Page 76 of Starfish and Coffee
Alex squeezed his thigh affectionately. “I’ll eat them for you. Save you from being a hypocrite.”
“I wish you wouldn’t,” Matt said with a glare. “Just because you have a high metabolism doesn’t mean you can’t get heart disease.”
“You’re giving me heart disease by bitching about my diet all the time,” Alex countered. “I eat all that healthy crap at home. If I want a few doughnuts, it won’t kill me.”
“You eat fine at home. I don’t know what you’re complaining about. You have thirty pounds of mahi in the freezer right now.”
“You want to come over to our place later?” Alex asked Devon, desperate to change the subject. Matt had turned into a drill sergeant about Alex’s diet. “We do have a shitload of mahi to get rid of. We have some snapper too.”
“Yeah, sure, fish fries at your house are always fun,” Devon agreed enthusiastically. “You guys have the best place on the beach.”
Matt had bought the mansion he’d rented six years ago. There were parts that needed to be upgraded and remodeled, but for the most part Alex and Matt had kept it the same. The marlin hung over the bed in the same room they’d spent so many nights enjoying each other. They hadn’t caught another one yet, but they had a lot of fun trying on their days off.
Alex had those now—two a week. He took the time off even on weeks when they needed the extra hands on deck, because Matt insisted being well rested and calm made him a better manager.
Matt was a health nut. Alex still worked too hard but life was good.
Even with the bumps in the road. The friends they’d lost just for finally being themselves and being happy together. None of it was too much of a heartache for Matt and Alex. Losing each other for so long taught them to appreciate the best parts of life and ignore the rest. A few lost acquaintances from their youth was a small price to pay for the freedom it bought them.
Besides, the friends that stuck around were the ones worth keeping.
Alex leaned into Matt to inhale the expensive cologne that clung to his tan skin. “I like that you’ve made the restaurant your office.”
“I’ll probably have to set up some real offices once we get this going.” Matt touched Alex’s thigh, totally comfortable with the affection. “But for now, seeing you all day is nice.”
“Island living.” Devon shook his head, reminding them he was still there. “You make me want to tell my family to screw off and start my own projects. I’m jealous, Matt. You got out.”
Matt shrugged. “I never wanted to be in. Quitting was easy. Lucky the stock was up. I made a mint when I sold it all off.”
“I cannot believe you did that.” Devon laughed. “It’s plummeted since you left. You breathed new life into that corporation.”
“Yeah, well, they didn’t want my kind of life once I came out.” Matt shrugged, sounding truly ambivalent about it. “If their stock is bottoming out, that’s not really my problem now.”
“Have you talked to your mama yet?”
“Nope.”
Alex winced at the sensitive subject and looked out the window when an expensive Mercedes pulled up to the front parking lot. Assuming it was a tourist, he glanced back to Devon.
“So, Key West next Tuesday and Wednesday?”
“Hard for me to get down here midweek,” Devon hedged.
“Those are my only days off.” Alex grinned, knowing it wouldn’t take much to talk Devon into the trip. He loved to show off that jet. “Wouldn’t wining and dining your clients technically be considered work? Take off for a few days. Mix business and pleasure like the rest of us.”
“It’s definitely a write-off.” Devon grinned and then looked over at Holly still sitting on the stool behind the counter playing on her phone. “Is she coming?”
“Probably.” Alex gave him a knowing smirk. “Are you trying to hit it with my best friend?”
“She’s not dating anyone.” Devon held out his hands and looked down at himself. “I’m a catch, Alex. I’ve got charm, money,andgood looks. I’m sure you noticed.”
Alex snorted. “Not really.”
“You might have competition with Holly, Dev,” Matt said distantly.
Alex frowned at the odd comment, seeing that Matt was looking to the front door with a crease between his eyes. He followed Matt’s gaze and then physically jolted when he saw who just walked in.
“Oh shit.” He shoved at Matt, forced him down the bench. “Move, move!”
