“Oh shit,” he said, “you didn’t pay, did you?”
Tean didn’t answer.But hedidlook extra guilty.
“Tean!”
“I don’t want you to owe them anything.”
“Idon’towe them anything.I want to get a free meal out of them, though.How much were these chicken tenders?”
Tean’s face got even guiltier.
This time, Jemdidgroan.“Babe.”
“We don’t need their money,” Tean said stiffly.
“Yeah, we do.And I want it.I want to take all their money.I want to spend it on you and Scipio.And on me, obviously.”
Tean narrowed his eyes, and Jem guessed he didn’t find that idea as appealing—or romantic—as he should have.But then his expression changed, and he said, “There was a woman watching me.”
Jem waggled his eyebrows.
“Not like that,” Tean said.
“Why not?You’re so handsome.”
“I’m actually not that handsome.You’re the handsome one.”
“You’re incredibly handsome.You’re hot.You’re sexy.”Jem tapped the arm of the man next to him; he must have been in his twenties, and he was clearly trying to pick up the fortysomething woman he was talking to.“Excuse me,” Jem said, flashing a smile.“Sorry to interrupt.But this is my boyfriend, Tean.”
And Tean, God love him, gave the most nervous try at a smile, followed by an uncertain wave.
“We’re having an argument,” Jem said.“He says he’s not hot.And I say he is.”
“Jem,” Tean said.The doc was turning red.And then, to the couple, he said, “It’s not an argument.And you don’t have to say anything.And I’m sorry we’re bothering you.”
“We’re not bothering them,” Jem said.And to the couple, he said, “And itisa fight.A really bad one.So, if you could just settle it for us, that would be awesome.”
The guy grinned and glanced at the woman.“What do you think?”
“Oh no,” the woman said.“He asked you.”
The young guy’s grin got bigger as he studied Tean.“Definitely cute.”
Tean’s blush deepened.
“See?”Jem said.“If you want to charge your drinks to room twenty-seven, we’d love to cover them for you.”
“Oh man,” the young guy said with a laugh.“Thanks.”
“You’re very handsome,” the woman put in before they went back to their drinks.
Tean waited until the couple was talking again before glaring at Jem.
“See?”Jem said again.
For several seconds, it looked like Tean was trying to find the right thing to say.What came out was “How does that work for you?”
“How does what work for me?”
