Page 89 of A Much Younger Man
Chapter Twenty-One
By the timeI got to Bistro, the lunch service was already in full swing. I saw Cooper and Shawn in the corner booth I normally favored, so I joined them. I sat next to Cooper, opposite Shawn, so he could read both sets of lips. Despite their physical separation, they presented a united front. I’d have been lying if I said their expressions didn’t cause a guilty chill to creep down my spine.
I picked up my menu but didn’t open it. “I know what you’re going to say, so just spit it out.”
“If you know, then why are we having this conversation?” Shawn’s profound deafness had never stopped him from speaking his mind.
“We’re worried about Beck, Lindy.” Cooper tried to soften his words. “You know he’s vulnerable.”
“I know,” I admitted.
“So do you think a relationship with him is in his best interest?”
Jeff came over to our table, although his name tag read “Bob” today. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Wait.” I held up a hand. “I’ve seen you wearing name tags that say Jeremy, Jeff, and now Bob. Is one of those your name? I hate to keep calling you the wrong thing.”
“Oh. Yeah. It’s so stupid.” He laughed and clapped his hand over his badge. “I lost like, three name tags my first week, and now my boss won’t make me anymore. I just grab one from a box we have in the back.”
“What is your real name?”
Pink crested over his high cheekbones. “I go by my nickname, mostly. People call me Epic.”
“Epic?” Shawn spelled it with his fingers, and Cooper nodded. Epic answered in ASL. I sat and watched while they talked for a few seconds. Shawn appeared delighted by his communication skills. “Good job. You’re pretty fluent.
“Epic’s an awesome name. If it’s okay with you, can I call you that?” I asked.
“I think that’s why the owner won’t make me another one. He thinks people will think my name is a joke.”
“Well, it’s not nice of him to say your name’s not serious enough,” I said. “But nice for me to finally know what to call you.”
“I know, right? Can I get your drink orders?” We asked for water and iced tea. Epic left to get them.
Shawn continued to glare at me while Cooper talked. “The thing is, we know you. You’re all about work. How’d this even happen?”
“I don’t know. There’s something about Beck.”
“But you can see our point, right?” Shawn asked. “He has nothing, and you’re…you. It’s unethical to start a relationship when he’s not on more equal footing. Even if he weren’t so young. Don’t you think?”
“Of course I think so. Do you think I don’t lie awake at night worrying about that very thing?”
“So maybe let him down gently,” Shawn said. “Put off a romantic relationship until he’s not homeless and dependent on you for the well-being of his pet.”
Wow. Tell me how you really feel.“I don’t know if that’s possible.”
“What do you mean?” Shawn turned to Cooper with a frown. “What does he mean?”
Cooper used sign language but spoke so we could both understand. “I think he means it’s too late.”
Shawn sat back. “Linden Davies. I know you know better than this.”
Cooper lifted his hands. “Chill, mama bear. We understand that you feel protective of Beck, but he’s not a child.”
“Compared to Lindy he is. I can’t believe I even have to say this. You hold all the power in that partnership. If you go forward with it, he’ll always feelless than.”
Shawn was right. I’d thought the same thing myself. Yet on the other hand, an unequal relationship seemed to be exactly what Beck wanted from me. He wanted me to take care of him. And for my part, that was a major turn-on. The things we needed from each other meshed perfectly.
We meshed perfectly.
