“I’m not. You should ask my boss. I’m surprised I’ve not been fired.” He gave an awkward laugh, his mouth twitching before he looked away.
“You said you worked part-time as well as being a student, but I’m not sure you ever said what you do.”
“Didn’t I?” Jared pursed his lips.
“If you did, I don’t remember.” It wasn’t hard to believe he’d forgotten with everything going on with Luka. “So, what do you do, for work?”
Jared shrugged. “Lots of things.”
Nate leaned his head to one side, stared at Jared.
“That makes it sound like I do something shady, doesn’t it?”
“A little.”
Jared laughed. “It’s a hire company. It provides staff for events and stuff. Temporary gigs.”
Nate wasn’t sure he completely understood. “So, staff for catered events? That type of thing?”
“Yes, kind of. But it’s not all that interesting.” Jared took a drink of his beer. “I just go where I’m told to. Do what needs doing.”
“I don’t believe you.” Nate crossed his arms.
Jared froze. “Which part?”
“About doing as you’re told. Because if you did, then why would you think they’d fire you?” He pursed his lips. When was the last time he’d teased someone other than Luka?
“Ah, I did say that didn’t I.”
“You did.”
Jared downed what was left of his beer. “There may have been a few mistakes along the way. But I swear, they’re always done with the best of intentions. I’m just too nice. Or so people keep telling me.” He chuckled and turned the empty bottle so the label was facing Nate.
Nice, huh?
“I guess you are.” Nate glanced along the bar to where Abi was serving a group. He turned back and met Jared’s eyes. “But I wouldn’t say it’s a bad thing.”
“Exactly. I didn’t think so either. But again, probably not what my boss would say. There was this whole thing with a swan.”
“Should I even ask?”
“Best if you don’t.” He grinned.
“Just answer me one thing. Is the swan okay?”
“Yeah. Or at least it was as I watched it waddle into the sunset with a hotel guest’s shoe gripped firmly in its beak.”
“Shoe? So many questions.”
Laughing, Jared rested his folded arms on the edge of the bar. “Speaking of questions. I had one for you.”
“Really?”
Jared nodded.
“Okay. Go on.”
“I wanted to invite you out for dinner. You and Luka,” he quickly added.
“Both of us?”
“Yeah. I wanted to talk to you some more, get to know you, as friends, and well, Luka’s a big part of that. But if you think that’s too weird, then…”
Nate narrowed his eyes. He studied Jared, his expression, his body language. Was this him being too nice? “It’s not weird. I’m surprised, that’s all.” Even if Nate had been willing to open his heart to any of the men he had slept with since Rhea, he was sure very few would have stuck around for long. He didn’t want to call Luka baggage, but that’s what he would have been seen as.
“Then, what do you think? Would you like to? We could get burgers again, or is there somewhere Luka enjoys going?”
Somewhere Luka enjoys?
“You really are a nice guy.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.” He clenched his fists, noting the feel of his ring between his tensed fingers. There were things he regretted about the past. Moments he should have acted upon. Hindsight was a bitch.
“So, dinner?”
“On one condition.”
Jared sucked on his teeth. “Which is?”
“Instead of going out, let me cook.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“In what way?”
“It’s your home. Are you sure it’s okay for me to be there?”
Nate dismissed Jared’s concerns. “Why wouldn’t it be? I’m inviting a friend over for dinner.” He relaxed his arms at his side. “You wanted to get to know me and Luka better. This way you can. But if you don’t feel comfortable—”
“I’ll come,” Jared interrupted. “I didn’t want you to feel you had to invite me, is all. But I want to have dinner with you both.”
Would Luka smile when Nate told him?
Nate’s lips twitched.
Was it okay for him to smile, too?
“Are you free Sunday evening? Around five.”
Jared took a moment, but eventually agreed. “Sure.”
“Is there anything you don’t eat? Allergies or anything?”
Jared shook his head. “None that I know of.”
“Great. So, Sunday at five.”
“Yes. Do you want me to bring anything with me?”
“Other than an empty stomach, I don’t think so.”
“I can do that,” Jared said.
“Great,” Nate said again. It was then panic started to set in. When was the last time he’d cooked for someone else? Luka was a child, easy to impress, easy to please. “Okay, I’m going to put this out there. Please don’t go expecting some five-star dining when you come over.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m not saying I’m bad. I’m not going to poison you or anything, but I’m completely average when it comes to the kitchen. I mean it’s totally edible and—”
“It’ll be fine.” Jared’s words helped ease Nate’s anxiety. “I’m good with anything.”
“Really?”
Jared rested his elbows on the bar. His cheeks puffing a little he held his head in his hands and met Nate’s eyes. He gave a warm smile as he said, “Really.”
Nate returned his smile. Heat spread through his body as he held Jared’s gaze, and for the first time in a long time, there was something to look forward to.
I wish it was already Sunday.
Chapter Nine
Jared was never happier to see the back of a Saturday. He’d spent from six a.m. right up until eleven at night studying until his eyes crossed, broken only by Ethan forcing snacks into his hand and demanding he eat and drink. By the time he’d fallen into bed he was convinced he was going to forget everything he’d learned. Exams loomed, and if he didn’t pass them then he was fucked, and not the good kind of fucked.
There was no way he wasn’t going to pass, even if it meant putting in more days like yesterday, just as long as he didn’t miss out on down time and in particular, one thing that had kept him going all week—dinner with Nate
