Page 169 of Men in Shorts

That left Evan, who, when he’d been Fergus’s boyfriend, had felt like a brother-in-law to Liam. Now that Liam knew the full circumstances of that breakup, he no longer hated Evan, but they’d never again be mates. Evan’s previous job as a spy made him a wee bit terrifying, and his current work as a private investigator was no less intimidating.

“Want a drink? Robert has good stuff.” Liam got up from the floor and beckoned Evan to follow him into the kitchen. “And as our boyfriends have abandoned us, we’re within our rights to steal a dram.” He opened a cupboard and took out the bottle of single-malt whisky.

“It’s not part of my usual post-match recovery regimen, but this is shaping up to be an unusual night.” Evan crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, fatigue rimming his blue eyes and sweat still darkening the blond hair at his temples. Their Warriors kits were equally grimy, yet Evan somehow looked miles more put-together than Liam felt. “It’s good of you to give Robert time to confer with Ben.”

Liam made a noncommittal grunt as he poured the whisky. It hadn’t been a great sacrifice, as the mood had already been broken by the interruption.

“I’ve been on the other side,” Evan said. “I know what it’s like to have a job where you might save lives.”

“Robert’s not MI5. No one will die if he takes a day off.”

“But in his mind, every minute wasted could be a minute stolen from someone’s life.” Evan held up a hand. “It’s not a healthy perspective, but it explains his drive.”

“Believe me, I know.” They returned to the living room, where the descending sun was streaming through the wide balcony windows. The day had turned reasonably warm, so they went outside to look over the tree-lined, flagstoned St. Andrew’s Square. Along the edge of the balcony were half a dozen empty clay flower pots, artifacts of a summer that now felt far away.

Liam lifted his glass in a quick toast. “To our gamer boyfriends.”

Evan mirrored his movement. “May they never dump us for not sharing their obsession.”

Liam chuckled. “I kinda admire how they can sit still for so long. I’d go absolutely bonkers staring at a screen, even for a job.”

“Talking of work, when will you be starting massage college?”

Liam flinched. “Soon,” he said in a clipped voice he hoped conveyed his lack of desire to talk about it. When Evan stayed quiet, Liam added, “Applications open a week on Monday, and classes start in March, one Saturday a month for nine months.”

“So in a year, your life could be totally different.”

“Aye.” Liam heard his own dread. “I mean, aye! Cannae wait. Very excited.” He glanced at Evan to see a skeptical brow angling back at him. “Really.”

“Okay. Good.”

After a few moments of unbearable silence, Liam said, “I’ll miss the pub, though. Always a new challenge coming through the door at Hannigan’s.”

“Hmm.” Evan just sipped his whisky and watched a pair of pigeons strutting round the bare-branched tree below the balcony.

Liam sensed an aura of judgment. “What?” he snapped.

“Well…aren’t most of your customers regulars? They order the same thing every night?”

“Yeah, but they’ve got different problems all the time.”

“I’ve been to Hannigan’s,” Evan said. “The guys there just pleep about their wives and jobs—and sometimes football when Celtic are losing.”

Liam bristled. “Celtic are never losing. They may occasionally lose, but they’re never in a state of losing.”

“My point is, your job can’t be as stimulating as you need.” Evan stopped, as though realizing he was sounding a bit of a wank. “I mean, sure, when the pub’s very busy. Must be challenging to remember all the orders and keep everyone happy.”

“It’s not,” Liam blurted. Then he rubbed his eye. “It used to be, but now it’s easy. Which means you’re right, I’m bored. Happy?”

“I wasn’t trying to make you admit anything.”

“Seemed like it,” Liam said, “as you cannae have a normal conversation without rummaging through someone’s psyche.”

“But if you’re holding yourself back in life out of fear?—”

“Seriously fuck off.”

“Robert’s not going to change.”

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