Page 9 of Unrequited Sloth

“Why? You’re not going to do something extra, are you?”

Bobby laughed. “Nothing like that. I just want to make sure you feel comfortable, but if you still don’t want to come, I’ll take the heat from Alex and your mum.”

Why did the guy have to be so caring as well? He couldn’t just be a good-looking arsehole? And why couldn’t a man like this be interested in him, instead of all the wankers he seemed to meet?

“Okay, a week it is,” said Gabriel, knowing he wouldn’t be agreeing to anything, especially as he’d been given an out.

Bobby smiled, and it lit up his handsome face. How had his sister found a guy like this, and where was the gay version? His brothers looked nothing like him. They were both dark-haired, and Martin looked like he would grade your sexual performance, while Ryan’s scowl implied he would rip your head off if you went anywhere near him. Then there was Bobby, who was like a golden retriever.

“Shall we meet here after work on Monday?” asked Bobby.

“Let me check my diary,” said Gabriel, getting his phone out. “I have a couple of late calls. I can be here for just after six thirty.”

“Great. I’ll book us a table and see you then. Sorry for interrupting your lunch.”

Then, as if he’d choreographed it, the lunch was delivered, so Bobby said goodbye and left. Jason and Dexter couldn’t get back to the table quickly enough. Needing a moment to process the conversation that had just happened, Gabriel bit into his club sandwich, which was delicious but needed more mayonnaise. He added that from the pot on the table, and then some ketchup to his skinny fries, feeling the gazes of his friends boring into him as he avoided eye contact. A deep sigh of frustration from Jason, who had the patience of a puppy, made Gabriel chuckle. His plate was pulled away from him, forcing him to look up. Dexter had been the one to move his food.

“Speak, because his leg bouncing is going to cause an earthquake,” he said, using his head to signal towards Jason.

Gabriel gave them a brief rundown of the conversation he’d had with Bobby, pulling his plate back and munching his fries at certain moments to leave dramatic pauses. Mainly to fuck with Jason, given that coming here for lunch had been his idea. He finished by telling them about the plan to meet Bobby here again in a week.

“Do you think he’s going to invite a load of gay guys to join you?” asked Dexter.

“No, he’ll probably get him a date or something,” said Jason.

Gabriel groaned. “Hopefully not.”

“It might be awkward if he asks what your type is, and as you describe it he’ll be thinking, hmmm, that sounds familiar.”

Gabriel glared at Jason, who cackled.

Bitch!

“Have you got any more dates lined up?” asked Dexter.

“After last week, I’m good for a while.”

“It might be good to just hook up with someone at the weekend. It’ll be easier for you to talk to Bobby with empty balls, especially as you’ll be here and alcohol will be involved.”

Maybe not a hookup, but he could meet a guy for dinner or something. If it went well, he’d be thinking about the new guy instead of Bobby. Last week may have been a disaster, but he was due a break.

What were the chances he’d have another disastrous date?

Gabriel was leaving the office to meet Bobby and dreading it. The weekend had been a complete disaster. His date had spent the entire evening talking about how many black friends he had and putting down white people, which was ironic given Gabriel had never seen a guy so white in his entire life. It was clear his profile pics had been at least ten years old, and he’d spent the time since then hibernating from the sun. He was practically translucent, unlike Bobby, who always had a healthy glow to his skin. That he’d been thinking about his future brother-in-law when he was on a date with another man was a sign that he probably shouldn’t be meeting Bobby tonight.

Gabriel walked into Knights Corner, and Bobby was already waiting for him, fully suited and booted. Gabriel used to always wear a suit, even with a “dress for your day” policy, but he now went for business casual unless he had external meetings. His last job had been at a bigger company, and his suit had felt like a coat of armour. The place he worked now had fewer people and was more chill, probably because he had Jason as a boss, who left him to get on with things. The trust was already there, and he didn’t feel pressure to prove himself. If anything, Jason inflated his ego by talking about how awesome he was. He would occasionally stop by his desk with a look on his face that meant he’d just agreed to something with one of his executive colleagues, and now needed Gabriel to pick it up. This was Jason’s first exec role, so Gabriel knew he would agree to things to build his relationships, but if you ever needed him to push back on unreasonable demands, he always had your back.

Bobby jumped up when he saw Gabriel and pulled him into another bone-crushing hug. Gabriel couldn’t help but melt into it, until his brain caught up and told him to stop lusting after his future brother-in-law. This evening was going to be hard enough, he didn’t need to be pressing his hard dick into Bobby’s thigh, and his member was getting very excited about the big strong muscular arms wrapped around him, and the smell of his spicy woodsy aftershave. It was strong, as if he’d put it on just before he got here. Gabriel broke the hug and sat down. Bobby was still smiling, which made Gabriel curious.

“Shall we get a drink?” asked Bobby.

“Yeah, I can go up and get them. I fancy a wine, and Langdon knows what’s good.”

“No need,” said Bobby. “Langdon!” he shouted as the man himself walked past.

He had on a polo shirt, his tattooed arms on display. Of course, Gabriel had never been interested in Langdon, because he was gay and therefore attainable. Well, he had been. Now he was all loved up and due to marry his fiancé, Eric, in the summer.

“Bobby, Gabriel. What are you two up to?” he asked, with his deep voice and Mancunian accent.