“Well, shit,” Ryan beams. “Good to meet you, little man.”
Tyler scoffs. “Psh. Nothing little about me.”
Ryan's looks at me. “Are you sure you're not actually related?”
I chuckle. “I'm sure. But, yeah, um, this is Tyler.”
I watch Ryan's eyes shift from understanding to guilt, and honestly, that's not why I brought him here. Ryan swallows. “So, when he texts you, he needs you.” He looks down into his coffee, voice soft. “I'm sorry.”
Tyler's eyes bounce between us. “Wait. What's going on here?” I try to kick his shin under the table but miss. “Did you think I was one of Spencer's tricks?” He continues, “Because, ew.”
I cough. “Tyler—”
His eyes widen. “Oh shit, are you two banging?”
I immediately say, “No,” to protect Ryan's privacy, but a split second later, Ryan says, “Yes, we are.”
I snap my head over to look at him. He shrugs, then says to Tyler, “I haven't come out publicly yet, so I’d appreciate it if you’d keep it under your hat for a bit, but I'm taking steps to come out.”
Tyler falls back against the booth. “Wow. And you're doing this for Spencer?”
I swallow, and watch Ryan nod. “Partly. It's more for me to live as my authentic self. So I can deserve someone as incredible as Spencer.”
My heart bangs against my chest.
“Yeah, he is pretty great,” Tyler adds.
I just sit there, unable to form words. I don't know what I was expecting, having them meet, but I sure wasn't expecting them to team up to wreck me.
Ryan bumps his shoulder against mine. “Hey, let's order some food. I'm starved.”
I just nod.
Ryan, louder than necessary, says, “Excuse me, Flo.”
Thirty-Two
Come & Talk To Me
Ryan
I fucking love Tyler. That kid is so cool. And watching him give Spence a hard time was entertaining as hell. He says exactly what he's thinking at all times. I kind of love that about him.
But seeing how Spence softened toward him? The pride in his eyes? I could have melted right into that booth.
T-Bone—that’s his name now, says me—was practically vibrating while he told us about, and I quote, “Officer Thick As Fuck.” His real name is Luke. First year on the Phoenix police force. One of only two openly gay officers in the department. T-Bone said Luke’s captain suggested he stop by the youth center if he wanted to be more involved in the community.
The poor kid was practically drooling into his fries describing how hot his officer is. I gave him some flirting tips for landing a thick hottie. That earned me some under the table, over the pants action from Spence.
I shake my head as we maneuver back into the condo after the diner. I’m feeling equal parts amused and mushy on the inside. I made a decision—right there in that booth—that I was going to be there for T-Bone, too. It was awesome hearing him talk about fashion, the center, and he even likes the same games as me. I ordered a gaming console for Spence’s place on the ride back. Now that Spence has introduced us, there’s no reason he can’t hang out here. All I got is time now.
I haphazardly prop my crutches against the couch, one immediately clattering dramatically onto the hardwood floor.
Spence sighs. I snicker.
Meanwhile, I grab the handles of my knee scooter and push toward the kitchen while he walks over, picks up the fallen crutch, and neatly carries both to the coat closet by the front door.
“Neurotic as hell,” I mutter.
