“Technically,you’rean old friend ofmine!” David said, tossing his jacket across the seat back and sitting next to Farzan. “Hey, babe.”
Farzan’s cheek was warm and firm as he kissed it; when he leaned back, Farzan was grinning at him.
“What?”
“Nothing, babe.”
David blinked. He had called Farzan babe first, hadn’t he?
It felt… good. A little weird, yeah, but something to grow into. David mirrored Farzan’s own smile.
“Okay, I take everything back,” Kyra interrupted. “This is awkward and embarrassing for all of us. I liked it better when you were an introvert.”
“Oh, he’s still an introvert,” Rhett interrupted. “That’s why he needs extroverts to make him leave the house.”
Kyra snorted. “You all need anything?”
“What’re you drinking?” David asked, eyeing Farzan’s glass. “Mind if I taste?”
Farzan slid it across the table; David recognized it at first sniff. He knew that burst of fruit well. “Oh, the Dashe.” Dashe Les Enfants Terribles. “A bottle to share?”
“You’re the wino,” Rhett said.
“I took the streetcar,” Farzan added. “I’m good if you are.”
“Perfect. I’ll grab it and some glasses,” Kyra said.
“And some fries, if it’s not too much trouble?” Farzan called.
“For David’s boo? No trouble at all.” Kyra winked conspiratorially at Farzan.
David groaned as she finally left them. “Why did I agree to bring you here?”
“Because you’re a glutton for punishment,” Rhett said. “So, Farzan. How’d you and David meet?”
Farzan’s eyes went wide. “Well… we met here, actually.”
Rhett clutched imaginary pearls. “A workplace romance? Scandal!”
As Farzan and David took turns telling the story—not thewholestory, but close enough—Kyra brought their wine and fries.
“Well, you’re doing something right,” Rhett said. “I’ve known David for five years and I’ve never seen him smile this much. Are you coming to LA with him?”
It was a subtle thing, the way Farzan’s smile turned brittle. Maybe David wouldn’t have caught it if he wasn’t so addicted to Farzan’s face. The way his lips curled around his words, the way his eyes crinkled up when he was trying to suppress laughter.
“We’re still figuring that part out,” David finally said, once it was clear Farzan wasn’t going to answer. Farzan nodded, but for some reason David wanted more than that. Annoyance gripped his windpipe. But what was he expecting? For Farzan to just say yes?
He had a life here, family, he was trying to expand his restaurant. Living his dream. How could he begrudge Farzan for not wanting to give that up for him? Besides, there were probably a million Iranian restaurants in LA. Not like he could just open up a new one in one of the most expensive cities in the country.
“Well, you should come,” Rhett said. “You’re the first thing in a long while that David’s talked about other than wine.”
Farzan blushed at that.
“Come on, man,” David said, but Rhett kept going.
“Seriously. You know I was surprised when he answered my call about the job? He never answers the phone. Too busy studying. Making his dream come true.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” David asked.
