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Kent, the guy I totally wrote off in five seconds.
The moment the server returns from the kitchen, Rico pulls out his phone and pretends to check something—then sneaks a pic of the server’s ass as he walks by. He grins as he taps away, likely texting it to someone.
My phone buzzes. Oh. It’s me. I’m the someone. “Rico.”
“I always share my gifts.” He keeps tapping away.
I guess there are more people on his list to share with. “What’re you doing? Setting up a poll asking everyone at work to rate his ass?”
“And on whether or not I should tap it. I mean, the answer is obvious, but it’s always nice to have validation.” He peers at my plate over his phone. “You almost done? I want to make my move soon.”
It turns out he doesn’t have to; just as I shove a slightly-bigger-than-intended bite of steak past my lips, a tall and muscular shadow falls over our table. I lift my cheeks-stuffed face to find Rico’s server Adonis standing there, his big hands folded in front of him, a pleasant smile on his face as he looks at each of us. “Hello, gentlemen. How are you enjoying your meal?”
They always come by and ask that when your face is stuffed. Rico gracefully sets down his phone—face down—and returns the man’s smile. “Hey, there. I was wondering when you were gonna come over and introduce yourself to us.”
Too suave, the server gives a gesture at his nametag, his biceps bulging in his too-tight dress shirt. “I’m Adrian. I can get you anything you need. From the bar. From back in the kitchen, if that salad didn’t fill you up.”
“You aren’t even our server and you know what I was eating?” Rico’s eyes wander down his body in thought. “You’re very observant.”
A side of his lips curl up. “This is my usual section, but we had a last-minute shift in staff due to someone burning their hand, so I’m working the front by the windows. I guess I have a sort of sick attachment or something.” He chuckles oh so charmingly at himself.
“Oh yeah?” Rico shifts in his chair, putting on his own brand of charm. “How disappointing. You seem so much more attentive than our current server.”
“Our current server is totally fine,” I mutter under my breath, but judging by the look I earn from Rico, I’m not as quiet as I think.
Rico carries on. “Maybe I’ll ask for you by name next time we come here. We only came because my friend and I were given a couple of vouchers at the Elysian, simply because we’re single and … I guess the manager guy was flirting with us or something?”
I swear, sometimes Rico lives in his own world. But this time I choose wisely not to correct him. Besides, his only point was to get out the essential information his potential weekend-fuck-boy needs to know in one succinct go: Rico and I are friends and nothing more, we’re single, we’re staying at the Elysian, and we’re apparently desirable enough to be flirted with.
It does the trick. Adrian’s eyebrows lift suggestively, though as usual, his full attention is on Rico, the one steering the wheel of this horny love boat. “That sounds pretty lucky of you. You’re welcome to sit in my section whenever you want while you’re in town. There’s always room at Thalassa for our … special guests.”
“Special?” Rico folds his arms on the table and leans forward, smirking. “And how ‘special’ are we, Adrian? Special enough … for a little inside scoop on where exactly this locals-only bonfire is tonight?”
Adrian puts his hands on our table and leans forward. His cologne—as strong and oaky as I imagine those tree-trunk biceps of his are—washes over us like a crashing wave. “Why should I tell you when I can just take both you handsome fellas there myself?”
I lift my head. “Me too?” I ask, mouth full.
“Of course,” says Adrian, giving me all the fuck-me eye he can, which even I must admit is quite effective. I find myself taken by that look he’s giving me, a fantasy at once constructing itself in my mind. “The more, the merrier. Hey, I need a boy for each arm, right?”
My eyes narrow.
The charm dies. Fantasy: shattered.
Obviously this dude screams player. But just one look at Rico tells me he doesn’t care in the least; my friend is gnawing on his lip and drinking in the server’s invitation like it was meant all for him. “Now that sounds like a plan to me,” says Rico. “What time shall we go?”
Whatever attention I earned is yanked away as Adrian turns back to Rico. “I’m off at the end of the hour. How about I come by and pick you boys up at the—was it the Elysian you said you’re at?”
