Page 25 of Christopher

He was relieved when Chris finally parked, and he almost dropped to his knees to kiss the ground once he was out of the car. Instead, he sucked in a breath, squared his shoulders, and plastered a smile on his face.

Chris walked around the car to join him and frowned. “Are you all right?”

The smile almost fell, but Drake managed to keep it up. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know. You look a bit weird. If you’re not feeling well, I can take you home.”

Drake had tried to appear calm, and instead he’d ended up looking constipated. “I’m fine. We can get something to eat.”

Chris’s smile turned easy again. “Great, because I’m starving.”

He took Drake’s hand again, and Drake allowed himself to be guided inside the restaurant. He tried not to think about that time with his parents and the Chihuahua, but it was hard, even though the place was completely different. Why had he thought it was a good idea to tell Chris that story again?

He didn’t understand how Chris could appear so relaxed. It was as if nothing Drake was doing bothered him. If he’d been any of Drake’s exes, he’d never have walked into the restaurant, let alone sat down with Drake to have a meal.

“I’ll be right with you with your drinks,” the waitress said.

Chris smiled at her before turning to Drake. Drake opened his mouth, probably to say something stupid, but he was interrupted.

He wished he’d had the opportunity to say that stupid thing because it would have been better than what was actually happening.

“I see you moved on fast,” Karl said as he stopped next to their table.

Drake blinked at him becausewhat? “Moved on? From what?”

“From me.” Karl looked from Drake to Chris. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised since you dumped me for him right in front of me.”

“I didn’t dump you. We were never together.”

“What would you call our coffee date?”

“A first date.” What the fuck was happening? What was Karl doing?

“But we had a future together. I know you felt it.” Karl leaned closer to Drake. “Is he forcing you to do this? Because if he is, I can help you. Just tell me, and I’ll whisk you out of the restaurant and away from him. I’ll keep you safe.”

Drake wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Maybe even to laugh—did Karl really think he could defend Drake from Chris? Drake would pay to see that. Hell, he might get to see it without paying, given the way Chris was glaring at Karl.

“I’m not forcing him to do anything,” Chris said with a remarkably calm voice.

Drake felt like he might snap, and he hadn’t just been accused of abusing his mate.

“That’s what you’d say, isn’t it? But after what happened at the coffee shop, I think it’s clear that you are.”

“He’s not doing anything,” Drake argued. “You’re the one making a scene.” People were starting to look their way, and Drake wanted nothing more than to run out of this place. He could never come back after the scene Karl was making.

“Shouldn’t you go back to whoever you’re here with?” Chris asked. He sounded angry now, but he was still under control.

“I’m not leaving without Drake. I won’t allow you to hurt him any longer,” Karl declared, looking around as if he expected the people in the restaurant to agree with him.

Drake got to his feet, wishing people would stop staring at him. “I’m going to go,” he said. “I’m really sorry about this, Chris.”

Chris caught Drake’s hand and pulled him back down. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“But it’s a disaster.”

“I wouldn’t call it a disaster, but even if it was, it’s not your fault. Karl is doing everything on his own.”

“Don’t ignore me,” Karl demanded.

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