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Noah’s eyes went wide as he recognized the voice. He’d never forget it. He snatched his hand from Adriano’s and turned in his seat to see Eric wavering in the alcove in front of the dining room. Eric’s eyes locked on his, half-crossed, but he recognized him.
“He’s right fucking there with his little virgin whore.”
Adriano clamped his hand on Noah’s wrist. ‘What did he say?’
‘He’s drunk,’ Noah told him. ‘He called me a virgin whore.’
“Can’t even sign properly. God, I’m not drunk, youwhore. I’m pissed off!”
Noah interpreted, then started to rise, but Adriano shook his head. ‘Let me. Give me five minutes. Tell the server I’m sorry.’ He dug into his pocket and took out his wallet, sliding a sleek, black card toward Noah. ‘Ask them to pack up our food.’
Noah’s heart sank, realizing that this moment was ruined. He felt cursed. The man he was in love with was currently walking his drunk ex out the door as the manager came over, looking both angry and apologetic.
“I’m sorry,” Noah all but whispered. His face was burning, and everyone was staring. Everyone was staring. They were whispering. He heard the faint tittering of laughter, just like before, even if it wasn’t his date this time, and his ears started to ring. His vision started going white, and his breaths began to hitch in his chest.
He hadn’t had a full-blown panic attack in years, but there was no stopping this one.
“Hey.” A warm, strong arm curled around his waist, and another body slid up next to him. Noah’s eyes were blurred, but the voice was familiar as a hand plucked the card from his fingers and handed it off to the manager. “I think his date would like their stuff packed to take with them.”
The arm holding out the card wasn’t organic. It was sleek and black with mechanical fingers. Noah turned his head fully and saw Aksel Alling smiling at him. Beside him, the larger man, Ronan, looked gruff as ever with his heavy brows and scowl.
“Let’s head outside,” Ronan said, his voice roughened even more since high school. He used his hold on Noah to propel him while Aksel stayed behind to take care of the bill, and Noah let Ronan lead him to a bench under a yellow flood of lamplight. Noah’s legs went weak, and he sat as Ronan stood back a few paces. “Are you okay?”
Noah’s laugh was high and tight. “I don’t know?”
“You were having a panic attack.”
Noah laughed again. “Uh…yeah. How did you know?”
“I’m pretty familiar,” Ronan said, then let out a small huff that might have been something like a laugh. “Was that your boyfriend who dragged that guy out?”
Noah studied Ronan’s face, searching for the awkward teen boy he’d last seen up close during their senior year. He was there, beneath the beard, beneath the receding hairline and the wrinkled forehead. He was there in the way his eyes were still soft, even if he always looked angry.
“I think so,” Noah admitted. “That guy was his ex.”
“What a dick,” came another voice. Aksel was walking back with bags of food in his hand and the card pressed between two fingers. Noah took them from him, then laid the food at his feet and bowed his head.
“Sorry. That was mortifying.”
Aksel’s prosthetic hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed with an unexpected gentleness. “For him,” Aksel insisted. He still had the barest hint of an accent from learning English as a kid, a lot like Noah had. He’d shown up in Savannah with both of his parents straight from Norway, though he’d taken to English a lot faster than Noah. “He was the jerk who interrupted your date.”
Noah bit the inside of his cheek, then stood up and straightened his back. What he wanted was Adriano. What he wanted was his boyfriend to hold him and tell him that this wasn’t ruined, that he wasn’t cursed. He found Adriano’s car parked right where it always was, but he didn’t see him anywhere.
“I saw him go around back,” Aksel offered with a half smile.
Noah scrubbed both hands down his face and groaned. “This is a nightmare. This was my second date with him, and it was just…a nightmare.”
“You and your boyfriend haven’t gone on a date before this?” Ronan asked.
Aksel gently touched the man’s elbow. “I think he means ever.”
Ronan’s eyes widened a fraction. “You’re serious?”
“Well, I had one date in college, but it barely counts.” Noah’s blush was furiously hot in his cheeks, and he glanced away. “It’s not that weird.”
“No, just…” Ronan said with a huff. He’d never been great with words, and after the fire—after the trauma of almost losing Fitz—he was even quieter. “You’re attractive. Really attractive. I’m just surprised.”
“He’s allowed to be picky, Ro.” Aksel smiled at Ronan softly, then turned to Noah. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s ruined. I think he’s trying to save it still.”
