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“I am. It is. I’ll do anything. I just want to convince this guy I can be trusted,” I said.
Now it was Xander’s turn to laugh. “You can’t.”
“That’s not true!” I said.
Bennett patted the top of my head as he got up to clear the plates. “Sweetie, it’s pretty true. Sorry.”
“Dammit,” I muttered. “Won’t anyone be serious? I came here for help.”
“What does he like?” Lucky asked. I looked at him in confusion. “I mean, like, what’s he into? Sports? Books? Art?”
I took a sip of my beer, thinking through the things I knew about Ash so far. “Star Trek,” I said quietly. “It’s something we both have in common.”
“Awww,” Bennett said with a sigh. “That’s so fucking sweet.”
“You should invite him to a Trekkie thing,” Xander suggested. “Tempt him with an offer he can’t refuse.”
“He won’t be tempted. I think he’s scared of me,” I admitted. “I need to figure out how to make it non-threatening somehow.”
Bennett thought for a minute before snapping his fingers. “I’ve got it. We know someone else who loves Star Trek and would love to go to a Trekkie thing.”
“Who?” I asked.
Bennett and Xander’s eyes fell on their adopted son.
“I’m not a Trekkie!” Lucky said, his eyes going wide as if being a Trekkie was the worst thing in the world. “I like the new Star Trek movies,” he pointed out to his fathers. “Zachary Quinto is pretty hot, and his boyfriend in real life is even hotter.”
Xander and Bennett both nodded, and even though it was sacrilege to give credit to the Star Trek remakes, I couldn’t deny that Lucky was onto something. Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine on the big screen together…
“Besides, I’m pretty sure I’m too young to be your wingman,” Lucky added.
“Pretty please?” I asked, making a puppy face.
“Ew, gross. Don’t ever do that. It’s nasty,” Lucky said.
“What do I have to do to get you to agree to come with us?” I asked.
“Hmm. Hundred bucks?” Lucky’s grin was evil.
“Done,” I said at the same time his fathers yelled, “Absolutely not.”
I looked at Bennett and Xander. “What’s best for Lucky? An Uncle Aiden who’s dating a sweet little barista or an Uncle Aiden who’s banging a bouncer?” I asked knowingly.
Bennett and Xander both looked at Lucky. “Half of the money goes into your college fund,” Xander said. Lucky made a face but wisely didn’t argue the point. He turned his attention to me.
“So what kind of geekfest are you taking me to?” he asked.
I managed to bite my tongue at the dig. “I saw something on Facebook about this Star Trek charity event that benefits kids with heart conditions— can you see what you can find out about it and get tickets if they still have some? I’ve got to head back to work tonight, so I don’t have time.”
Lucky waved his hand. “Sure thing… but that’s going to add five percent to my fee… consider it a service charge.”
“Lucky,” Bennett said with a shake of his head. Lucky and I both turned to look at him. “Everyone knows the standard is ten percent.”
“Right,” Lucky responded as his eyes shifted to me. “Ten percent,” he amended.
I shot Bennett a dark look. “Traitor.”
Bennett laughed and got up to get me another beer while Lucky began wrangling with Xander to get his phone back. By the time I left there that night, Lucky was busy searching the internet for the Trekkie thing and I was hopeful that I’d finally found a way to put a dent in Ash’s armor.
Chapter 6
Ash
I’d been a nervous wreck the rest of the week whenever Aiden came in for his morning coffee, certain he’d pressure me to go on that date with him. I’d been driving myself crazy trying to come up with excuses he might buy, but the most effective one I kept coming back to was unacceptable to me. Yes, telling him I had a boyfriend probably would have flatlined his interest in me pretty quickly, but I just couldn’t speak the lie.
I didn’t have a boyfriend anymore.
It didn’t matter that Billy still saw himself as such.
I didn’t see myself that way… hadn’t in a really long time.
But I wouldn’t bother trying to explain that to Billy again. He’d get the message loud and clear just as soon as I got the cash to get the hell out of New York— an event that might happen sooner rather than later since Emily had started giving me more hours already. She’d even mentioned the possibility of overtime, since one of her afternoon baristas had been forced to take a leave of absence to deal with a family emergency. I wasn’t sure how much of that had stemmed from Emily needing the help versus her realizing I was looking to earn as much money as possible. I’d basically said as much when I’d approached her to let her know I could work more hours over the next few weeks if she needed it.
