“What’re you doin’?” Dev asked. “I got a client waitin’, and Millie’s gonna have a fuckin’ cow if she can’t disinfect where your big ass has contaminated my space.”
As if he hadn’t heard a word Dev said, Keyes sat back dejectedly, scrubbing a hand down his face. A disgruntled huff came next, making Dev take a closer look.
“In no more than sixty seconds, tell me what’s wrong.” Dev swiveled in his chair, tucked his arms over his chest, and gave Keyes a concerned stare. For the first time today, he saw the tiredness in his buddy’s eyes and the grim lines at the corner of his mouth. “Why’re you tired?”
Keyes dropped his brawny arms by his side in defeat.
“Times tickin’,” Dev said, his leg beginning to bounce. “What’s up?”
“Alec’s gettin’ harder to steer away from the surprise. I’m fuckin’ exhausted. The only way to take his mind off shit is to either ignore him, which I’m doin’ durin’ the day, but at night, Goddamn…” Keyes said, shaking his head.
“Just tell him. He’ll be happy no matter when you give it to him,” Dev said. It seemed dumb to have to deal with all the bullshit.
“Do you know how much he does for me?” Keyes asked incredulously. “I have a life for the first time in my life and as pissed off as he’s gettin’…”
Dev blinked, trying hard to follow the logic. “I’m confused. Is he givin’ you a hard time?”
“I’m fuckin’ givin’ him the hard time every single night. He never gets tired of being owned. My thighs fuckin’ hurt all the time. My dick’s gonna fall off. He takes a poundin’ and only rolls over and goes to sleep until we do it again,” Keyes complained.
Once Dev got the gist of the problem, he reached over and patted his friend’s leg. “You’re complainin’ about too much se—”
A loud, cleared throat came from the laptop. Both their gazes shifted to the darkened screen. “What’s happenin’?” Keyes asked nervously, lifting in the seat. His voice and movements were panicked.
“I don’t know what’s happening to keep us connected this way, but I’m Alec’s employer and I believe we’ve crossed a line. Since he’s my lead attorney, I can’t ask him for the law in this situation…” The dark screen made it difficult to know for sure, but Arik sounded like he had humor in his voice.
“Is your father still there?” Dev asked. Man, he hoped he wasn’t.
“I am.”
Dev dropped his head between his shoulder blades. There was no denying the amusement in the older Mr. Layne’s voice, even in the two words spoken. He rolled his head to look at Keyes, who had gone completely red-faced.
“Mr. Layne, I’m sorry. Please don’t share what you heard with Alec. Just until I give him the bike. It’s a Christmas present…” Keyes started.
Arik interrupted him. “I feel like I should tell Alec that he’s asking for too much in the bedroom…” Laughter had the rest of the sentence going unsaid.
“No. I’m embarrassed for Alec. I didn’t mean it like it might’ve sounded…” Keyes shook his head when Arik laughed uproariously.
“No need for embarrassment, son,” Mr. Layne said. “Arik and I will happily hold your secret until the first of next year, but I feel certain Arik’ll have to tease you both about the othersomeday. It’s a quirk in his personality. He never lets anything go.”
As if he deflated, Keyes’s elbows went to his knees, his hands splayed out as he mouthed,what the fuck.
“It’s okay. Alec’s gotta be used to the embarrassin’ things you do by now,” Dev said quietly, truly meaning to help. Keyes’s eyes widened as he reached out a foot and knocked Dev’s chair, rolling it a good distance away. Dev barely stayed upright and got to his feet.
“I believe we’re good to go,” Mr. Layne said good-naturedly. “Send me an invoice for the deposit so we can get this started.”
“Thank you,” Dev said, watching Keyes almost silently bang his forehead on the small tabletop. “When Keyes recovers, he’ll shoot the invoice over. Let me know about the seat design. We have time.”
Dev grabbed the back of Keyes’s T-shirt, pulling him to his feet. “Say goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” Keyes said as instructed. Dev pushed him from behind to get Keyes moving out of his space.
“Goodbye,” he heard both men say. Dev reached over and shut the lid of the laptop.
“Stay the course,” Dev said, trying for encouragement. “Forget all about that. And get to work. You have a lot to get done before January. And send Millie in. I got shit to do.” Dev shoved Keyes out the door, feeling his supportive friendship quota was met for the day.
Keyes dramatically rolled his eyes, his head following the exaggerated motion until his body rolled with it, turning to leave. His shoulders slumped as he walked down the hall to the reception area.
“Good sale,” Dev called out. “This one’s big.”
“Alec’s gonna fuckin’ die.”
Dev chuckled and began straightening his desk. There was no lie in Keyes’s words.
