Page 52 of Ethan

Ethan set his menu down. “Ryan needs a hobby.”

Cole glanced sideways at him. “She’s got one. It’s called watching you finally show some interest in a woman. Aftyn feels the same.”

Ethan picked up his coffee and said nothing.

Connie reappeared. “You boys know what you want?”

“The usual,” all three of them said at the same time.

She smiled and wrote it down without looking up. “One of these days one of you is going to surprise me.”

“Not today, Connie,” Cole said.

She disappeared and the three of them sat in silence for a moment.

“So,” Seth said. “Naomi.”

“We’re not doing this,” Ethan said.

“We’re absolutely doing this,” Cole said.

Ethan stared straight ahead at the pie case behind the counter and said nothing.

“She’s beautiful,” Seth offered.

“She’s my employee.”

“You keep saying that,” Cole said. “It’s getting less convincing every time.”

“It’s a fact.”

“It’s an excuse.” Cole set his mug down. “There’s a difference.”

Ethan looked at him. “Stay out of it, Cole.”

“I’m not in it.” Cole held up both hands. “I’m just sitting here drinking my coffee and stating the obvious.”

“Then state something else.”

Seth was grinning on the other side of Cole and trying to hide it behind his mug.

“Something you want to add?” Ethan said.

“Nope.” Seth set his mug down. “Cole and I are married man. We’ve got nothing but time and happiness on our side and we’re enjoying every second of watching you go through this.”

“Through what?”

“This.” Seth gestured vaguely at him. “All of this. The denial, the ‘it’s complicated’, the ‘she works for me.’” He shook his head. “Cole and I had front row seats to each other’s. Now it’s your turn and I have to say, it’s even better from this side.”

A few minutes later, Connie appeared with three plates and set them down without a word, though Ethan could have sworn she was smiling as she walked away.

“I’m not going through anything,” Ethan said.

Cole and Seth looked at each other, then they both looked at him.

He picked up his fork.

“Eat your breakfast,” he said.