Page 33 of Employing Patience

“Because I’m gay.”

My heart sinks for the guy. “I’m sorry.”

“You and me both.”

“Kinda makes me wish I had a room to offer you.”

“I’ve already been offered a room, but—” He cuts off and doesn’t continue, even when I give him a few seconds.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It’s … it’s with Mol’s dad.”

“Cool.”

Will’s whole face goes bright, bright red.

“Oh.” I can read that reaction. “Very cool?”

His gaze shoots to mine. “Very, very not cool.”

I laugh. “I can see why your best friend isn’t your type.”

He shushes me and hurries to glance around. “No one can know.”

“I’m not telling anyone.”

“Good.” He drops his voice. “Molly would kill me. It’s why I can’t take the room. Molly offered, not Keller. It … it wouldn’t be right. On both of them.” Will drains his drink, and I pour him another one.

“Did you say Keller?”

Will’s head snaps up. “You know him?”

“If it’s the guy I’m thinking of, he’s friends with my boss.”

“That’s the one.” Will slumps even further on the stool. “They’re going out together tonight.”

“Interesting …”

“Is it?”

Given the bitterness in his tone, I’m going to go ahead and assume he finds it far from interesting. I chew on my tongue, trying to hold my question in, but it doesn’t help. “Do you know where they’re going?”

“Yeah, a gay bar in Springfield.”

Doubly interesting. I busy myself by serving a group who come over instead of latching onto the idea trying to take over. But it keeps burrowing in, overriding my thoughts, distracting me from the task at hand.

Once the group moves on, I gravitate back to Will. “Hey.”

He glances up. “Umm, hi?”

“I’ve had a thought.”

“That doesn’t sound too good.”

“Hey, I’m a smart guy.”

Will readjusts his backward cap, and a slight smile twitches his lips. “Tell me, then.”

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