“He’s such a hot head.” Sempai Randy shook his head as he stood.
“I shouldn’t have come in here.” Jaime kept his eyes on the floor. This was the kind of trouble he aimed to avoid. “I didn’t want any trouble.”
When no one said anything else, Jaime looked up to see a scowl firmly set on Sempai Tyler’s face. He looked angry enough to take a swing at someone, and Jaime was the closest someone. Suddenly Jaime didn’t feel so safe. Why was Sempai Tyler pissed at him?
“Well, you are here now. So you might as well get changed.” Sempai Randy gave Jaime a reassuring smile. “We’re going over to Chummy’s to celebrate Sarah’s acceptance into law school. She won’t forgive me if I don’t get you to come out with us.”
Jaime nodded when he couldn’t think of a good excuse to get out of going. Besides, he liked Sarah. It wasn’t often Jaime got to celebrate such an accomplishment. Usually his reasons for celebrating were far more trivial. An extra track laid or a session without some metal head cracking an amp was enough reason for Jaime to head to the bar. At least if he went with Sarah, Sempai Randy, and Sempai Tyler, he was far less likely to go looking for someone to take home. After avoiding the bars and the one-night stands that usually capped the night for the last three months, Jaime didn’t want to mar his record. If he devoted his attention to Sarah, Jaime could bend his no bar rule without risking his resolution.
“Sarah can be pretty scary when she’s angry,” Jaime added. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint her.”
“Tell me about it.” Sempai Randy relaxed back on the bench. “Tyler, you going in your gi, or are you going to get changed?”
Sempai Tyler was still in the same position he had been in when Steve threatened Jaime.
“Gis in public are so last year.” Sempai Tyler’s attempt at a joke fell flat. Something was definitely bothering Sempai Tyler, and Jaime was starting to think it had less to do with Steve and more with something he did or didn’t do. “Give me a couple of minutes.”
“Right.” Sempai Randy stood up. “I’ll go tell Sarah.”
Normally, Jaime had no problem being alone with Sempai Tyler. He couldn’t shake the feeling he was the cause of the man’s foul mood. Only he wasn’t even sure what he’d done. He’d never seen Sempai Tyler like this. Instead of the easy feeling usually surrounding him, Sempai Tyler was consumed by a dark cloud. Jaime didn’t even dare say anything lest he make things worse. He resolved to keep quiet while he changed.
It was the longest five minutes of Jaime’s life. When he was dressed, he grabbed his bag and headed toward the door. He had to do something. So he did the only thing he could think of.
“I’m sorry.”
The glare Sempai Tyler shot Jaime was full of daggers. There was no doubt Jaime had fucked up. Only he didn’t know how.
“For what?” Sempai Tyler spoke the words with such harshness Jaime knew nothing he could say would make things better.
Sempai Tyler wasn’t in any mood to share the cause of the upset, but Jaime knew he’d disappointed the man. How? The testing had gone well. Jaime had even taken Steve down a peg. Sure, Steve had caused a scene in the changing room. Sempai Tyler couldn’t blame Jaime for that. Could he?
Chapter 4
By the time they arrived at Chummy’s, Tyler still wasn’t done being angry with Jaime. And Tyler was no closer to figuring out why. Instead, he kept his distance and talked to Sarah about law school. Randy found them a table in the back, and they settled in for a few drinks. Tyler was content to focus on anything other than Jaime.
It took a couple of beers and an hour of conversation Tyler was only half paying attention to, before his funk departed. In the meantime, Jaime hadn’t said a word except to excuse himself from the table to go to the restroom. As Tyler watched him walk away, he felt a twinge of guilt for giving the guy the cold shoulder. He’d been acting like an asshole for no good reason, and he needed to explain to Jaime that he wasn’t angry with the guy—at least not anymore. All Tyler wanted was for Jaime to see in himself the qualities Tyler saw plainly. Jaime didn’t need to back down from Steve or anyone—certainly not about being himself.
That confused expression Jaime had worn in the changing room when Tyler snapped at him haunted Tyler’s thoughts. He needed to apologize. Once he’d figured that out, the only problem was Jaime still hadn’t come back to the table. Tyler needed to go find him.
“I should call Jenny before she gets worried.” Tyler rose from the table where Sarah and Randy were digging into a heaping plate of potato skins. “Save me one.”
“No guarantees,” Randy said through a mouthful of potato. “And if you see Jaime, tell him the next round is on him.”
“Don’t tell me you are already getting tired of being my sugar daddy.” Sarah nudged Randy.
“I might be supporting you while you go to law school,” Randy replied with a big grin. “But I’m not going to be anyone else’s sugar daddy. Tyler’s not that pretty. Maybe Jaime.”
Tyler left the two celebrating Sarah’s acceptance into law school. In the dojo, there was no hint of their relationship other than friendship. But once the uniforms and ranks were shed, they were no different than any other couple, except the passion they shared for karate. Tyler envied them. Every woman he had ever dated had started out
