“They do an excellent eggs benedict here.”
“Fine, and some coffee.”
Grant summoned the server over with two fingers and put their orders in, asking for them to wait five minutes before bringing their coffees.
“To what do I owe this pleasure, then? Is it to thank me for giving you the story of the year for free?”
Patrick gave a polite smile. The whole Milo and Edward affair had been top billing on the news when it broke. He just wished he knew if Milo was okay, but for now he had to focus on Jason.
“I’m here to talk about Jason.”
“Thought you might be. Is he trying to worm his way out of our deal? And it took him what, less than three days for him to come crawling back to you. I thought he’d have held out for longer.”
“What are you talking about? I haven’t seen or spoken to Jason for a month.”
“That’s interesting. He has more willpower than I gave him credit for.”
“What deal are you talking about, anyway?”
“Patrick. Why are you here, if it’s not to convince me to change the terms of our deal?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Grant gave a resigned sigh and leaned back in his chair. He beckoned the server over with their coffee and asked for the breakfast to be brought as soon as it was ready. It was only when he was looking around that Patrick noticed there was nobody else in the bistro.
“Is this place normally open at this time?”
“Yes. They just aren’t very busy today.”
“You mean you convinced them to open the place just for you?”
“Well, I am the owner.”
Patrick couldn’t help but chuckle. The man really had his finger in every pie. He wondered what a small bistro in Covent Garden could be a front for. There was no way this was a legitimate business.
“I know you plan to take Jason back to Liverpool tomorrow, but I have something that might make you reconsider that plan.”
“I’m staying in London, and so is Jason. Didn’t he tell you?”
Patrick was thrown for a second, but made sure not to show it on his face. Whether or not it was true, Grant was trying to goad him, and he wouldn’t bite.
“Why do you want to be with someone who clearly doesn’t want to be with you?” asked Patrick.
“I don’t want to be with Jason. I just don’t want him to be with you.”
“Why not?”
“You make him happy.”
“What the fuck! I thought you loved him?”
“I did once. Then he broke my heart. Why should he be happy?”
Patrick wasn’t about to unpack all that. The smile on Grant’s face was unnerving. It made him think of a snake that was about to eat a mouse whole, and he was the mouse.
The server interrupted them by bringing their breakfast. Patrick was starving and it would be a while before they ate at the wedding, so he may as well enjoy this. They both ate in silence for a while, enjoying the food. To be fair to Grant, he hadn’t been wrong about the eggs benedict. It gave Patrick an opportunity to digest what Grant had shared. Something had happened between him and Jason. That was clear. He wasn’t sure what, but the fact Jason was still keeping his distance meant some sort of threat had been made to keep him away. Grant didn’t want to take Jason back as his husband. That was clear too. So what did he want with him? He needed to stop overthinking it and get on with what he came here for.
“I’d like to show you something, if that’s okay?” asked Grant. He knew better than to just go into his bag without saying something first.
