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"You meanDunlop?"
Okay, so Gran told him that, too. I don't mind. I have nothing to hide. There's nothing going on with me and Dunlop. He has a husband, and I'm…I'm interested in someone I definitely shouldn't be.
"Correct."
"Okay. Fine."
Col's pissed. I've clearly succeeded at getting to him, but something else is seeping into his tone. Something that sounds a teensy weensy bit like…jealousy?
"He's married," I say.
"I know that."
"And besides, I would never… If I like someone I don't…"
I wince, but fuck it. We've already established I've got a few screws loose. I close my eyes and push the next words out before I overthink it too much.
"Even if I don't like someone that I like that I really shouldn't like, I would never do anything with anyone else."
I open my eyes and stare at myself in the mirror in utter disbelief. Who am I right now? Not the king of casual, that's for fucking sure.
An uncomfortable silence stretches over the line.
Finally, when Col speaks, his voice comes out softly through the speaker. "For the record, I'm the same. I'm a one-person person. Even when that person bugs the ever-loving hell out of me."
I wonder who he could be referring to. "Good to know. In theory."
Col chuckles. "Yeah. In theory."
"I really do need to go. I'm running late."
"Okay. Well, see ya."
"See ya."
Col doesn't hang up, though.
So neither do I.
I clear my throat. "You're still here."
"So are you."
"Hang up first."
"No.Youhang up first."
I let out a long breath. "This isn't a competition, Langdon."
"Everythingis a competition, Linfox," he says, and then hangs up, leaving me there smiling at myself in the mirror like an idiot.
"Sorry I'm late," I say when I arrive at the glitzy bar Dunlop suggested we meet at.
"No worries, man. It's so great to see you!"
He gives me his customary bear hug that hasn't changed in all the years I've known him. When we pull apart, I scan the place, and I'm glad I wore my good clothes. The dress standards here are way better than the Scuttlebutt Hotel. Although, I guess that's true of most places.
"Robbie will meet us in a bit," he says. "Figured you might want to have a private chat."
