She finished her coffee and peered closer, frowning. “How many people have you called?”
“A few,” he hedged, folding his arms. “I can’t mooch off you forever. I have to go into the city today.” He propped his chin in his hand. “I have nothing except what I came to you with.”
“Don’t worry, eventually you’ll get something from the insurance. And it’s not mooching when it’s family. You’re being ridiculous. You have the luxury of time now to figure out what you really want to do with your life.”
It would be wrong to pop off at his sister when she was just trying to help, but Sean struggled to keep his temper in check. “Char, I like being a waiter. I meet the most interesting people. You were a cocktail waitress, so I thought you’d understand.”
“I did it temporarily to make money.” She glared at him. “You don’t like waiting tables. It’s the singing you love.”
She had a point, but he knew she wanted him to take an office job, preferably with Ray’s bank, which he wasn’t interested in at all.
“I’ve called eight people, and no one has any place for me to crash. I don’t know what I’m gonna do, but I have to talk to Bruno today to get my shifts back. He gave me three days at the most, and then he said he’ll have to replace me. Today is day three.”
“I’m sure you’ll find someone. As long as it isn’t that asshole Chad.”
The mention of the only guy he’d ever lowered his guard for burned like a fiery brand through his stomach. “Wow, I was wondering when you were going to bring him up. I gotta give you credit, you waited three whole days. Bravo for restraint.”
“And yet you haven’t answered.”
“Because I’ve got nothing to say.”
And as Sean knew would happen, her eyes grew shiny. “You can’t let one bad relationship set the course for the rest of your life. Chad wasn’t the right guy for you.”
“You’re right. He wasn’t.”
Chad Clairmont had come to the restaurant with his family to celebrate his niece’s sixth birthday, and he’d started flirting with Sean from the moment Sean handed him a menu. Sean sang some birthday songs, and at the end of the evening, Chad stopped him at the employees-only entrance to the kitchen.
“You have a gorgeous voice. Did you take lessons? Maybe we could go out sometime.”
Charming and funny, Chad hadn’t let him leave until he said yes, keeping him laughing late into the night with stories of his crazy-rich family. Sean fell for him immediately. For several months, they saw each other two or three times a week. He’d meet Chad for dinner, and then they’d end up at Sean’s apartment, where they’d spend the night together. The sex was good, and Sean was happy for the first time. His friends all teased him that Sean the Hookup King actually had a boyfriend.
Except he didn’t. Chad never said they were exclusive, never introduced him to his friends or family, and Sean hadn’t wanted to push. When Chad didn’t come over, Sean tried not to wonder what he was doing or who he was with.
One night he got a call from a noisy bar.
“Is this Sean? I’m Chad’s friend, Millar. Listen, he’s too drunk for me to send him home, and he keeps mentioning your name. I found your number in his phone.”
“I’ll be right over.”
The next morning, Chad woke up and groaned. “How did I get here?”
“Millar called me, and I came and got you.”
“Can I have some coffee, baby? My head is pounding.”
Sean rubbed his back. “Sure.”
He brought the steaming cup to his bed and sat next to Chad, who sipped it and gave him a grateful smile. “You’re the best. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Sean kissed his neck. “What happened?”
Chad shrugged. “We went out after work to blow off some steam after trial. Guess I took it too far.”
But the episodes of “taking it too far” and hard partying grew more frequent. One night, when Sean again had to play white knight and come rescue his Prince Not-So-Charming, he had to deal with a particularly nasty incident in an Uber, where they had to stop on Third Avenue so Chad could puke out the door. When they arrived at Sean’s apartment, he sat Chad down to talk.
“Why is this happening? What’s wrong? Is something going on you’re not telling me?”
And Chad snapped, “I don’t need a second mother. I don’t owe you an explanation.”He shoved Sean off the bed and stormed out.
