“What? Why would you date him?”
I nod. “I’ll ask Elliot out.”
“What the fuck?”
“It makes so much sense. I could date him and then figure out whatever he’s hiding.” Yes, this isperfect. Maybe I can't catch the serial killer or the celebrity murderer all by myself. But this? This I can do.
Icanfigure out if Elliot Rhodes lied to us, and I don’t have to wait for forensics to come back with results or be on the receiving end of Marcus’s stink eyes when I inevitably keep bugging him until he gives me autopsy reports.
I’ll ask Elliot out, we’ll go on a couple of dates, and I’ll stealthily interrogate him until he slips.
Andhe will.
“...concerning because this isn’t even the craziest thing you’ve said—And you’re not even listening to me,” Matt is saying when I tune back in.
“No, you’re right. I need to make him open up to me, and then I’ll have all the answers,” I say. Sure, it sounds a bit unhinged. At least, no one can accuse me of not being self-aware.
“You’restraight. It’s so wrong to lead someone on like that, and Oliver will definitely break up with me when he finds out,” Matt says.
“He won’t, and I’m not,” I say.
“You’re not what?” he asks, frowning deeper.
“I’m not straight,” I say, confused.
“What? Why didn’t I know about this?” He looks genuinely hurt, his mouth pouting.
“I thought everyone knew? We’ve had intense conversations about Jensen Ackles’s generational sex appeal. I introduced you to RuPaul's Drag Race.” I mean, how is this a surprise?
“I—I thought you were trying to show your support by immersing yourself in the culture,” he claims.
I wave him off. “I did that by sneakingPlaygirlfor you without our parents knowing.”
He scrunches his nose. “I wanted to tell you that was a bit too much support.”
“You say that now when you don’t need them anymore. I didn’t hear any complaints before. I was the most supportive brother.” I really was.
Matt sighs. “Have you ever dated men before?” he asks.
I shake my head. “But not because I don’t want to. I just kept finding wonderful women, so that became …the comfort zone for me? I wouldn’t mind dating Elliot, though. He's hot. Not that it’ll be real, of course.”
“Okay. Thank you for telling me you’re what? Bi?” He continues when I nod, “I want you to explore this, I really do. But this is not the way to go about it, Nick. You can’t have your first relationship with a man because you suspect he’s lying. Just tell Meena, and she’ll start the protocol we specifically have for situations like this, and you can go find a nice man, if that’s what you want.”
He’s right. He’s so right. Then, I think about Elliot. His skilled hands. His perfect lips. Those sleek, crisp pants. “But I’ve already put so much time and effort into this. Besides, you know how swamped the Bureau is. There’s no way they’ll assign another agent to this when they’ve already interrogated Elliot once. Ihaveto see this through,” I stress.
Matt shakes his head gearing up for an argument.
Before he can start pointing out flaws in my flawless plan,I add, “And you know what? He might say no. I promise I’ll tell Meena if he refuses me and breaks my fragile little heart,” I say, dramatically rubbing my chest.
“And if he says yes?”
I swallow. “Then, we’ll go on a couple of dates, and I’ll make him talk. Don’t worry, I won’t fall in love with him or something stupid like that.”
Matt nods slowly and goes back to eating, secure in the idea that Elliot will say no. Looking back at all our past interactions, I’m sure he will too. But that doesn’t explain my heart going a mile a minute right now. I feel this rush in my body that I only get when I find a break in a difficult case.
Matt leans in across the table. “You don’t think you’ve been following him because you’re into him and you’re being creepy about it?” Matt looks serious, like he really needs to hear my answer.
No. Is it? “No.” I nod.
