She rolled her eyes but pushed through the door. Rob grabbed her and pulled her to the side before she cleared the threshold.
“Porra. My arm doesn’t move that way.”
“Sorry.” He rubbed her shoulder to ease the pain. “Tell me about Kevin. Is he dating anyone?”
“I don’t know,” she said.
“Find out for me,” he said.
“What is this, high school? You find out.”
“Not here. If he turned me down I’d be devastated and then I’d burn everyone’s order and Elba would fire me.”
“That’s not overly dramatic at all. How do you know he’s even gay?” She was genuinely curious. She’d had her suspicions when he’d been younger, but she’d also chalked it up to him not being a rough-and-tumble kind of kid.
“Oh, sweetie. My gay-dar is perfect. Please? I’ll owe you.”
“Fine. I’ll figure out a way to ask him.”
“Thank you! You’re my favorite today!” He smushed her face into his chest and shook her side-to-side in a hug.
She pushed against his stomach. “Quit! You’re smothering me.”
“Sorry.” He patted her on the head.
Swatting at his arm, she ducked her head away. “Pat me on the head again and I’m not asking him anything.”
“But you’re so tiny and adorable. I want to fold you up and stick you in my pocket.” He mimed doing exactly what he said, then laughed at her glare.
She went back into the dining room and finished fixing their plates. Tim barely let the plate settle on the table before he cut off a piece and gobbled it up. His eyes closed in ecstasy as he chewed and his tongue darted out to catch a small speck of caramel at the corner of his mouth. It was…very erotic. Watching a guy eat should not be that sexy.
Turning to Kevin, she said, “I know this is very high schoolish, but Rob would like to know if you’re seeing anyone.” She wasn’t going to be subtle after Rob patted her on the head and threatened to make her a pocket elf.
Kevin’s gaze darted between her and Tim and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “I— Uh— Does he have a sister he wants to set me up with?”
She glanced between him and Tim. “No… He wants to know for himself,” she said quietly.
He cleared his throat and looked down at his plate. “Oh. Uh…I’m not—”
Tim leaned forward. “I won’t say anything if you’re not out.” His voice was low and reassuring. “If it’s the Department you’re worried about, don’t be—there’s at least three people on the force that are openly out. I was even a groomsman at one of the weddings last year.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest. She hadn’t considered Kevin might not be out and Tim’s immediate acceptance and reassurance assuaged some of the guilt she felt for inadvertently outing him to his partner.
“I appreciate that. It’s not the job. My family is very conservative.” His voice broke toward the end.
Zoe rubbed Kevin’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. That was really careless of me.”
He squeezed her hand. “It’s not your fault. It’s not that I’m not out—a few close friends know—but I don’t broadcast my personal life from the rooftops.”
“I’ve only known Rob for a couple of weeks, but he’s a really nice guy and very genuine. I can give you his number and if you’re interested you can give him a call. If not, he’ll live. Unless he pats me on the head again, then all bets are off.”
At least he smiled at her poor attempt to lighten the mood. Rubbing his shoulder one last time, she left them to their pastries and made the rounds of the few occupied tables. She filled their cups once and tried to keep an eye on Kevin’s mood. She could kick herself for being so careless, especially since it didn’t seem that he’d shared with Tim. Less than fifteen minutes later, they stood at the register to pay their bill.
“How were the eclairs?”
“They were delicious,” Tim said.
She looked at his lips, because where else would she look when he said it like that? “Would you like some to go?”
