"You were telling us how you discovered that your long-lost most hated rival in high school turned out not only to have dated Moira, but apparently is the father of our nephew," Milo added because, of course, the man could go five miles off topic but manage to loop back instantly. Milo had a head for knowledge when it came to gossip, unlike anyone I’d ever known. He still had to count on his fingers and bunched change into groups for easy counting, but then he’d turn around and tell you about an ex's new boyfriend's former STI allegation from five years before, down to who they’d probably slept with during that time.
"Yes, thank you, for that," I said with a snort, beginning to ease the incline and speed down gradually so I could get off the machine. "So that's one mystery solved."
"Shit," Milo said with a laugh. "What are they going to do?"
"If I know Moira?—"
"If anyone should, it's you."
"Right, and if I know her, she's leaving what happens next up to him. She was real quiet after he left the other day."
"I mean, she probably feels a bit shitty," Elijah offered up. "She kept Micah's existence from him for eight years."
Leave it to Elijah to get straight to the heart of the matter. “She didn't say it, but...yeah, I think that's what's going on. I still don't know why she didn't tell him. That's just not like her."
"Wait, are you feeling bad for the guy?" Milo wondered. "I thought you couldn't stand him."
"I can't," I admitted easily and without hesitation. "But he looked like he was about to have a stroke, just standing there, staring at me and Micah talking. He's a bastard, but I'm not going to defend what Moira did, even if it was for a good reason. I don't want one of the little rugrats myself, but if I had a kid out there, I hope whoever got pregnant would tell me. We're never going to be friends, but even he deserved to have a choice in whether or not he wanted to be in Micah's life from the start."
"Wow," Milo said. "Listen to you, being all mature and reasonable. Next, you'll tell me you're going to take him along and try to have some family bonding time for Micah's sake."
"Don't push it," I said as I brought the treadmill to a stop. Admittedly, I had more or less done that with my offer to Jace before he'd left, but I'd also done it knowing he wouldn't take me up on the offer.
I glanced across the uninhabited gym to the large clock on the wall. The things I loved about this gym were that the membership prices kept the place from being overly full at its busiest times, but mostly because the people who paid the fees tended to keep a rigorous morning routine. So it was pretty much guaranteed the place would be empty after nine at night. Which meant I had the place to myself if I came late enough. It worked for the location up in Portland, and I was glad it was true here as well.
"Aww," Milo cooed, and I rolled my eyes, knowing some bullshit or another was about to come out of his mouth. "Be careful, you might find yourself growing fond of him."
"Quit," Elijah chided him, and I was fully prepared to thank him when he followed that up with, "We all know Mason doesn't grow fond of guys. He sleeps with them and moves on. So, probably a quick angry fuck or two and then he'll go back to hating him."
"And this is why you guys are always told things last," I muttered, wiping my brow before wiping down the machine. Admittedly, the place had enough staff, but it was just good etiquette. Who wanted to touch a machine soaked in someone else's sweat? "And Milo, I can't stand him, and he can't stand me."
"Mmm, they say the line between love and hate is thin, but I'd bet the line between hate and lust is even thinner."
"Seriously? What is wrong with you?"
"Is he cute? I don't think I've ever seen him before."
"Yes, you have. According to Mom, he came to the hotel a few times while he was dating Moira. They just didn't announce they were dating because...well, probably because she was worried news would reach my ears."
"Wait," Milo said slowly. "Big guy? Scary looking eyes?"
"Never learned how to smile or talk in anything other than a growl," I added with a snort.
"Yep," I heard him snap his fingers. "God, I do remember him. Yeah, you definitely want to fuck him."
"Oh, Jesus," I groaned, setting the cleaning supplies back in the hidden basket near one of the pillars. "Look, just because your underage, hormone-filled body can't help but have bad taste in men doesn't mean the rest of us don't have some dignity."
"Dignity...what's that?"
"You'll get it when you're older. Knowing you, probably not till your thirties."
"Forties," Elijah piped up, and I heard the sound of something being hit. Elijah grunted. "You hit like a bitch."
"The point is, the guy is fine, even if you won't admit it," Milo said when he came back to the phone. "And…ow! Quit hitting me!"
"You aren't gonna sock me and then pretend like you're the victim," Elijah said, and I heard another blow and Milo yelp.
"Jesus, okay," I sighed as I pulled out my phone. "You two are clearly having a bit of foreplay, which I know is going to last until something gets broken. So I'm going to get off this phone before I have to bear witness to it. Have fun!"
