“It sure as hell is.” Keston pulled out slowly, got rid of the condom, and got to his feet. “Can I take a shower?”
“My water is yours.”
I watched him leave and sighed. I could cancel brunch and spend the day with Keston, but dammit, what was I going to therapy for if I was going to ignore everything my doctor said?
But Keston reappeared, naked and gleaming, dark hair wet and hanging in his face, and I sat up and blurted, “I was serious, you know. You could come to brunch. We do it almost every weekend. It’s Grady’s friends—West and Brenner. I think you’ve met them. It could be fun—” I stopped, seeing his frown.
“Sorry. I’m working. Gotta get downtown and go home to change first.” He dressed, then circled the bed, leaned over and kissed me, much softer and sweeter than I’d anticipated. “Thanks for the advice last night. I’m gonna look into it. Bye.”
No mention of getting together another time. Dammit, he could’ve at least pretended he wanted to see me again. I watched him walk out, and when I heard theclickof the door lock, I fell back on the bed with a sigh.Another one bites the dust.
**
“So what’d you do last night? Did you have a date?” West poured me a mimosa. He and Brenner had ordered a spread from Citarella, and there were the usual bagels, lox, cream cheeses, and all kinds of sides.
I sipped and debated whether to say anything. Keston hadn’t said to keep what happened between us a secret, and I was the type who lived for shock value. Being so friendly with Grady, it was possible Weston and Brenner knew something more about Keston than I did. Sure, he was fucking gorgeous and had a magic dick, but I wanted to dig below the surface to the layers of pain built on a foundation of hurt and betrayal.
“Not exactly.” My teeth sank into an everything bagel with a healthy schmear of cream cheese and piled high with lox. “Mmm. You two know how to throw the best brunch.”
Ignoring my comment on their brunch prowess, Brenner rolled his eyes. “Not exactly? What does that mean? A wild sex party?”
I finished chewing. “I hooked up with Keston. And it wasn’t the first time.” I waited for the explosion and was not disappointed.
Brenner’s jaw dropped, and his blue eyes popped wide. “Keston? As in Grady’s brother?ThatKeston?”
“Bailey, you dog.” A wicked grin kicked up Weston’s lips. “How the hell did that even happen? I wouldn’t think you two ran in the same circles.”
“Well, that’s not snobbish at all, West,” I remarked, my tone mild but with enough of a rebuke that he flushed bright red.
“I didn’t mean anything other than from what Grady’s told me, Keston’s pretty much a loner, and I know you’re big into the pickup and party scenes.”
Ouch. Those words, though unintentional, still hurt. More than I’d ever let on, but that was me. King of hidden emotions. I took another sip of my drink. “Well, aren’t differences what make the world go around? Are you and Brenner exactly alike?” I held up a hand. “No, don’t answer that. You are. Both lawyers, great-looking…”
“That’s surface stuff.” West frowned and glanced at Brenner, who shrugged. “Part of why it was hard for us to get together was that we were too busy living in the past and concentrating on why we didn’t like each other.”
“Maybe so,” I agreed. “But you sure changed quickly once you got together.”
“I guess we realized what we had in common was more important than our differences.”
At his pat phrase, I mentally rolled my eyes. Weston could give up the practice of law and write greeting cards.
“So why can’t that be the same for Keston and me? Despite our differences, we found something in common.”
Brenner made a face. “Sex?”
“I didn’t say it. You did. And I must say, you two seem very hung up on it.”
“Come on, Bailey. We’re just confused, is all. From what we’ve seen, your type is…well…guys like you. Nice guys, white-collar professionals, straight arrows. Keston ticks none of those boxes. He’s…different. Foster care treated him rougher than it did Grady. It took the two of them a while to trust each other, and they’re brothers.”
This brunch was becoming tedious, and I had places to be. I drained my mimosa, popped the last of my bagel into my mouth, and wiped my lips. “Guess you don’t know me like you think. Keston ticks all my boxes, which is what matters. You two havebeen together for what, a little over a year? Yet you think you’re gonna lecture me on relationships?” I rose to my feet. “Thanks for the bagel and booze, but I have to go.”
I walked away, Weston and Brenner on my heels, protesting.
“No, Bailey, please, come on. Stay.”
I held up my hand. “I’m not mad at you. I’m being honest. I really do have someplace to be.”
Brenner followed me to the door. “Bailey, you know we’re only concerned because we care about you.”
