“Very well, Sir.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Marcus, please.”
“Uhm. Marcus.”
He didn’t wait for me to continue and turned to his friends. “Allow me to introduce you to Master Evan and Jalen. They were just telling me how they grew up across the street from each other and when they were ten, Jalen moved away. They hadn’t seen each other since and then showed up here at the same time. Isn’t that amazing?”
“It is.”
Marcus pulled out a chair, and I flopped into it, forgetting my sensitive backside. I hissed.
“Careful.” Master Evan held his rather large hands out. I stared at his fingers, and caught Jalen licking his lips and staring, too. “Must have been quite a scene last night.”
I felt my own cheeks heat. I smiled up at Marcus, but he frowned and turned away.
“Are you two…” I waved my hands between the two of them.
“Getting to know each other.”
“Exploring.”
They both answered in unison and laughed.
“I was going to ask if you were interested in. . . I guess it wouldn’t be rekindling something. You were so young when y’all met.”
“Yeah, that works.” Evan took Jalen’s hand. “We were each other’s first besties.”
“Well, I had a crush on you.” Master Evan pinched Jalen’s chin. “I developed earlier. Came out when I was twelve, but knew long before that, just wasn’t sure who I could tell it to.”
“I wish you had told me.” Jalen blinked and turned to me. “I was definitely a late bloomer, but maybe if we had talked about it then.”
“No regrets, baby.” Master Evan leaned in and kissed Jalen’s cheek. “But I think one of the last conversations we had you were telling me how you were going to kiss Fran Davis whether she wanted you to or not.”
“Yeah, that conversation doesn’t hold up well in today’s society.” Jalen snickered. “Besides, I really had a crush on her twin brother.”
“Frederick.” Master Evan chuckled. “Yeah, good thing I moved away. I’d have killed him. He was an obnoxious kid.”
Our laughter was interrupted when Carol appeared out of nowhere.
“Can I get you something, Master Marcus?” In a white polo and slacks, a stark contrast from her all-black assemble the night before. Even her smile seemed brighter.
“Yeah.” He clapped his hands and the table jumped. “Coffee, please darling.”
“Ms. Lucinda.” Carol turned to me. “How about I make you a plate? You haven’t eaten breakfast.”
“Yes, thank you.”
She nodded and walked away, her rubber soles slapping against the deck.
“We’ve got to be going.” Master Evan stood up. Jalen followed. “It was great meeting you, Lucinda. We’ll see you later?”
“Yes, nice to meet you, too.” I watched them walk off hand in hand.
I turned back to Marcus, but he was fidgeting with his phone.
“I wanted to apologize about last night.”
His head whipped up.
