Chapter 3
“Oh, Drake. Sorry, I’m late.” Jay hurried down the hall giving Drake an apologetic smile.
Drake returned the smile, his gaze dropping first to the grocery bags in Jay’s hand and then to the lemon-lime scarf around Jay’s neck. “It’s okay. New scarf?”
Jay stuck his key in the lock. “Oh, no. I got this one a couple months ago. I did see a to- die-for one today at the store.” He stepped aside to let Drake inside.
Drake was Jay’s dream man in every way. Tall, probably close to six foot, muscular, dark hair, dark eyes, a little scruffy around the edges. He knew Drake made a living as a homicide detective and it showed with his rugged handsomeness. At least to Jay it did. Plus Drake was a great guy, kind, sexy, interesting. And gay. Apparently he had terrible taste in men, though.
Jay headed straight for the kitchen. “I got us some snacks. Chips and dip. I got stuff to make guacamole, too, if we want.” He pulled out boxes from one of the bags. “And these little appetizer thingies. I know they’re kind of frou-frou, but they sounded good.”
Drake stopped just inside the door of his apartment and grimaced. Jay noticed he had his cell phone in his hand.
“We don’t have to have them if you don’t like them,” Jay said, biting his lip.
“No, it’s not that.” Drake sighed. “Actually, I was coming over to ask if we could have a rain check for tonight.”
And just like that, every ounce of excitement and good mood was gone. Jay swallowed, feeling like a total idiot.
“Oh.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It’s just my friend Ross broke up with his boyfriend and he asked me to go over to his place,” Drake said, shifting awkwardly.
Jay nodded. “All right. It’s okay. I mean, we just made these plans because neither of us had anything to do, and now you do, so it’s fine. No big deal.”
He turned away, opened his freezer, and shoved the boxes of little appetizers inside. Or tried to, anyway. The boxes were surprisingly bulky and his freezer, not surprisingly, was tiny. He shoved harder, trying to make them fit, but all that did was cause the boxes to come crashing down on his feet.
“Jay.”
Jay bent down to pick up the boxes. He was sorely tempted to throw them in the trash, anyhow.
“Jay, give me a moment, okay? I’ll be right back,” Drake said, then slipped out the front door into the hall. 2
Drake raised his cell phone to his ear. “Listen, Ross, I really can’t cancel my plans after all.”
Ross Mendolson snorted. “What? Why?”
He glanced toward Jay’s closed apartment door and stepped down the hall, a little away from the apartment. He hated telling Ross he couldn’t come over. He’d been in love with Ross most of his life. They’d been lovers years ago, broke up over something stupid, and now Ross was free of his latest boyfriend once more.
“The thing of it is, the guy I had plans with is sort of sensitive, and I think he’s really hurt by my canceling on him.”
“Hmm. I thought you said this guy was just a friend.”
“Oh, he is.” Jay was way too young for him. Sweet and pretty, but a good ten years younger than him. “But I think he’s pretty lonely. We planned this a while ago and I don’t think he really has many friends.”
“But I need you, Drake. I can’t believe Stan walked out on me.”
Drake leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes, thinking about Ross and his on-again off-again boyfriend, Stan. “He’s done it before.”
“I know, but he was so insistent that this time it’s over.” Ross’s voice wavered. “I don’t know what I’ll do if he means it this time.”
“I’ll come over first thing tomorrow morning. We’ll have breakfast,” Drake said. “I’m sorry.”
“Fine.” Ross sighed. “Are you sure this guy is just a friend?”
“Definitely. He’s not my type, too young.”
“Come over as soon as you can in the morning. You still have your key?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Make me breakfast.”
Drake smiled. “All right, deal. Again, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too. See you tomorrow.”
And Ross hung up.
He blew out a breath and tried to remind himself he was being a good friend giving up the opportunity to be with Ross tonight. Part of him knew he was stupid to go running over to Ross’s house anyway. If Stan came back, Ross would take him. It was a pattern for the two of them and, really, it was a pattern for Drake to always be there for Ross when Stan dumped him.