by the waiter bringing his food, Sam doused his pancakes with syrup and dug into his short stack. Henry opened his mouth, but Sam cut him off. “I’m not interested in a player. I had one of those already, remember?” Chewing on his food gave Sam time to marshal his thoughts. “Disappearing on me without any explanation or way to get in touch again was a player-asshole move.” He swallowed. “I’m not afraid. I’m not interested.”
Henry cocked a brow. “Do you really think that about him, because if you ask me—”
