Page 30 of Love Bitters

“Nice to meet you,” I reply, taking the offered hand. A quick shake later, I step away from her touch.

Not offended in the least at my hasty retreat, she steps back into my space, saying, “With me being new and all, I kind of need someone to show me around the office. Want to help a girl out?”

Were I a fully straight man, I might be the right person to fall prey to what she’s looking for. Her colorful dress is borderline club attire, skintight and leaving her boobs hanging halfway out. It’s been a long time since a woman didn’t catch on to my preferences right away and actually hit on me. Little does she realize, my heart is already on loan twice. So even if there was a chance, there wouldn’t be one.

“It’s great to have you in the office, but I’m pretty busy today. I apologize,” I tell her, stepping around and heading to the door, not wanting to be cut off again.

“I’m free if you want-” Chris starts, but I cut him off.

“No, I need your help with the Willamson account.”

He doesn’t ask questions, just rolls with the punches with a quick shoulder shrug of apology toward Gabriella, who doesn’t seem bothered in the least by our blow-offs. If anything, it makes her grin wider. Passing as close to me as she can, her arm brushes against mine.

Chris shakes his head as we start the walk back to our offices. “What was that all about? We already finished that account yesterday.”

I snort softly and push my glasses up my nose from where they’ve drifted down the bridge. “That woman would chew you up and spit you out on the other side of that nice marriage you were just bragging about.”

His eyes go wide as the lightbulb finally goes off in his head. “Oh damn. I was just trying to be nice. You really think she’s like that?”

“I don’t know her,” I say. “I’m just offering advice to a friend. I’d stay on my side of the office if I were you.”

Still slightly dumbfounded, he nods. “Thanks for looking out for me, brother. I appreciate that.”

Coming around the corner that leads to my office, my lips part to reply but never get that far as I get my second surprise of the day. A blond head of hair peeks over the top of my desk chair that’s turned to face the window. I’ve lived with the man long enough now that it’d be sad if I didn’t recognize it instantly.

“Wes?” I question.

The chair spins so fast I’m worried it’s going to continue until it’s done a full three-sixty.

“Hey, man,” Wes greets with a short wave and anxious smile. “I hope it’s okay I’m here. I would’ve called, but I didn’t know if you’d be able to answer before you went to lunch.”

I let out a small puff of air through my nose before answering, “You’re good, dude.”

“Okay, cool,” he says, relaxing back in my chair. “The lady up front just brought me back here and said to wait when I asked for you. Though she did kind of look at me funny.”

Swallowing hard, I fight to keep myself from grinding my teeth. It’s one thing for prejudices to damn me, but having shit brought down on the heads of people close to me is another. Surprising both of us, Chris speaks up from the doorway where we apparently didn’t part ways.

“It’s because they think sexuality is contagious. I personally think gay people are awesome. Evan is more manly than the majority of these nerds here.”

Great intentions, but the delivery still needs a little work. Embarrassed for Wes, I try to correct the mix up as fast as I can.

“This isn’t my partner, Chris. He’s one of my roommates.”

Chris’s uncomfortable mistake is evident in the way his eyes widen, but Wes takes it in stride like the others always do, not giving him the chance to apologize.

“No worries, man,” he says, laying the charm on thick. We’re going to have to sneak his ass out of here before the intern catches a whiff or we’re all going to be in trouble. “I get that a lot, surprisingly, even when Evan isn’t around.”

Well, that’s news to me.

“Now, if you see a smaller redhead with freckles trekking through here, I’d get out of his way.”

We all laugh. Wes and I because we know it’s true, but Chris, I’m assuming, thinks he’s kidding. In the way I’ll never be able to understand, Wes adds a layer over the frozen pond to keep us all from falling through and drowning in the freezing water. Really could’ve used that shit growing up.

Taking one of the chairs across from my own desk, I ask, “So, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I’ve got the day off from work and was hoping you’d want to go out to lunch with me,” he says with a shrug as though he doesn’t care whether I accept or not. Years of knowing a person, you learn small quirks about their personalities. Double that when you live together too. It’s how I know that no matter how nonchalant he’s acting, it’s obvious whatever the reason he’s here is important to him. There’s something in the set of his eyes and the now forced smile.

“Sure,” I reply. “I was going to wait another hour or so, but leaving now wouldn’t be a problem.”

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