“Fine.” He propped his chin on his hand and stared out into space.
“Damn, you’re not even trying to hide the lie. You’re terrible at it. Tell Daddy Spencer what happened.”
The waitress brought his glass of wine, and Elliot took a drink instead of answering. Maybe heshouldtell them everything. It was always good to get more opinions, although he wished Chess was there as a mediator. Chess was more levelheaded than both himself and Spencer put together.
“I don’t know. I didn’t tell you guys because I didn’t want you screaming at me, but after that night when you were all at my place, we decided to try a relationship. And before you start arguing with me, we’ve been getting along great, hanging out every night and having fun. Or so I thought…until today. He was really quiet all morning, and then this afternoon when we were having brunch, I kept asking him what was wrong. He snapped at me, got up, and left.”
“Left? Without saying anything?”
Elliot wrapped his slightly shaky fingers around the stem of the wineglass. “Nothing. And I haven’t heard from him since. But when I was waiting for my car to come here, I saw him behind the curtains in his house, and he was with someone.” Miserable, he drank some more wine. “It looked like they were hugging.”
With a sigh, Spencer tapped an elegantly manicured finger on the table. “And?”
“And what? I was on my way here. What else do you want me to say?”
“Tsk, tsk.” Spencer shook his head. “Haven’t you learned anything? Why didn’t you go up to the door and confront him?”
“Because my car had shown up. And you guys were waiting. Wolf texted and—”
“You have got to be kidding me.” Spencer slapped his hand so hard on the table, the dishes rattled, just as Chess waved to them from the front of the restaurant and hurried over.
“Sorry I’m late.” He slipped off his jacket and draped it over the back of the chair.
“Don’t be. King Wolf isn’t even here yet.” Spencer drummed his fingers. “I’m busy trying to figure out why a man as smart as Elliot is so fucking dumb when it comes to men.”
“Gee, thanks.” Elliot gulped his wine, then watched as the waitress refilled his glass. He drank most of that too as he listened to Spencer fill Chess in.
“I think Spencer is right.” Chess nudged him, and Elliot, a little tipsy from all the wine he drank so quickly, yawned.
Who was with Win? Why did Win leave?
“About what?”
Chess’s lips twitched. “You haven’t been listening to us at all, have you?”
“Elliot, pay attention.” Spencer kicked his shin, and he jumped.
“Ow. What is it?”
“Go to Win right now.”
“But Wolf—”
“Oh, fuck him. If he can’t be on time to his own ‘emergency dinner,’ then it can’t be that big of a deal. He’ll give us some song and dance about how busy he is. Like he’s the only one with an important job.” With a sniff, Spencer waved his hand in the air. “Chess and I think you should leave and go to Win’s house and confront the bastard. See what’s what.”
Hmm…
“I don’t know.” He slumped in his seat, propping his chin in his hand. “Whoever was there is probably gone by now.”
“Maybe yes, maybe no. But what are you accomplishing by sitting here, except to be the lucky recipient of our stellar company?” A gentle smile tugged at the corner of Spencer’s mouth, which somehow made it even worse.
“I know I’m lucky to have you as my friends.”
“We know.” Spencer patted his cheek.
Why couldn’t he meet someone who wanted to commit? Somehow his glass was full again, and he drank half of it down before Chess plucked it out of his hand.
“Drinking isn’t going to solve your problem.”
