Despite his earlier good mood, tension clenched at Martin’s insides. The use of his formal title meant Seb had told Kenneth more about him, and the knowledge that he’d been the topic of conversation twisted in his guts.
“Hi,” he mumbled, shooting a glance at Seb, whose face was bland.
“And who are you?” Kenneth’s attention was already on Cassidy. “Your skin, your hair, my dear, you look like a doll. It’s a shame Sebastian isn’t a painter, because you should be someone’s muse.”
Cassidy twisted one curl around her finger and blushed down at her keyboard. Martin wanted to put an arm around her shoulder, but worried the gesture would draw Kenneth’s attention back to him.
It didn’t seem to matter, though, because Kenneth beamed at both of them as he did up the buttons of his wool coat.
“Sebastian and I are going off in search of brunch. We had a late night and need some sustenance. He is a gifted artist and a terrible cook. Would you like to join us?”
Surprisingly, the part Martin’s brain latched onto was the mention of a late night. Doing what? Was Kenneth Seb’s boyfriend? Seb had never mentioned anything about being with someone, but maybe he kept personal things to himself.
“They’re working.” Seb’s voice was patient amusement, like he was explaining foreign concepts to a small child.
Kenneth pouted. “Surely the illustrious Dr. Lindsey could join us? You don’t mind if we borrow him, do you?” This last question was directed toward Cassidy.
“Oh. No. I couldn’t—” Martin started, but Cassidy shook her head.
“Why don’t you go? It’ll be quiet here until the knitters are done, and I can try to come up with some ideas for my essay.”
“See?” Kenneth spread his hands and smiled. “No problem. I don’t get down here often. It’s good to acquaint myself with the people in Seb’s life.”
Martin frowned over Kenneth’s shoulder again, but Seb didn’t return the look. Martin was in Seb’s life? He was still smarting over the “illustrious” comment, and now he found he really did want to know what Seb said about him. Kenneth’s smug face grated on Martin in every way, but he didn’t like the idea of leaving the two of them alone knowing he was a topic of conversation.
“Sure.” He forced a smile. “I’ll go with you. Just let me get my coat.”
* * *
The brunch options in Seacroft were limited. Martin suggested Penny’s diner, but Seb led them down the street to a small pub. Kenneth looked dubious, which made Martin push ahead of him while Seb assured them the food would be good.
“They do a real English breakfast. The mushrooms are amazing,” Seb said as they sat in a booth toward the back. He looked at once sophisticated and shabby in his torn jeans and worn jacket, while his hair seemed to have an extra shine. Kenneth sat next to Seb, leaving them to face Martin, who had to look like a wreck. It was laundry day at home, which of course meant he’d gone to get clean clothes out of the dryer only to find them still in a wet ball at the bottom of the washer while Brian gave him a sheepish apology. Martin had been forced to pull out an ancient henley from a box of stuff he’d brought back from Mount Garner. The shirt was faded at the seams, and he’d only noticed the small hole under one armpit once he’d gotten to work. Compared to Kenneth and Seb’s style, Martin felt like the poor cousin they’d just picked up from the bus station.
Seb and Kenneth struck up a lively conversation, something about a brunch they had been to.
“Do you remember the waiter there?” Kenneth asked.
Seb groaned as he took a sip of his coffee. “So pretty. The one with the tattoos! What was his name?”
“Lewis?” Kenneth waggled his eyebrows.
“No, not Lewis. Lucas maybe?” They both frowned, and then Seb’s expression cleared. He snapped his fingers, and Kenneth’s face lit with a smile.
“Levi!” They both said, then dissolved into laughter.
Martin sat across from them, hands folded in his lap, unease turning in his stomach as their conversation continued without him.
They ordered quickly: the full breakfast for Seb, an omelet for Kenneth, and yogurt and granola for Martin.
“Watching your weight?” Kenneth asked from under his eyebrows as the server left.
Martin bristled. Who was this guy to judge? They didn’t even know each other. “It never hurts to be health conscious.” Truthfully, the current of nervousness thrumming in Martin’s veins was killing his appetite.
“Keep it up.” Kenneth grinned. “It’s obviously working well for you.”
Martin frowned, but the comment made Seb laugh.
“Kenny’s mostly harmless. He tends to go for quantity over quality in his conversations.”
