This had progressed since the brothers had returned to Hazardville, which made things a little tricky with the extra hours Bowie worked to help Kari keep on top of the additional workload. Not that Rex seemed to mind. They were going slow and getting to know each other. Bowie loved that there was little expectation to rush into sex when he had no experience. The one time he’d tried to talk about this with Frey hadn’t gone well, so he let Rex be the guide. Bowie was nervous enough with Rex being his first proper boyfriend.
Bowie smiled shyly seeing Rex’s arms full of brown sacks with food spilling out the top and stepped aside to hold open the door leading into the foyer of the apartment block, leaving enough room for Rex to get past without issue.
“Thank you, you’re a godsend. When I left the shops, I didn’t consider how heavy the sacks would feel seven blocks later,” he continued offering Bowie a smile that left him a little breathless, the same way Kari did when he did something right.
Bowie nodded, a little tongue tied, and waited until the man was inside, then closed the main door, making sure the lock snicked into place. He’d once been shouted at by one of the men who manned the desk in the foyer when he’d not noticed the door hadn’t locked behind him. He’d been careful ever since.
Bowie looked around, checking the man behind the desk wasn’t paying them any attention before whispering, “Howdy neighbor, want some… company? Seems as it’s Saturday?”
An odd look appeared on Rex’s face and then disappeared before Bowie could try to guess what it meant. Rex’s shoes clipped on the polished floor as he strode to the elevator. Uncertain, Bowie followed, a heavy feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. Had he overstepped?
Rex stood wearing a look of impatience as he pointedly looked at the keypad next to the elevator that required a code to access it. Bowie entered the numbers, pressing the button to call the elevator, all the time chewing his lower lip.
Awkwardness came and stayed when Rex remained silent.Maybe he’s had a busy week and is tired?
I don’t like him,his animal side stressed, making Bowie wince at the emphatic way it spoke. It had a tendency to do that when Rex was around.
He’s nice.
“—so what do you say?”
Bowie blinked owlishly, trying to figure out what he’d missed. Blushing, he confessed, “Sorry, I missed that.”
The smile… there was something about it that made Bowie nervous. “I was suggesting you come and share a sandwich withme. I have plans for this evening, but I’d like your company now.”
He’s not interested in you. Can’t you hear it in his voice? What plans does he have? Ask him. If he is your boyfriend, why isn’t he inviting you along?
He wasn’t sure what to make of his animal side being so insistent about asking questions today. Normally he let the subject drop.
“Are you sure?” he asked tentatively. The guy was attractive and had an air of authority about him that appealed to Bowie, so he ignored his animal.
“Of course.” The doors to the elevator opened, and he stepped past Bowie. “I wouldn’t ask if I weren’t sure.”
Was there a clipped edge in his voice?
Bowie didn’t have time to over analyze it when the doors were going to close, and he had to dart inside or look foolish. Something he really didn’t want.
“Did I see your picture in the newspaper recently?”
The causal enquiry came with a smile, but there was curiosity. It had been over a week since he’d seen Rex, so Bowie wasn’t surprised by the interest. After the fallout at a work press conference to announce Silas as the face of Starling Enterprises, things had gotten a little out of hand with the press. Hollis and Taylin’s relationship, something Bowie was still coming to terms with, had been speculated about mostly. But the press had done some digging on all of them, not that there was much to say about him.
The principal topic between the PAs was how everyone appeared to have missed the signs that Hollis and Taylin were interested in each other. Bowie didn’t feel bad when he wasn’t the only one who hadn’t noticed. A recent work trip had brought to light the attraction between Hollis and Taylin. The group chat he had with his friends had blown up over that.
Bowie’s gaze narrowed fractionally when a fresh worry poked at him. Rex was very private about their relationship. “Are you worried they’ll write about us?”
The chuckle held a wealth of humor as Rex shook his head. “Not at all. There is nothing for the press to report, is there?” He didn’t give Bowie a chance to answer as he carried on. “If they choose to look into my life, they’ll find I own a successful advertising company. That’s it. Lacy & Co. has no skeletons in its closet.”
Bowie’s pulse slowed at that information, despite not getting why skeletons would be in a closet unless that was where Rex stored his trick or treating decorations.
“Oh. That’s good. Do you like to put up decorations for trick or treating?” Bowie witnessed Rex’s change in expression and immediately knew he’d taken a misstep. He didn’t slap his forehead, but he wanted to at how lame he was acting. He was always the same. It was why he never dated until Rex had persisted, making him believe it was possible. Except right now he was back to doubting it, when he had never seen Taylin look at Hollis like Rex looked at him.
“So, do you want to come in for a sandwich?”
“That would be nice.” It was.
No, it’s not.
He followed Rex down the hallway, his sneakers making no sound on the plush carpet. It continued to be a surprise that he could afford to live in such an upmarket place. Having sold his old apartment the previous year when a company had finally offered him above the asking price, intending to tear down the old building and create new condominiums in what they called a regeneration project. It had happened when Lane had stepped in to help him get a great price when the solicitor had practically bullied Bowie to accept the original below market valuation. With Lane’s aid it ended up with him having enough money toafford to buy a bigger apartment with great security. He was lucky enough to buy it outright and have enough left over to buy some new furniture to fill the big space, and some kitchen items for baking.
