“Doesn’t sound very convincing.”
“Why does that matter?”
“Wasn’t the whole point of going to therapy so you could start working on yourself?” Kaz challenged. “People pleasing comes in all shapes and forms.”
He bristled. “I don’t think I should be taking advice from someone like you.”
Kazimir finally tore his gaze off the board to look at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on,” he drawled. “Are you seriously going to try telling me that you take therapy to heart? You’re not there to change. You’re there because your dad makes you go.”
His expression darkened. “Don’t ruin the mood, Narek.”
“Why? Does just mentioning your dad piss you off?”
“What do you want?” Kaz changed the subject and jutted his chin toward the menu.
“I’m not hungry.” Dropping the conversation seemed wise, so he let it go. There were lines that you should never cross with people, and messing with family was one of them.
“Liar. You just came from work.”
“So?”
“You get a half-hour break, and I know you don’t use it to feed yourself.”
He’d been searching on his multi-slate for job listings.
“How…? You’re not actually stalking me, right?” That seemed stupid, all things considered.
“No, it’s just obvious. You’re shit at taking care of yourself.”
“That’s not true.” Nate’s stomach chose that exact moment to rumble in protest. He covered it, but it was toolate. When Kaz grinned at him smugly, he crossed his arms. “Fine, whatever. I’ll have…” His eyes scanned the menu, but the hotshot clicked his tongue at him before he could choose something.
“Don’t go for the cheapest item,” Kaz said. “We’re dating. It’s customary for boyfriends to buy each other food.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to take advantage of your bank account.”
“Why not?” he sounded sincere when he asked. “I take advantage of you plenty.”
“You’re comfortable doing that, I’m not.” Another two people left the line, and he let out a relieved sound. It wouldn’t be too much longer now. Nate took a look over his shoulder and smiled when he found Neve watching him.
“You don’t have to force yourself to do and say things you don’t like when you’re with me,” Kazimir said then, and Nate gave him a pointed stare until it seemed to hit him what he’d actually just uttered. “Fuck. You know what I mean.”
“I don’t,” he corrected. “I have no idea what you mean or why you’re even here, Kazimir.”
“I’m here because I thought you might be meeting up with someone behind my back,” he replied. “Odette seemed way too comfortable with you the other day. And not just her. Now that you know how much you like cock, there’s no way of knowing if you’d sneak off and try to give Saint a try.”
Nate scrunched up his nose. “What the hell?”
“I had a weird feeling and I acted on it,” he continued.
“Next time, don’t.”
Kaz’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because this is weird. And I’m not going to cheat on you. I can’t even cheat on you because we’re not really—”
“Finish that sentence.” He was up in Nate’s face in a heartbeat, the threat apparent.
