“In that case, you’d think the others could take care of it,” Sebastian said. “They are very much the heroes.”
“Take care of it without needing to send bafflingly cryptic cables to scoundrels like us, you mean?” Wesley said wryly.
Sebastian grinned, and they fell into step side by side again. “Hopefully Zhang will find Mateo at the hotel while we’re at dinner. And in the meantime, the park is pretty.” He glanced at Wesley. “We’re walking through Central Park. Like tourists.”
“Maybeyouare. This is nothing but a shortcut to me.”
“If you don’t like Manhattan, we could visit the Bronx,” Sebastian said, far too casually.
“And see the giant zoo, as you’re transparently implying?” Wesley said. “You really do think I’ve gone soft for you, don’t you?”
“There are the sea lions, and bears, and I think they have zebras,” Sebastian went on, like Wesley hadn’t even spoken. “And raccoons.”
Wesley raised his eyes heavenward. “I did not sail an ocean to meet a fuckingraccoon.”
“There’s also a fox den,” Sebastian said. “But you’re not allowed in there.”
Wesley gave him a narrow-eyed stare.
“You can visit the sloth instead,” said Sebastian. “As long as you don’t hunt him.”
Somewhere in a tree, a cardinal chirped, because even the damn birds were on Sebastian’s side.
“I’ve never said I hunt—never mind, I’m not indulging a conversation about sloths andfoxes,” said Wesley. “We’re supposed to have dinner. Let’s go.”
When they reached the hotel, they were shown to a spacious dining club upstairs with dark wood walls and crystal chandeliers.
“Would you prefer to wait for your other four companions?” the host asked, as he looked over their reservation.
Wesley and Sebastian exchanged a glance. “No,” Wesley said. “Apparently it’s only going to be us.”
As the host took them to their table, Sebastian kept a little extra distance between him and Wesley than he would have with a friend, trying not to notice the lingering looks from the other patrons.
They were taken to a table along the far wall. The gentle light of the chandeliers played over Wesley’s high cheekbones and keen eyes as they sat. “Did you just order coffee before dinner?” he said, as the host left with their drink requests. “Are you particularly tired, by chance? From, say, a bit of enchanted antique jewelry?”
Sebastian carefully didn’t touch the brooch. “We just got off a transatlantic voyage.”
“We did, but you’re also trying to dodge the question,” Wesley said. “Did they teach that tactic to you medics in the army? It won’t get you very far with me.”
Sebastian tried to smile. “I’m getting used to it.”
“Hmm.” Wesley didn’t sound convinced by Sebastian’s admittedly unconvincing lie. “Hopefully the others will have an idea for how to get rid of it, whenever they deign to let us find them.”
“We’re supposed to help them withtheirproblem,” Sebastian pointed out.
“Yes, duck,” Wesley said, with exaggerated patience. “We can hopefully all help each other, imagine that.”
Sebastian huffed as he picked up his menu. “You know, you’ve never explained why you call me that.”
“Blatantly changing the subject, that’s another tactic that doesn’t work on me,” Wesley said.
“I actually do want to know,” Sebastian said, and meant.
Wesley picked up his own menu. “My old groundskeeper, Fitz, was from Nottinghamshire. He used to call all the children that.”
“Oh,” Sebastian said knowingly. “So it’s what you say when you’re being patronizing.” He paused. “Wait. You call me that all the time.”
Wesley cleared his throat. “They have oysters.”
