Page 32 of Noah

"I can do that."

"Awesome." I tapped the bar top. "Let me get your order started."

Liam came up behind me as I stood in front of the computer. He rested his chin on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Did you ask him?"

"I did. And he said yes."

"Did you have any doubt about that?"

"Actually, yeah. We've been building slowly. I wasn't sure he'd be ready."

"You're really in touch with him."

"I'm trying."

"Anything you want to tell me about him?"

I shrugged him off my shoulder. "Nope."

Liam smacked my ass and walked away. I turned my head to look at Brody. He was watching me. I smiled at him. A slight smirk lit up his face, then he looked away.

Liam had likely figured out there was something different about Brody. It wasn't mine to tell. If Brody wanted to tell Liam one day that he's on the spectrum, that would be his decision.

I was sad to see Brody leave later that night.

He was on my mind as I fell asleep.

The restaurant that Owen had chosen was nicer than I'd been expecting. I generally wore dress pants and a white button-up shirt at the pub, but I felt like I was missing a suit jacket and tie.

"Nice place," I said to him as I pulled out a chair and sat.

"I have a lot of my business meetings here."

"Living large."

"I do well for myself."

"Which reminds me. The youth centre needs donations. We had all our computers stolen."

"Ethan said it was likely an LGBTQ hate crime."

"The computers definitely weren't worth anything except to us and those kids."

Owen sighed. "I'll buy you two computers. Do you need printers?"

"Yes." I hung onto my smile.

"I'll buy a couple of those too. I'll have my assistant call you."

I grinned. "Thank you." I fiddled with my ice-water-filled glass. "Why this lunch?"

"I know I pulled you away from work, but you're the only sensible guy in our group."

I laughed. "Thank you?"

"Seriously." Owen leaned closer to the table. "My love life is in shambles."

"And that's new, how?"

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