Page 26 of Simply Perfection
“Are you scaring the children again?” Ryan yelled over toward him.
Matt turned and headed back toward the group. He saw Ethan elbow his husband in the gut. “Eat it, Ashton. He’s a good kid.Needs to simmer for a few years to add some texture and layers to his personality, but he’s on the right track.”
“So what did he want?” Ethan asked.
“Asked me out on a date.”
Matt shook his head at the cat-calls and kissy sounds the group made. “Grow up. Besides I told him I’m already seeing somebody.”
“Who? And why haven’t you brought him around for our approval?” Ethan demanded.
“Aye, maybe the doc dinna want ye to cross examine the queer bit o’ talent,” Conor said. “Now, I'd eat a farmer's arse through a blackthorn bush!” Matt and everybody else stared at Conor.
“I’m hungry,” Conor clarified, slowly.
“Then simply say that. I swear half the time you say those ridiculous phrases just to enjoy our stupefied expressions.”
Conor placed a kiss on Rick’s lips. “Maybe. But if I dinna, den how would I ‘av any fun,càran?”
Matt watched the exchange between Conor and Rick. He wanted to have a chat with those two about how they made their marriage with Calleigh work. How the dynamics in the household played out. He imagined his, and Niall and Trevor’s relationship would be quite different, not having a woman or children involved, but if the pair was willing to talk, at least it might give Matt a source of information.
“So are you going to tell us who you’re seeing?” Ryan asked.
“You met one of them the other night.” Matt smiled as he dropped that little bomb. It was his turn to laugh at the group’s expressions.
“One of them?” Ethan exclaimed.
“Trevor. He’s Logan’s friend and colleague at the crime lab. He was at the hospital when we were all waiting to hear about Clay.”
“Small guy? Thin? Blond?” Rick asked.
“Yep. He’s the chief audio and video analyst for the department.”
“So who’s the other? Not that asshole Jaime? I thought it was over between the two of you?” Ryan added.
“It is. You’ve never met our third. His name is Niall Roberge and—”
“De photographer?” Conor interrupted.
“Yeah. We met a couple of weeks ago at the Fenway Health Fair. It’s a bit of a complicated story. If you all want the scoop, then I vote we get out of the cold and find somewhere with hot food and drink.”
“Grinders at Pete’s?” Ryan proposed.
“Sounds good. I’ll meet you all over there. I want to check in with Trevor. He had a spot of trouble yesterday, and I want to make sure he’s okay.”
The group headed off to their respective vehicles parked outside Boston Common. Matt unlocked the door to his car, popped open the center console and removed his phone. After a quick scan for any missed calls from patients, Matt pulled up Trevor’s name and hit call on the touchscreen.
“Hello?”
“Hey,bello.”
“What exactly does ‘bello’ mean?”
“It means handsome. My grandmother used to call my grandfather that.” Matt heard a little happy sound through the phone and smiled.
“How are you? How was the game?”
“Good. Cold, but good.” He turned on the car and activated the heated seat.
