Page 29 of Boy Issues

Donovan’s stomach twisted, his guts clenching and heart thumping, his emotions raging out of control as he tried to process why Silver would want to waste his time on him. Especially if Donovan could never follow through, if his father-sanctioned mystery bride was to be his destiny a year from now.

“Nothing happened today.”

“Donovan, if you can’t be real with me—”

He took a chance and covered Silver’s hand with his own. “No, I’m being serious. Every day is the same series of pre-determined events that are slowly squeezing the life out of me. Soon, I won’t give a shit whether I never get one of my designs built, or if I fall in love, have real friends, or get out from under my father’s heel or my brother’s…” Donovan growled. “Whatever.” He muttered under his breath, “Fucking bastard.” He sucked in a breath. “Anyway, I’ll be living someone else’s life until my dying day, so finding out what I need isn’t something I’ve ever considered being pertinent before.”

“Okay.” Silver brought Donovan’s palm to his mouth then pressed his lips to the sensitive skin. “Thank you for telling me that. I have a feeling you’ve never expressed those thoughts to anyone before.”

Donovan’s eyes burned and he tore his gaze away from Silver again. There was being vulnerable, then there was being vulnerable. He’d never been a fan of showing his soft underbelly to anyone, and while so far Silver was the most decent person he’d ever met, trusting wasn’t a skill Donovan kept in his arsenal.

“Well, like I said, it’s rather ridiculous for me to get so maudlin over my life. I know I’m spoiled.”

“But not in the right ways. Looks like I have a lot of work to do with you then.” Silver patted his back then rose. “However, right now I think we should get something to eat. It’s well past dinner time.”

Donovan drew his eyebrows together, then regretted it when the action pulled on his cut. What the hell was Silver talking about, he had a lot of work to do? Maybe the man also moonlighted as a therapist when he wasn’t moonlighting as a cook.

“Oh, sure. Well, if you don’t mind driving, we can go wherever you want.”

Silver regarded him with amusement. “I have some delivery menus downstairs. I’ll grab them.”

Donovan fell against the sofa. He wished they were at his beach house. There was a seafood Italian place right down the highway from him, and he bet Silver would love it.

Donovan chewed on his lip. Would he?

Okay, so maybe while he was exposing his belly to Silver, he’d also get some insight into what drove the serious young man. His typical modus operandi of wining and dining a guy to get him in bed was no longer his real motivation. Well, at least not his main one. In a startling development, he wanted to please Silver just because.

Hopefully, that didn’t mean the world was about to turn on its axis, because ever since he’d met Silver, his life has been rapidly spiraling out of control.

Silver reappeared with a small assortment of colorful paper menus, most of them bent up, but Donovan noted that when Silver handed them over, they were neatly arranged.

“Those all deliver, so pick out the one you want.” He shrugged. “Again, these aren’t Michelin rated joints, but they’re all good. I can be particular about food.”

“Really?”

He hadn’t intended to sound so shocked. Yet another reason why he needed to solve the Silver mystery.

“I take care of my body, eat lots of fresh food. Not that I don’t have my indulgences, but I’m not sitting in here eating pizzas, burgers and tacos every night.”

“Huh.” Donovan thumbed through the menus. He never could’ve imagined that sitting in a studio apartment above a garage in east LA and ordering takeout could be so much fun, yet here he was enjoying himself. “I’m sure you’ve already figured this out, seeing as I’m convinced you’re much smarter than me, but I’ve been stereotyping the living hell out of you.”

“I had an inkling.”

They exchanged glances then both broke into a laugh.

“So…” Donovan set the menus on the coffee table with the exception of one. “I wouldn’t mind some Greek food, if that works for you?”

“I told you. Whatever you want.”

After Donovan had relayed to Silver his food choices, and his attempt to pick up the tab had been thwarted, he found himself restless, on edge. At least his fucking head had stopped pounding, so that was a plus. He could probably also use a shower after being baked out in the desert half the day.

The sound of Silver jogging up the stairs reached Donovan’s ears, and Silver reappeared with dishes, cutlery and a couple sodas. He’d insisted on Donovan staying upstairs and resting while he’d retrieved what they’d need for their meal. For once, Donovan kept his blabby mouth clamped shut and didn’t ask why Silver didn’t just use disposable paper ones since he didn’t have a ‘real’ apartment.

Yeah. Decent person lessons are definitely needed.

Being around Silver had only accentuated how much he’d absorbed of his father and brother’s nasty, entitled world views.

“I could’ve eaten downstairs, Silver. I feel as if I’m too much trouble for you.”

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