“Oh, yeah?” Morgan’s eyes sparked fire. “You think so?”
Pleased that he could get Morgan all riled up, distracting him from their earlier conversation, he decided to push it. “Come on,” he scoffed, “what do they learn, how to take naps? Color inside the lines?”
“God, you’re a Neanderthal. Children learn at a very early age how to count and spell and…urghhhh, why am I bothering to explain anything to you?” Morgan splashed more wine in his glass and drank it down.
Leo grinned to himself. This was more like it. Poking Morgan was fast becoming one of his favorite pastimes.
“All I’m saying is, they’re little. Throw them some toys, put on a movie, and that’s that.” He knew better from Marla, but he wanted to annoy Morgan some more.
“A movie? Are you nuts? Kindergarten is when children learn to explore social relationships on their own for the first time. It can set the tone for their whole life as to how they deal with people.” Morgan’s lips twitched. “It’s obvious from your social interactions. You must’ve failed kindergarten.”
Leo’s lips curved in a lazy smile. “I haven’t had any complaints about myinteractions.” He got the reaction he was looking for when Morgan turned bright red.
This seemed like a good moment to make his exit, so he rose from his seat. “I have to go. Nice to meet you both.” He nodded to Chris and Sean. “See ya, 5C.”
***
He left Morgan’s apartment and headed straight outside to the back and his bike. Without another thought, he hopped on it, buckled his helmet, and took off for Peter’s. God knew, he had some excess energy he needed to work off, and with Peter at the park, he wouldn’t be bothered with incessant questions about Morgan and what was happening between them.
Unfortunately, his timing was off, and Peter was at the bags when he walked into the ring.
“Dude, you’re alive. I wasn’t sure after yesterday.”
Averting his eyes while he wrapped his hands, Leo forced himself to play along. “I managed.”
“I know you did, ’cause you had Morgan around. Only reason I left. Tell me what’s the deal.”
“Deal? Don’t know what the hell you mean. Now, do you wanna talk or spar?”
He thought Peter would let it go, but too much had happened at the barbecue, and Peter wouldn’t be put off.
“You’re gonna play it like that? With me of all people? Goddamn it, I want you to trust me. I’m your best friend. You’re like my fucking brother.”
Burning-hot shame seared him. “Same. You know it.”
“Do I? I’m not so sure.” Peter frowned. “I know almost as much about you as I did when we first met. That’s not right. That’s not friendship.”
“I-I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve got a lot on my mind lately with the new building and stuff. I promise I’ll try to be better about it.”
“You’re a bad liar. You’re not gonna change, and I’ll still love you because that’s how it is between us. But lemme tell you one thing. That guy is a good person. Don’t fuck him over. You brought him to my house, and he met my wife. That means something to all of us.”
His head hung low, and he couldn’t meet Peter’s eyes. “I know. I’m trying. Don’t you think I want to?”
He found himself crushed in Peter’s bone-cracking embrace. “Do you even know what the hell you want? I wish I knew what was going on inside that head of yours.”
“Me too,” he whispered. “Me too.”
