I didn’t really need to piss, I just needed a minute to myself. To give him a chance to talk to his sister and for me to breathe. Placing my hand on the door, I push it open and step inside. Imake my way over to the sink and turn on the water, splashing some on my face.
“Okay Bradley, get your ass back out there. You got some great company and maybe even a job,” I mumble as I look up at myself in the mirror, lifting my hand, running it through my blond locks.
I take a deep breath, then turn and leave, making my way back over to the table.
“Love you too, Junie Boo,” I hear Scout say just before he hangs up with his sister.
I sit down in the chair, pick up my glass, and drink some of my beer.
“Sorry,” he says, turning to look at me. “That was my sister. Weekend’s canceled.”
“So you need to leave?” I ask.
“Not just yet. But I will soon,” he says
Guess that means our night is going to be cut short. I push the glass of beer to the side, and raise my hand, catching the server's attention as she passes by. “Can I get a water?”
“Not much of a drinker?” Scout asks me, as he lifts the pitcher and tops off his glass.
“Not lately. Damn, I miss my Nana.” I force a half smile, not even having the energy to fake a full one.
Scout reaches across the table, grasping my arm in his hand, and squeezes gently, comforting.
“It’s gonna be okay, man. We’re gonna save that house so you always have a piece of her. Plus, you’re gonna be working with me now. Back in town. We can actually be friends again.”
“I’d like that. It’s been a long time since I had someone to just… be real with.” My lip trembles and I have to bite my lower lip to stop it.
The server returns with a bottle of water and sets it down on the table in front of me. Picking it up, I twist open the top andtake a drink. “So, what have you been up to?” I ask him, ready to get the topic of conversation off of me. The more I talk about Nana, the heavier my heart gets, and I want to cry.
For the next hour, Scout tells me about Foxy’s. Why he started working there and about some of the jobs that were booked with him. All of them, the good, bad, and weird. He tells me about the rich lonely clients who just wanted someone to laugh at their jokes and pretend to like caviar.
He tells me how he was able to earn and save money to not only buy a Tesla, but to get an apartment and take care of his sister, so she never had to go without. I thought it was commendable how he cared for his sister. Especially after what he’s told me about her mother.
Some people shouldn’t be parents.
He continued to drink the beer, and I stuck to water. I guess it made it easier to tell me about his latest clients and how he’s fallen for them.
“They both hired me to make the other jealous,” he says, swirling the beer in his glass. “And somehow, we ended up in a hot tub. Shit escalated.”
My eyes widen at the thought of it. “Two men… at the same time?” Just the idea of it turns me on. I don’t think it’s something I could do, but damn, it would be hot.
“Oh, don’t be such a blushing virgin, Bradley.” He snorts. “Yes. At the same time. And then some.”
“And you caught feelings?” I ask him, not wanting to admit that I’ve never been with more than one person at a time.
Scout sits there quiet for a moment, then shrugs his shoulders. “Yeah. Which never happens. But I did. And then they realized they loved each other, and I… let them go.”
I lean back in my chair, biting on my lower lip, thinking. Debating whether I should say what’s on my mind or just push itdown and forget about it. The answer’s made for me when I blurt it out. “Finally got to be the leaver and not the one left, huh?”
Scout’s face goes wide, his eyes furrowing in anger. “The fuck?” he snaps at me.
I raise my hand in defeat. “Sorry, friend, but you know I always tell it to you straight, and not seeing you in years isn't gonna change that. Your dad was in and out and then he died. You just said your mom moved to Florida. And don't get me started on all the shitty dudes you hooked up with in school. They'd have their fun and leave ‘cause they were always walking neon red flags. So you left this time so you couldn't be left.”
“That’s not—” He starts to say but is cut off when his phone rings again. From where it’s sitting on the table, I’m able to see who it’s from. My chest tightens. Seattle PD flashes across the screen.
“Hello?” he answers quickly, fumbling to hold the phone to his ear.
I sit up straight, concern flowing through me for what this could be about.
