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Robbie poked his tongue out and automatically flipped Tate off, making him laugh, and the booming sound reverberated off the walls as Tate’s grin lit up the room.
“Seriously, though,” Tate said, once he got himself under control, “I’m really happy for you. Everyone knew that you had it bad for Priest and Julien, and while I’m not into the whole…you know…”
“Three-way?” Robbie said drolly. “Yeah, I know.”
“Right,” Tate said. “I know you aren’t bothered by it. So, I’m happy for you. It’s obvious you really care about them.”
Well, would you look at that, Robbie thought, as he sat there completely and utterly dumbstruck. Who would’ve ever thought that Tate would be the one to understand and offer a nonjudgmental point of view? Certainly not me. “Um, thanks?”
“Shocked?”
“‘Fucking floored’ is a more accurate term,” Robbie admitted. “Aren’t you going to give me a lecture about how they’re married and blah blah blah?”
“No.”
“That’s it?” Robbie said. “Just no?”
Tate shrugged and then slipped his hands into his pockets. “Do you want me to give you a lecture?”
“Hell no.”
“Then I’m not going to. Look,” Tate said as he ran a hand through his hair. “When I started dating Logan, everyone I knew had an opinion. And not very nice ones. They all tried to convince me that what I was feeling was wrong. Except for you.”
“That’s a little bit different,” Robbie pointed out, and Tate nodded.
“It is in some ways, but in others, not so much. Being gay was just as horrifying to the people I knew as an open relationship or marriage might be to others. But I soon learned that it doesn’t matter what others think. It matters what you and the person—or people, in this case—that you’re involved with think. Are you happy?”
Wow, Robbie thought, as he stared up at Tate and realized his face was starting to blur. “Yes. I’m very happy.”
“And there’s no weird jealousy? Logan said you seemed pretty adamant about that.”
Of course he did, Robbie thought, but nodded, finding it difficult to speak.
“Then I’m happy for you. Simple as that. You deserve to be happy, Robbie.”
Well, shit. There was no way Robbie was going to be able to stop the tears now, and as one escaped and fell down his cheek, he wiped it away and fanned his face. “Oh my God. You are totally making me ruin my eyeliner.”
Tate reached for one of the napkins on the bar and handed it over, and as Robbie dabbed at his cheeks, he said, “You know, it might’ve taken me a while, but I can so see why Logan loves you.”
“Gee, thanks. But for the record, I don’t tend to make him cry.”
“No,” Robbie said, shaking his head. “Not that. You’re a good man, Tate Mitchell. He told me that once.”
“Did he?”
Robbie took a sip of his drink and nodded. “The night you were training me here, he said, ‘Tate’s a good guy. The best I’ve ever met. He’s fair and honest, and if you ever fuck him over, you’ll have me to answer to.’” Tate’s eyes widened, and Robbie chuckled. “Hey, you’re right. He does lose his brain when he cares.”
“I guess he does.”
“But he’s right,” Robbie said as he hopped down off the stool. “I said the same thing to Julien just this morning. You’re one of the good ones.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you missed me,” Tate said as Robbie picked his coat up off the bar.
“Nah.” Robbie winked. “I’m just happy you gave me next weekend off.”
“Sure. But get your ass out the back and clock in. You don’t have tonight off. Logan’s going to be in later, and I want to leave a little early.”
“Fine, fine,” Robbie said, and headed in under the bar pass. “Give me five.”
“I’ll give you ten.”
“It’s good to have you back, boss,” Robbie said as he pushed through the back door and heard Tate call out behind him, “It’s good to be back.”
Chapter Eleven
CONFESSION
Keeping secrets is the only
way I’ve been able to stay free and…alive.
JULIEN PACED THE lobby of his restaurant as he waited for Gail Knight, the reporter from the Culinary Institute, to arrive. He’d been running around nonstop since he’d gotten there this morning, making sure the restaurant looked its best for the photographers he knew would accompany Gail, and as he took yet another look at his watch, he felt his blood pressure rise.
Five more minutes. Five more minutes and she’d be there, they’d do the interview, and that would be the end of that. Then everything could go back to normal. Well, as normal as things were right now.
Julien let out a deep breath, trying to center himself, and hoped like hell his usual breathing exercises would help. But as he shut his eyes and inhaled…then exhaled, he knew the likelihood that it would was slim to none.
