“Um... good.” I slide into the spot across from him.
“Things with Nathan are going well?”
“Shouldn’t you ask Nathan?”
“I’m asking you.”
“They’re good.” I don’t want to say anything to break Nathan’s confidence. I assume he’s talked about us, but not what he’s told them. “It took us a little bit to figure things out, but I think we’re on the right track now.”
“And you’re exclusive?”
“I’m not sure why it’s any of your business.” The universe wants to answer the question for me because Aaron’s jaw tenses up, and I turn to follow his gaze.
Oliver.
Oh, fuck. Why is Oliver here? There are enough people in this city that I shouldn’t be running into failed hookups when I’m out for the day. At this point, I can’t do anything else, so I wave. He waves back and walks over. Alarm bells go off in my head. I glance around, looking for Nathan.
“Hey!” Oliver says to Aaron and then looks at me. “Good to see you again.”
“Yeah, um, you, too.”
“Enjoying the market?” Aaron asks. He hates me. Why is he forcing this into a whole conversation? The rule is that we wave at each other and move in separate directions.
“It’s nice. I already have too many things on my wish list. I need to eat something before I make any impulse purchases.”
“Why don’t you eat with us?”
I give Aaron my best pleading face, but he either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.
“Sure, thanks. Let me grab something, and I’ll be right back.” He starts to walk away, then turns back. “You don’t mind, do you?”
I mind a lot, but I hear myself say, “Of course not.” Oliver grins at me and walks away. Aaron says something, but my heart is pounding too loud to make out the words. I might be having a heart attack. I try to remember the signs but can’t think of anything. A hand on my shoulder pulls me back.
“You okay?” Nathan’s looking at me with concern. I don’t know when he returned to the table, but a big plate of fish and chips is in front of me. I’m sure it’s excellent, but my stomach threatens to revolt.
“Um... this guy I went on a date with months ago is here.”
Nathan stiffens up. “Oh.”
“Anyway, he saw us over here and came to say hi. And then...” I’m not sure I can describe what happened after that. I’m still trying to figure it out.
“I invited him to sit with us,” Aaron interjects. Both Nathan and Matthias turn to look at him, mouths open. Aaron shrugs. “He’s lonely and doesn’t know people in the city. I didn’t think it would matter.” How does Aaron know any of this? I should be grateful he’s taking the blame for the situation.
I lean in toward Nathan. “Do you want to go?” I keep my voice low so the others can’t hear. “I don’t want you to beuncomfortable. I swear, I went on one sort of date with this guy at the bar. Nothing else happened.”
“I know.” Nathan puts his hands on mine. He’s still stiff, but his color looks a little better. “It’s fine. I’m surprised, is all.”
“Nathan.” I want to pull him into a corner and ensure he understands that he’s the only one I’m interested in. I want to kiss him and feel his body against mine so I can be sure everything is okay. Instead, I take one of the fries on my plate and put it in my mouth.
NATHAN
Do not freak out.Do not freak out. Do not freak out.I’m pretty sure this is like putting aDo Not Touchsticker on something. The more I tell myself to calm down, the more I freak out.
Logically, I know nothing happened between the two of them. It was before the two of us got together. It’s not like I’ve been a monk for the last decade. Still, this isthe guy. The guy he was with that night. My heart is not logical.
“Hey.” The offending man walks over to the table, carrying a sandwich in one hand and a soda can in the other.
“This is Oliver,” Aaron says. “You’ve already met Colt and Matthias, and that’s Nathan.” He points to each of us, and I give him a questioning look. He nods at me and mouths something I can’t make out.
