“Why did you decide I was the best personto talk to?” I wasn’t sure who I would’ve picked. Landon seemed to be debatinghow to handle the question so I scoffed. “Please don’t think I’ll be offendedby anything you say.”
His lips twitched like he couldn’t decideif he was going to frown or laugh.
“Sir said he thought it would be a goodidea if I made friends with more subs.” He shrugged. “You’re the only one Iknow, aside from a guy at work that might be, but it doesn’t seem to be rightto ask him at work.”
I nodded. “That makes sense. There are afew guys at work who seem…interesting, but I’d really rather keep my personallife away from work, so I think this was the right choice.”
“Thanks.” He studied me for a few moments.“If you ever need to talk or something like that, I can give you my number?”
It seemed to be more of a question thanconfident expression of support, so I couldn’t decide what to say. I finallyjust shoved something out.
“I have no idea how to respond to that.” Ishrugged. “So I’m just going to say thank you? Honestly, I don’t make friendseasily. I’m overly outspoken and socially awkward. I really don’t want to endup offending any of Master’s friends, so it’s probably not a good idea unlessyou need me to help you get a spanking or something like that.”
Landon coughed a few times, turningslightly purple, before finally reaching for his water.
We were back to being the center ofattention, but it didn’t last long before they very obviously changed thesubject again.
They were extremely good at it.
Porter was watching us both but relaxedwhen Landon waved him off as he swallowed his water. When he finally caught hisbreath, I started to apologize, but he spoke first. “I think I’ll take thechance.”
Interesting.
I was saved from having to find a politeway to ask about his sanity when Warner groaned and pulled every eye to him.“Shit. He’s married.”
We probably looked ridiculous, but everyhead turned in unison to follow his gaze. A man across the room seemed to bewho’d caught his attention. As everyone stared at the man and woman holdinghands with a young child as they walked through the restaurant, I finally foundsomething I could add to the conversation.
“He is most definitely not straight…unlesshe really needs a coffee fix more than I thought.”
And I was back to being the center ofattention.
Shit.
Chapter 18
Stuart
“I think that went well.” I grinned as Asagroaned and sank deeper into his seat, closing his eyes.
“They think I’m insane.” His groan as hescrubbed his hands over his face had me trying not to laugh.
“Landon didn’t seem to think you wereinsane. You guys seemed to be getting along well.” I wasn’t sure what they’dbeen whispering about, but they’d both smiled several times and seemed at easewith each other.
Asa shrugged, tugging on the seat beltcrossing over his chest. “He had to talk to someone to earn a spanking later. Iwas the least frightening person. Which I think shows that his logic or at thevery least how he sees the world is definitely questionable.”
Agreeing with the brat wasn’t a good idea,so I changed the subject.
“You have Warner now spinning in circles.You know that, right?” My question had Asa turning his head and opening hiseyes.
“Did I say the wrong thing? I didn’t meanto make him…confused?”
When he’d finally spoken up about the guy,making an odd coffee reference, the entire table had gone quiet, but the storywas actually funny.
“No, you did nothing wrong.” The fact thathe worked near the delivery guy’s daytime job was an interesting coincidencebut nothing he needed to feel awkward about. “Warner is just frustrated withhimself that he let the chance to talk to the guy slip through his fingers.”
Asa sat straighter, looking more relaxed.“I still don’t think he’s straight. Especially straight enough to have a wifeand kids. The way he was flirting with that barista was too good. Yes, he couldjust be a good flirt, but I don’t think so.”
He shrugged, straightening his shirt. “Iknow I’m not the best at reading those types of situations, but I remember hewasn’t wearing a ring or anything that made me think he was taken because I wastrying to figure out how he was flirting so I could possibly attempt toreplicate it.”
