Page 26 of Coffee Shop Cupid
“Huh?”
“Shut up,” Frankie hissed. “He thought I won.”
“The rest of us have eyes for something other than the suit,” Alan laughed, pushing the pile of chips in my direction.
I started stacking the chips while José stood.
“Who needs another beer?” he asked, heading to the kitchen.
The others all called for them, while I eyed my mostly-full bottle and declined.
José returned and passed out the beers, then sat. “I declare a time-out so we can discuss Chase’s man problems again. Then maybe we can have a few decent hands.”
“Hey,” I protested.
“Seconded,” said Frankie. “It’s boring when every hand is written across his face.”
I sighed and slumped on my chair. “Fine, assholes.”
“It’s obviously the same man from last week,” Alan said. “But the effect is different. Chase here is in love.”
“No shit Sherlock,” Frankie laughed. “But I can’t figure out why he’s here and not dicking down his new man.”
Everybody turned to me, and I scrubbed a hand down my face. “It’s… not that simple.”
“How so?” José asked. “Things are obviously going better than last week.”
I sighed. “We’ve started dating, but we’re taking things slow.”
“Why?” Lowell asked. “It’s clear that if it was up to you he’d already be marked up and probably pregnant.”
I winced, and the rest of the guys sat up.
“Ok, spill,” Alan said. “That reaction was enough to tell us something’s up.”
I sighed. It wasn’t my story to tell, but it was better if they knew from the outset so they couldn’t accuse him of keeping secrets if they found out on their own.
I took a deep breath. “This doesn’t leave this room, understand?”
They all exchanged glances.
“It’s that serious?” Lowell asked.
I nodded. “Honestly, I shouldn’t be the one to tell this at all. But I don’t want you assholes badgering him and setting him off.”
I made eye contact with each of them, making it clear I meant business. Then I took a deep breath. “He’s… he has a severed bond.”
A collective hiss of surprise from my friends.
“And…” I continued. “He’s infertile.”
Silence filled the room.
“Shit,” José said after several seconds, running his hand through his hair.
“I think that explains some things,” Alan said.
“Yeah,” Frankie agreed.
