“Sure you could!” Colin insisted.
“Honey,” Joshua murmured, laying a hand on his arm.
“Is NateenjoyingManhattan?” Colin asked.
David gave no response.
Colin glanced at his friend. “Sorry, Davy. I should shut the fuck up.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” David told him. “It’s a shit situation any way you look at it. But now that UVA is funding the damned thing with Reuben standing there eagerly fanning the flames, there’s no way it’snotgoing to happen.” He heaved a noisy sigh. “So, my only option at this point is to be as supportive as possible and use up every bit of my banked vacation time keeping him company in New York.”
“What about that damned director?” Colin asked.
David’s mouth drew into a tight, grim line. “Nate said he’s overly friendly but so far hasn’t made any kind of move on him.” David glanced up at his friends. “But it’s early days. It’ll happen eventually. The guy’s a sleazebag.”
“Have you met him?” Joshua asked.
“No. But I don’t have to. I witnessed the entire Zoom meeting between Nate, Tanner, and Ursula, and you could practicallyseethe grabby hands coming through the screen.”
“You gonna be OK to be around this guy?” Joshua asked.
“Yeah,” Colin added with a quick wink. “I’d hate to get a hysterical phone call from Nate telling me you’re locked up in some Hell’s Kitchen slammer.”
“While Tanner nurses a fat lip and threatens assault charges,” Joshua added, grinning.
“Somewhere between here and there, I plan to talk myself out of my jealous fantasies,” David responded. “So hopefully, you won’t have to bail me out.”
“If that asshole makes a move on Nate, you may have to bailmeout,” Colin muttered.
“You’re both nuts,” Joshua told them. “I’m the most neurotic person in the room, and I don’t believe for a split second that Nate would give this guy the time of day.” He leaned toward David. “It’ll never happen, David. Not Nate. Not ever.”
“I don’t give adamnif he gives him the time of day,” David mumbled. “As long as that’sallhe gives him!”
* * *
When they got home,Joshua walked ahead of Colin with his head down, both hands jammed into the pockets of his slacks. He’d been subdued during dinner and afterward in the car, and Colin had a pretty good idea why. “Hey,” he called, trotting forward to catch up with him. “You still pissy about earlier?”
Joshua shrugged as he unlocked the door, then walked inside and threw his jacket over the couch. “I dunno. Maybe.”
“Josh, let it go.”
Joshua wheeled to face him. “I don’t like it when I act like that. Or, more to the point, I don’t likeme.”
Colin nodded toward the steps. “As you’re so fond of reminding me, we’re not perfect people. Now get the hell upstairs.”
Joshua moved to within an inch of where Colin stood. “You have to call me on it when I treat you like that.”
“Well, that creates a problem for me. You’re aterriblyabusive person, and now you’re going to fuck up my day by insisting that Idealwith it?” He rolled his eyes and placed one hand over his heart in an exaggerated demonstration of dismay. “Oh,no!WhenwillI have time to prep my cases?”
“Stop it. Just don’t give me a pass when I get mouthy.”
“I’ll give you a pass whenever I damned well please,” Colin told him. He slid his arm around Joshua’s neck, putting him in a gentle headlock. “I don’t take orders from you.”
“Colin…”
Colin laughed and released him, then once again pointed to the stairs. “Get up there.”
Joshua bowed his head until his forehead was propped against Colin’s chest. “I will if you will,” he mumbled, gouging his knuckles into Colin’s ribs.
