Chapter Seven
“So can I get a regular stack of pancakes, four rashers of bacon and a double serve of scrambled eggs?” Isaac asked, waiting for the pretty waitress looking after them to finish scribbling down his order.
“And whatever he wants,” Isaac added, nodding to Julian.
Julian started, suddenly sitting upright in his chair and blinking owlishly at the waitress. He’d obviously been away in his own mind.
“Oh, uh… just a short stack of pancakes, please? And coffee.”
“Coffee for both of us,” Isaac said. “Thank you so much,” he added with a broad smile.
The waitress finished making notes and then walked away with a spring in her step.
Isaac liked being able to make people feel good about themselves.
“I thought you were ordering for both of us again,” Julian said as he watched the waitress walk away.
Isaac chuckled. “Back to training on Monday,” he said. “Gotta start eating properly now.”
“Properly,” Julian said, as though he found that hard to believe.
“Sure,” Isaac responded. “I guess I could eat… I dunno, protein shakes and poached chicken breasts? But bacon, eggs, and pancakes are more fun and just as good for fuel.”
Julian blinked at him. “I knew I should’ve taken up a sport.”
“I remember you being a pretty good cross-country runner,” Isaac said. “Better than me, anyway.”
Julian chuckled. “You were letting me win.”
“Nope,” Isaac said. “Did you… think that? Honestly?”
“Up until right now, yeah.” Julian looked down at the table. “Wow. So I was really outrunning you. I just assumed… you were so good at everything else…”
“I’ve got a lot of strength,” Isaac said. “You were always the one with the stamina.”
“Please assume that if I could wiggle my eyebrows without looking like an idiot, I’d be doing it right now.”
Isaac snorted. “Hey, I’ve got enough stamina where it counts. You surprised me last night, actually. Last time I asked you to dance…”
“Was at prom, when you felt sorry for me because I was alone,” Julian finished for him.
“Well… yeah, but I wouldn’t have minded. Kinda hurt when you flat out refused.”
“Really?” Julian raised an eyebrow.
“Really,” Isaac confirmed, suddenly feeling uncomfortably vulnerable. He’d never mentioned it to Julian, but he’d remembered it last night when he’d seen Julian enjoying himself.
He’d gotten a glimpse into a side of his best friend that he’d never seen before. That he’d never beenallowedto see before.
Or maybe that he hadn’t cared enough about to ask.
Isaac was still unpacking everything he’d thought and felt last night. Dancing with Julian had been fun. Having all eyes on him haddefinitelybeen fun.
“Huh,” Julian said after a moment. “Well, I’m sorry. I never intended to hurt you. Did last night make up for it a little?”
Isaac chuckled. “I’m gonna argue that it waswaybetter than an awkward slow dance to the greatest hits of the nineties. I just never took you for the type.”
“Something I learned early was that being able to at least approximate dancing was a good way to get laid. And I like getting laid.” Julian shrugged.
